It’s Not in Your Head: How Testosterone Can Impact Mood, Satisfaction, and More!

It’s Not in Your Head: How Testosterone Can Impact Mood, Satisfaction, and More!

-63a3714c6833e--63a3714c6833fIt’s Not in Your Head How Testosterone Can Impact Mood, Satisfaction, and More! patient education blog image.png
by Cherie Constance
December 19, 2022

When the term testosterone is mentioned, often what comes to mind are muscle-bound men. Yet, testosterone is just as important to women, as it is to men, although it’s often overlooked as a potential treatment. 

In women, testosterone is produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands with relatively small quantities of testosterone being released into the bloodstream. The majority of testosterone produced in the ovaries is converted to the principle female sex hormone, estradiol. However, the small amounts that remain have a huge impact for a woman’s overall emotional and physical health and well-being.

Normally, by the time a woman is 40 years old, her levels of testosterone have decreased by half. Symptoms associated with this decline are decreased levels of sexual desire, decreased sexual satisfaction, vaginal dryness, depressed mood, lethargy, weight gain, muscle weakness, and bone loss.

To find a doctor near you, simply search the Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy (BHRT) Provider Directory.

Why is Testosterone Misdiagnosed or Underdiagnosed?

Lower levels of testosterone in women are often chalked up to aging, depression, stress, or just those pesky side effects of menopause. This “in your head,” excuse has caused many a woman to be frustrated and undertreated as she enters into menopause and beyond. Below, we’ll discuss some of the common symptoms women undergo when their testosterone levels decline and how replacing these levels can eliminate those symptoms and have far-reaching benefits.  

Poor Libido: When you consider that approximately 43% of women in the United States (almost half) between the ages of 18 and 59 experience sexual dysfunction, it’s surprising that, unlike male sexual dysfunction, it has not received ample amount of press or been extensively researched, particularly with regard to testosterone therapy. As the topic of female sexuality has become less taboo, and more and more women are approaching menopause, both doctors and their patients are regarding testosterone therapy as a viable option.

In healthy women, free testosterone levels have been linked to sexual desire, whereas antiandrogen therapy has been linked to a loss of sexual desire. Several randomized, controlled trials of testosterone therapy in postmenopausal women suggest improvements in sexual desire, sexual responsiveness, and frequency of sexual activity.

Mood: Although it’s almost cliché to say that women are moodier than men, there is scientific merit to why women suffer more from mood swings and depression—and hormone levels are the root cause. In particular, low levels of testosterone have been linked to lower energy, lack of motivation, and depression, while testosterone therapy has been linked to an improved sense of well-being in multiple studies. 

Weight and Muscle Mass: In 2016, 40% of the world’s adult female population was overweight and 15% of women were obese. This is important because abdominal obesity is linked to type 2 diabetes and coronary heart diseases and subcutaneous abdominal fat found in obese postmenopausal women has been linked to low androgen levels. Testosterone replacement therapy in hypoandrogenic postmenopausal women has been shown to protect against obesity, which can, in turn, reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Bone Health: Decreased testosterone plasma levels are markers of osteoporosis in women. Studies have shown that lower testosterone levels are indicative of height loss in postmenopausal women. Neither estrone nor estradiol levels were significantly and independently related to height loss, but lower bioavailable testosterone levels predicted future height loss independent of age. Studies have shown that testosterone replacement affects bone mass and that including it with estradiol therapy being more effective in increasing bone mineral density in the hip and lumbar spine than just estradiol alone.

How to Find a Doctor Who Can Manage Your Testosterone Decline?

Androgen deficiency is a true medical condition in both pre- and post-menopausal women. It’s clear that including it with hormone replacement therapy can have dramatic short-term and long-term effects on women’s health. Although often ignored by the medical establishment and scientific community, women suffer from it at varying ages and at varying degrees. 

If you’re struggling to find a doctor who is willing to explore your testosterone deficiency, you have other options. The Academy of Preventive and Innovative Medicine trains physicians in hormone therapy.  We have not only identified competent and forward-thinking physicians throughout the country who offer these therapies, most of them are also trained by our experts to offer you the best care.

How Can I Find a Doctor Who Prescribes Bio-Identical Hormones

The Academy of Preventive and Innovative Medicine trains physicians in hormone therapy.  We have not only identified competent and forward-thinking physicians throughout the country who offer these therapies, most of them are also trained by our experts to offer you the best care. To find a doctor near you, simply search the Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy (BHRT) Provider Directory.

Sources:

Guay A, Davis SR. Testosterone insufficiency in women: fact or fiction? World J Urol. 2002;20:106-110.

World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight. Accessed August, 2020.

Davis SR, Davison SL. Current perspectives on testosterone therapy for women. Menopausal Med. 2012;20:S1-S4.

Laughlin GA, Barrett-Connor E, Kritz-Silverstein D, von Mühlen D. Hysterectomy, oophorectomy, and endogenous sex hormone levels in older women: the Rancho Bernardo Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000:85:645-651. 

Burger HG, Hailes J, Nelson J, Menelaus M. Effect of combined implants of estradiol and testosterone on libido in postmenopausal women. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1987;294:936-937. 

Davis SR, McCloud P, Strauss BJ, Burger H. Testosterone enhances estradiol’s effects on postmenopausal bone density and sexuality. Maturitas. 1995;21:227-236. 

Sarrel P, Dobay B, Wiita B. Estrogen and estrogen-androgen replacement in postmenopausal women dissatisfied with estrogen-only therapy: sexual behavior and neuroendocrine responses. J Reprod Med. 1998;43:847-856.

Sarrel PM, Dobay B, Wiita B. Estrogen and estrogen– androgen replacement in postmenopausal women dissatisfied with estrogen-only therapy. J Reprod Med 1998;43:847–55.

Sarrel PM. Psychosexual effects of menopause: Role of androgens. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:319–21.

Shoupe D. Androgens and bone: Clinical implications for menopausal women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:S329–33.

Davies SR, McCloud P, Strauss BJ, Burger H. Testosterone enhances estradiols effect on postmenopausal bone density and sexuality. Maturitas 1995;21:227–36.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *