Women and Testosterone

The medical journal Menopause shows that Androgel, a gel containing the male hormone, testosterone, improves well-being, mood, and sexual function in premenopausal women with low libido and low testosterone.

Why Do Women have Testosterone? Isn’t it a Male Hormone?

All healthy women produce testosterone. As a woman ages, testosterone levels can lower and cause the following:
  • depression
  • loss of muscle strength
  • lack of sexual desire.
If you have the above symptoms, you may be diagnosed with the Female Androgen Insufficiency syndrome. Female Androgen Insufficiency syndrome is most common for menopausal women or those that had early menopause due to having their ovaries removed. The commonly-prescribed treatment of estrogen replacement to postmenopausal women and those who have had their ovaries removed often causes and worsens this syndrome. Another important hormone that can produce Female Androgen Deficiency is DHEA-S. Testing for hormone levels is easy – there are inexpensive lab tests for DHEA-S, testosterone and other important hormones that regulate the body. If you have any of the symptoms such as muscle weakness, osteoporosis, pain during intercourse or lack of libido, look at your testosterone and DHEA-S hormone levels and have your physician determine the best protocol. Note: If your doctor prescribes male hormones, you should not take them longer than a few months and your doctor should discuss all the potential side effects with you.