Testosterone: What It Is, Function & Levels

Testosterone therapy in women: Does it boost sex drive?

If you have seen a Marion Gluck Clinic Doctor in the last 12 months and are happy on your current treatment plan, you can use this quick and easy service to get a prescription refill. In younger women, the combined pill can increase Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG). According to Dr. Gaither, certain nutrients, such as vitamin B, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and protein, can naturally boost testosterone. Some menopause specialists give testosterone as an implant, which is a tiny pellet inserted under the skin that usually stays there for six months. It should be rubbed onto clean, dry skin on your upper outer thigh or buttocks, it usually takes about 30 seconds to dry.

Another found that higher testosterone levels in the plasma of premenopausal women was linked to better performance in mathematical and spatial-relations tasks. Certain medications, such as oral contraceptives and corticosteroids, can affect testosterone levels in women. Birth control pills, for example, may lower testosterone levels, while corticosteroids can increase testosterone levels. It’s important to talk to your doctor about any medications you’re taking to determine if they could be affecting your hormone levels. Fortunately, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help alleviate these menopausal symptoms by boosting estrogen and testosterone levels. Higher levels of testosterone can help improve exercise performance and reduce fatigue.

In fact, most of what we know about abnormally high good testosterone booster levels in men comes from athletes who use anabolic steroids, testosterone, or related hormones to increase muscle mass and athletic performance. Signals sent from the brain to the pituitary gland at the base of the brain control the production of testosterone in men. The pituitary gland then relays signals to the testes to produce testosterone. A “feedback loop” closely regulates the amount of hormone in the blood. When testosterone levels rise too high, the brain sends signals to the pituitary to reduce production. Below is a chart representing the normal range for female testosterone levels by age and ng/dL. Due to a lack of research on long-term safety, testosterone therapy isn’t right for women with heart, blood vessel or liver disease.

Unfortunately, this can leave our bones very brittle and weak and prone to fractures. A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. If you become pregnant while on testosterone therapy, you must immediately stop using it, and not resume it until you are done with the pregnancy or breastfeeding. Much like testosterone for men, there is an optimal total and free testosterone level for women where the benefits have their maximum effect. Testosterone improves insulin sensitivity and decreases visceral fat. Vitamin D, calcium, and estrogen all have a massive role in bone health, bone preservation, and the prevention of osteoporosis, especially when combined with testosterone.

They are considered “molecularly identical” to the hormones your body makes naturally. ‍As a result, bio-identical hormones can potentially offer greater advantages and lower risks for side effects compared to regular hormones used in certain hormone therapy treatments. If your healthcare provider thinks that you have low or high testosterone, they will first test total testosterone levels.

Used for longer periods of time (ie, 1 year), DHEA has produced some increases on sexual function. Your ovaries, adrenal glands and other tissues and cells produce testosterone. Too little or too much testosterone can affect your overall health and impact the levels of other sex hormones in your body. The side effects of testosterone on females aren’t fully understood. Many treatment methods for low testosterone are unregulated and not widely studied.

Testosterone, in contrast, acts on the blood vessels both directly and following its conversion to estradiol. Doctors may also prescribe oral contraceptives, as this treatment helps block excess testosterone. They will also inquire about menstrual cycle abnormalities and attempts at pregnancy. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Addressing the issues above with a mixture of therapy, stress-reduction techniques, adequate rest, and counseling can help restore libido naturally.

The hormone is made primarily in the ovaries, so levels decline as women age and decrease significantly during menopause. In men, proper estradiol levels help with bone maintenance, nitric oxide production, and brain function. While men need lower levels than women, they still require this important hormone to function well. Low testosterone levels can lead to numerous health problems that can take a serious toll on a woman’s day-to-day livelihood. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, it’s important to talk to a licensed and trusted healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause.

In addition, testosterone deficiency has been linked to low mood, sadness and, in general, lack of well-being. Thus, determining normal blood testosterone values loses some relevance, since its effects also depend on other factors. In addition, it is important to note that androgens are precursors to synthesize estradiol (an estrogen). The theca cells of the ovarian follicle produce androgens, which will be converted to estradiol in the follicular granulosa cells. At Longevità Medical, we are committed to providing comprehensive care based on the latest medical research.

However, it is not only the level of androgens in the blood that is important. So blood testosterone concentrations are not a true reflection of tissue concentrations. First, we run lab tests to get your baseline hormone levels and determine the correct dosage for the treatment. Patients will then schedule a date for the pellets to be administered. Upon arriving for treatment, we’ll inject a local anesthetic to the hip/buttock area before creating a small incision.