Testosterone

As women pass through menopause, they may understand what their grandmothers and mothers meant when they said "Oh, I'm too old for that sort of thing". Sex? Not interested. Exercise? Too tired. Living with zest and joy? Never realized there were so many things in life to worry about. Many of us think these changes in sex drive, energy, and outlook are the inevitable results of aging, but they could be a sign of testosterone deficiency.

The overlooked hormone

Testosterone is the strongest of the male sex hormones, or androgens. In addition to estrogen and progesterone (the female hormones), our ovaries are the primary producers of testosterone during our reproductive years. Other androgens, as well as a small amount of testosterone, are produced by our adrenal glands and fat tissue, along with small amounts of estrogen.

Testosterone plays a dramatic role in many aspects of a woman's physiology and quality of life, including libido, sexual satisfaction, bone density, sense of well-being, vasometer symptoms, and body composition. Testosterone is particularly important because it activates the sexual circuits in the brain.

In men and women, testosterone helps:

• Build and promote muscle tone
• Maintain energy
• Decrease fatigue
• Increase sex drive
• Enhance well-being
• Aid in the formation of new bone

Testosterone Levels Decline at Menopause

At menopause when our ovaries no longer release eggs, they stop producing the potent forms of estrogen (estradiol and estrone) and progesterone. They also slightly decrease production of testosterone. The word slightly is important here because the lower amount of testosterone is less important than the fact the ratio of testosterone to estrogen and progesterone changes.

Testing and Self-Care

As with all of the major hormones, baseline and follow-up testing of testosterone levels is critical for determining if treatment is needed to keep hormone levels in the normal therapeutic range. Whether a woman chooses prescription therapy or not, self-care, including exercise and a healthy diet, is an important foundation for hormone balance. Natural Progesterone Cream, Vaginal Moisturizing Therapy, and specially formulated vitamin/mineral supplements such as ProCycle^® Gold are non-prescription options that also help support a healthy hormone balance.

Prescription Therapy

While almost every woman considers estrogen therapy at some point in her life, declining levels of androgens (testosterone) in menopausal and surgically menopausal women are generally overlooked by healthcare providers. This may be in part because one-size-fits-all prescription androgen therapy solutions are not currently available and promoted by the major pharmaceutical companies.

Individually compounded, low-dose testosterone therapies do exist, however and clinical studies show they should not be overlooked as part of a woman's hormone therapy. In addition to improving libido, preventing osteoporosis - a disease in which the bones lose mass at an excessive rate and break easily - is one of the primary reasons for adding testosterone to hormone replacement therapy after menopause.

Testosterone Replacement is Important for Women

Dr. Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, world-renowned expert in menopause research and professor and chief of the division of epidemiology at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, concurs and emphasizes the importance of individualized treatment. "Androgen, for some women, is the 'missing hormone' of their postmenopausal years. Hormone therapy should be tailored to each individual according to symptoms and combination estrogen-androgen therapy can be a significantly better option for some women than estrogen alone."

"In the next few years, testosterone therapy will become as important for women as estrogen therapy," says Marla Ahlgrimm, R. Ph. and CEO of Women's Health America, Inc. "The good news for women and their healthcare providers is that our pharmacy, Madison Pharmacy Associates, offers these options today!"

As with all hormone therapy there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Low-dose, individualized treatment is the key to effective androgen therapy. Baseline and follow-up testing of testosterone levels is critical for maintaining hormone levels in a therapeutic range and avoiding the side effects of under- or overdosing.