Do Women Need Testosterone?

Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers and they travel through the body from one organ to another, usually through the bloodstream, and have an affect on many bodily processes. One of the more commonly known hormones is Testosterone. Testosterone is a sex hormone. In men it is produced in the testes. In women it’s produced in the ovaries and adrenal gland. It’s a vital hormone in both men and women. It is the major sex hormone in males. But.. testosterone is also the most abundant active sex hormone in women throughout their lifespan.

It is essential to the development of male growth including development of the penis and testes, bone growth and strength, libido and sperm production. Testosterone is also responsible for the masculine characteristics that distinguish them from women such as deepening of the voice during puberty, appearance of facial and pubic hair and muscle size and strength.

Because testosterone has been largely considered a male hormone it has been largely ignored in the medical community as an essential hormone in females. Due to this, little attention has been given to the potential health consequences and subsequent reduction in quality of life that women experience as a result of a decline in this essential hormone. The production of testosterone peaks in women in their mid 20’s and will steadily decline to roughly 50% by the time they reach their 40’s. This decline can contribute to symptoms such as loss of muscle mass, low libido and/or reduced orgasm, hair loss & thinning, fatigue or feeling tired all the time, depression, low self esteem, memory lapses, weight gain especially around the abdomen, brain fog, anxiety, irritability, depression, headaches and a general lack of well being.

Men will also begin to experience symptoms as their levels begin to decline, which begins around the age of 40. But unlike the precipitous drop that women will experience, men’s testosterone levels decline more gradually, averaging just over 1% a year. This level is imperceptible at first. By the time they reach the age of 70 an average man’s production is about 30% below it’s peak production. They tend to have complaints of decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle mass, reduced energy levels, reduced strength and endurance, sleep disruption, loss of body hair and emotional instability.

Testosterone replacement therapy can be useful for men and women to help combat these symptoms. It has the potential to improve mood, libido, orgasm, energy level and a better sense of well being and more. Testosterone can be replaced in several ways: topically, by injection or through the insertion of extended release pellet which are inserted under the skin. Topical therapies are applied daily. Injections are given every 1-2 weeks depending on need. Pellets act like reservoir of testosterone hormone, allowing the body to receive a consistent dose of hormone throughout the day and night. They will generally last about 3-5 months in women and about 6 months in men.

This all varies patient to patient depending on lab work. Most physicians only see what the normal level is for the patients physical age but our goal is to replace free testosterone levels to that of a younger male.  i.e. normal for 60yo is 5-25 so typically doc would think that 25 is optimal. Medical literature supports replacement levels to that of a younger male, typically 20 to 30 years old. The optimal level of free testosterone in that of a young man would be 30-40. Rouzier MD, Neal. (2007). How to achieve healthy aging. WorldLink Medical Publishing.