TESTOSTERONE... for Women? !yes

When someone mentions the hormone testosterone, it often conjures up images of bulging muscles and baseballs being hit impossibly far. Or it is seen as a male hormone, responsible for masculine characteristics. However, testosterone has a much more important role to play in our lives than just a performance enhancer for athletes, and it is not just important for men. Testosterone plays a vital role in the body for women as well.

According to Dr. Angela DeRosa, hormone replacement therapy expert and founder of the Hormonal Health Institute, “There is a common misconception that women’s bodies do not produce much testosterone or none at all. This is just not true. Testosterone is the most abundant and biologically active hormone throughout a woman’s lifespan.”

For women, testosterone is believed to have an especially important role in mood, energy, metabolism, muscle mass, bone density and libido/sexual function. However, similar to other hormones in the body, testosterone production decreases naturally with age. By the time women reach their 40s, the blood testosterone levels are approximately half of those in their 20s. This drop in testosterone can be even more abrupt and dramatic in women who have either had their ovaries removed or have lost ovarian function, as a large proportion of testosterone in women is made by the ovaries.

Unfortunately, this drop in testosterone levels corresponds with certain signs and symptoms. These include:

ƒ Absent or greatly diminished sexual motivation or desire (libido)

ƒ Persistent unexplainable fatigue

ƒ Lack of sense of well-being

ƒ Decreased muscle mass

ƒ Decreased bone density

Although there are currently no FDA approved testosterone replacement medications for women to treat symptoms of decreased testosterone, practitioners have used testosterone off-label to treat these symptoms for years. Since no pharmaceutical companies manufacture testosterone products specifically for women, the medications used are often compounded by pharmacies specializing in custom medications. Examples of these products include: transdermal creams or gels, sublingual tablets/drops, lozenges, injections, or pellets implanted under the skin. Improved sexual function and libido is the most well-documented benefit of testosterone therapy in women, but mood, energy, lean muscle mass, and bone density are also targets of therapy.

It is clear that testosterone is just as important for women as men and research continues to discover how best to use that knowledge to help women feel their best.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on how testosterone therapy may benefit you, visit inhealthcompounding.com/balance.

Jason Cossette, PharmD, RPh is a 2007 graduate of NDSU College of Pharmacy. He has 15 years of experience in community pharmacy and five years specializing in compounding pharmacy. Cossette is a passionate patient care advocate who enjoys teaming with patients and providers to achieve the best possible health outcomes.