Among the hormones that women’s body’s produce, testosterone is akin to the misunderstood black sheep. The medical community has long focused on testosterone as physiologically more important for men. While testosterone is extremely important for men, women need it as well. In fact, there are many surprising facts about the applications of testosterone for women that you may not know about.

Did you know women produce more testosterone than estrogen?

Estrogen has been touted as the ultimate female hormone. Estrogen is essential for reproductive development for adolescents transitioning into womanhood. Estrogen drives fertility, bone health, brain health, cardiovascular health, and much more. There is even research that shows estrogen positively impacts gut health and neurotransmitters for optimal mental wellness.

With all due respect to estrogen, androgens (AKA testosterone-like hormones) outnumber estrogens when quantified in blood samples. If testosterone is physiologically unimportant for women, then why do they produce so much of it? And why is testosterone replacement not the standard of care alongside estrogen and progesterone when addressing symptoms during the menopausal transition?

The Hormonal Fluctuations of Menopause

The ovaries are a central part of the reproductive system of every woman. Ovaries are reservoirs of eggs, which women are born with in full supply.

An egg is released from either ovary approximately each month through a process called ovulation. If the egg is not fertilized, it exits the body through menstruation along with the uterine lining which has built up gradually all month to prepare a suitable environment for a newly fertilized egg to attach to.

The menopausal transition occurs on average between ages 45-55 years old and is defined as the waning of ovarian function. In other words, ovulation becomes less regular. Menopause is defined as the end of menses altogether, which most women can be assured has happened if they experience at least a year with no cycles.

Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are all produced by the ovaries. Ovulation and the output of all these various sex hormones drop with the menopausal transition.

The drop in testosterone specifically can manifest as low libido, lower muscle mass and higher fat accumulation on the body, fatigue, low motivation, mood disturbances, poor circulation, and more.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Not getting the results you are seeking from your conventional HRT protocols with your physician? Still overweight, tired, and turned off despite months of correcting your estrogen and progesterone levels? Your testosterone needs are likely being missed, and it is important to connect yourself with a physician with a broader understanding of the needs of menopausal women.

Testosterone replacement therapy restores mental clarity, motivation, focus, libido, and the ability of the body to put on healthy muscle mass. The latter in particular protects women from the blood sugar dysregulation (when in combination with exercise and a balanced diet) and lipid issues including high cholesterol due to the protective effect of muscle mass on glucose regulation and cholesterol levels.

Feeling turned off? Testosterone drives sexual desire. Low libido is a common issue in the menopausal transition and the impact cannot be understated. In fact, the highest rate of separations of marriages occurs in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. This is the exact time frame of the menopausal transition. 84% of menopausal women report that an active sex life is important to them, so the issue for the majority of women is not that intimacy is no longer a personal value.

A large 2019 study of over 8,000 women found testosterone replacement therapy is superior to both estrogen/progesterone therapy and placebo in increasing sexual desire.

Estrogen and progesterone therapy can still be of great help in correcting low libido, especially if vaginal dryness is an issue as this is an estrogen-mediated problem. Testosterone therapy completes the package.

Constantly chilly? Testosterone helps with dilating blood vessels, driving healthy blood flow to all of your body tissues. Better blood flow also protects the brain from cognitive decline by flushing out accumulation of toxins in the brain that drive age-related cognitive disease.

Gone are the days of simply enduring the physiological, mental, and emotional impacts of aging.

FAQ Section

Question 1: How is testosterone therapy administered?

Answer: After a thorough intake visit, if you are a healthy candidate for testosterone therapy, your second visit will involve a lab review and insertion of testosterone pellets.

Question 2: Is pellet insertion painful?

Answer: Our expert clinician utilizes local anesthesia and ensures the area is entirely numb prior to insertion. Pellets are inserted into the love handle area around the hips using a minimally invasive insertion procedure that does not leave a scar.

Question 3: How often do I need pellets readministered?

Answer: Each individual will vary somewhat, however the average is 3-4 months for women. No prescriptions need to be picked up, no visits to the pharmacy, and since the pellets are inside your body there is no need to remember to take pills, troches, or apply patches. Pellets are the ultimate low-maintenance form of hormone replacement therapy.

Question 4: How is the recovery process after receiving pellets?

Answer: All normal activities can be resumed after several days. Immediately after pellet insertion, it’s recommended not to do strenuous activities. People can go about their normal routine after pellets if it doesn’t involve activities such as heavy lifting, yoga, pilates, or other strenuous activities that will put torque on the incision site.

Question 5: Is pellet therapy safe?

Answer: Our pellets are infused with triamcinolone, an anti-inflammatory that greatly reduces the risk of irritation that other pellets might cause. Pellets are composed on bioidentical hormones, which replicate the natural structure of the same hormones found in your body. Your provider will complete a thorough intake appointment and baseline bloodwork to ensure you are a safe candidate for pellets.

Question 6: How is pellet therapy different from oral or transdermal hormone therapy delivery?

Answer: Pellet therapy is low-maintenance, which patients enjoy due to the nuisance of having to remember to take pills or change patches. Pellets provide a consistent, smooth delivery of hormones in your system unlike other HRT formulations which are prone to peaks and troughs.

Conclusion

The field of longevity science and optimal aging embraces hormone replacement therapy as the key to feeling your best regardless of age. Not only does hormone replacement therapy correct uncomfortable symptoms of the menopausal transition, but it also optimizes overall health through protecting your brain, heart, metabolism, and more. Health is wealth. The time we are given on this planet should be spent free of pain, discomfort, and physiological decline. The paradigm of the effects of aging as an inevitable phenomenon we simply must endure is rapidly changing.

If you or a loved one are looking to optimize your health into your 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond, do not hesitate to share this article. If you have lingering questions about hormone replacement therapy, reach out to our skilled staff at Ageless Beauty Rx for more details on this outstanding offering. We are here to walk with you on the journey to vibrant and long-lasting wellness.