Testosterone therapy for women: Can it improve your sex life?

The Optimal Testosterone Replacement Therapy Dosage for Women

This helps alleviate troublesome symptoms related to testosterone deficiency without going overboard and causing adverse side effects. Most doctors recommend testing your testosterone levels every three to six months when you start therapy. This gives your body time to adjust to the treatment and allows your doctor to see any changes. After the initial few months, testing may become less frequent, such as once every six months or once a year, depending on your symptoms and stability. Starting testosterone therapy doesn’t usually bring immediate results.

The procedure is quick, performed under local anesthesia, and requires minimal downtime. These complications are rare when performed by a skilled provider using proper sterile procedures. To minimize these risks, choose a trained healthcare professional and follow their recommended post-insertion instructions. It’s considered the most convenient form of TRT for women, but it’s also the riskiest. Davis says some of her work is being misrepresented by testosterone proponents. For example, she points to a 2003 study she conducted, which involved just 31 women. Specifically, it can help with what’s called hypoactive sexual desire disorder, which is marked by a reduced interest in sex that is causing distress or difficulties in your relationship.

Dr. Traci Kurtzer, a menopause specialist at the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause in Chicago, agreed the push for testosterone started happening in recent years. Her patients inquire about testosterone therapy for multiple problems — to improve mood, energy, sex drive, brain fog and muscle mass. A normal period each month is a better sign of healthy hormone levels than blood testing. Especially since testosterone tests aren’t very precise at lower levels. Researchers want to make sure that the benefits of testosterone therapy outweigh any risks. By studying a large number of women over a long period, researchers can better understand who might benefit the most from testosterone therapy and who may be at risk for side effects. By combining regular testing, symptom tracking, and check-ins with your doctor, you can manage your testosterone therapy effectively.

Testing allows your doctor to see if your testosterone levels are in the optimal range and to make adjustments if needed. These tests show how the therapy is affecting testosterone levels and whether adjustments to the dosage are necessary. Bloodwork can also help spot any changes in other health markers, such as cholesterol or liver function, which can be influenced by hormone therapy.

Excess estrogen can contribute to weight gain, heavy periods, and fibroids, while low estrogen can cause hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. Maintaining a balanced estrogen level is essential for overall well-being and long-term health. Despite lower concentrations than in men, testosterone plays a crucial role in women’s musculoskeletal health, cognitive function, and cardiovascular well-being54. Women naturally secrete higher total amounts of androgens compared to estrogens, multivitamin with testosterone testosterone being a key androgen and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) forming through peripheral metabolism51. This integrated exercise plan is a relatively new concept in the literature, with limited direct evidence supporting its effectiveness. However, existing research highlights the significant impact of exercise-based interventions on improving quality of life27,39,40,41,42,43. The primary objective was to ensure participants remained engaged in core-strengthening exercises for the entire 5-minute session, even if they needed brief pauses or modified movements.

As women age, they naturally lose bone density, which can lead to osteoporosis and increase the risk of fractures. Testosterone therapy may help protect against bone loss by supporting the growth of new bone tissue. Healthy bones are essential for overall strength, mobility, and independence.

Testosterone also supports bone health, and therapy may reduce the risk of osteoporosis and related fractures. If testosterone levels in women are low and the symptoms fit, providers might consider testosterone therapy in women. Testosterone therapy has been shown to improve sexual function in postmenopausal women who have low desire for sexual activities that is not otherwise explained by a medical or psychiatric condition. Estrogen plays a crucial role in a woman’s health, affecting everything from reproductive function to mood and metabolism. However, an imbalance in estrogen levels can lead to various health issues, including irregular periods, weight gain, and mood swings. These natural remedies for hormonal balance help regulate estrogen levels and support overall well-being.

These could include oily skin, acne, unusual hair growth, or changes in mood. Sometimes, even if your blood test looks normal, your symptoms may suggest that an adjustment is needed. Typically, doctors will look at both “total testosterone” and “free testosterone” levels. Total testosterone includes all the testosterone in your body, while free testosterone measures only the testosterone that is available for your body to use. It’s important to note that some mild side effects might occur in the beginning. These could include slight skin irritation if using a cream, or mild acne due to the body adapting to new hormone levels. Such side effects are usually temporary and may go away as the body balances itself.

Quantitative measurement of serum hormone levels was performed using MassChrom Steroids LC-MS/MS Assays (Chromsystems) by UPLC-ESI-MS (LCMS-8060, Shimadzu). Cis women have been reported to have stronger immune responses than cis men. This can confer advantages in the defense against infections, but it may also contribute to a higher susceptibility to autoimmune diseases (32–34). Despite well-established differences in incidence and disease course of autoimmune diseases between cis women and cis men, the underlying biological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this study, we report an effect of testosterone on human CD4+ T cells, shifting them toward an antiinflammatory cell state.

We will explore the top seven estrogen balance supplements, their benefits, and how they help maintain hormonal equilibrium. We will also discuss how to choose the right supplement and answer common questions about estrogen balance. Researchers at Amsterdam UMC followed 1,955 young transmasculine and gender-diverse individuals, who used testosterone for an average of five years.