When people hear about testosterone, the often associate it with a man’s health because it really is the most important hormone for them. Although it is important for men, women also produce testosterone and it is a vital hormone for them as well. Both men and women’s testosterone levels drop naturally as they age, but the difference is that men’s testosterone drops by 10 percent every decade as they reach the age of 30. Women’s testosterone levels drops significantly up until they reach their menopausal stage and continue to drop during and after menopause. There are health implications and changes in the way you feel and think as your testosterone levels drop.

What Role Does Testosterone Play In The Women Body?

A sex-related hormone that ovaries, adrenal glands, and fat cells produce are called androgens. There are over 200 functions in women where androgen plays an important role and one of them is sexual arousal. Just like with men, low levels of these hormones in women may also result in decreased libido. On the other hand, women with high levels may suffer from a common endocrine disorder called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Irregular periods and growth of facial hair are some of the symptoms women who have PCOS experience and if not treated, it could cause infertility issues.

Why Do Men Need Testosterone?

Harris M. Nagler, MD, a urology chair emeritus at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City said “The role of testosterone in men is much more clearly defined than it is in women”. It enables men to produce sperm, desire sex, and function sexually. It also affects them physically like having facial hair, strong muscles and many others secondary sex characteristics. It also encourage men to take more risks. In February 2015, there is a study in Physiology & Behavior which showed that the more testosterone men had in their saliva, the more hot sauce they used.

Symptoms of Low Testosterone

Testosterone levels in women are also linked to their sexual desire. According to the American Society for Reproduction Medicine, low levels of testosterone may result in decreased interest in having sex due to decreased vagina blood flow and lubrication. Low testosterone levels in women may lead to osteoporosis since testosterone also plays a vital role in maintaining bone and muscle mass.

Men with low testosterone levels may experience a number of symptoms including some sex related issues like erectile dysfunction and low sex drive. Some of the symptoms may affect them physically like low energy, depression, inability to concentrate, reduced muscle mass and osteoporosis. If you are having these symptoms, talk with your doctor as soon as possible.

How To Get Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

There are many kinds of testosterone therapies, which come in different forms like gels, creams, patches, or injections. Though many find that their sex drive, energy and mood improves, Nagler said “while it may correct erectile problems, if there are other causes of the condition then another form of therapy may be needed to correct that”.

Women who have undergone testosterone therapy may find that the hormone increases their libido and some doctors use the therapy to help reduce vulva pain. According to Dr. Besler, “there is very little data that shows testosterone therapy is beneficial for women’s overall health long term but that’s not something approved by any professional society’s guidelines”.

Dr. Besler is recommending non-drug “low T therapy” like regular exercise, reducing stress, getting enough sleep, or losing weight if you are obese to help raise testosterone levels. When a person feels better about themselves, it helps one’s libido. Dr. Besler also considers using alternative medicine such as acupuncture.

Before using testosterone therapy which is seen in many advertisements today, consider first talking to a doctor who specializes in sexual medicine to help you find out what therapy is best for you.

There are other conditions that may have the same symptoms of low T such as thyroid dysfunction. According to Dr. Simhan, “It’s not easy to figure out who should be on testosterone therapy”. Dr. Nagler says that a man should have his levels tested at least twice, particularly in the morning, when levels peak before considering undergoing testosterone therapy. The FDA highly discourages men to take the therapy if aging is the only apparent cause of low levels.

Women should not take this therapy unless they are experiencing almost all low T’s symptoms. They should talk to a specialist and take tests before considering having the therapy. Dr. Larissa Bresler, MD, an assistant professor in the department of urology at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago said “it is extraordinary rare to have female sexual dysfunction due to low T. If you opt for testosterone therapy, be sure you choose a specialist who is very familiar with testosterone in women and would feel comfortable replacing it”.

Side Effects of Testosterone Therapy in Women and Males

There will be physical changes to a woman who undergoes testosterone therapy such as unwanted facial hair, oily skin and acne, and male pattern baldness. Testosterone from the therapy are converted into female hormones and according to Dr. Bresler, “unbalanced female hormone replacement may influence the risk for gynecological cancer”.

According to a September 2015 report in The Lancet: Diabetes & Endocrinology, there is no guarantee that there will be long-term effects in women’s health if they undergo the therapy. One of the reasons for the uncertainty is that the hormones from the therapy are products approved by the FDA for men. There are no approved products for women though doctors are still prescribing products approved for men to women. According to FDA Spokeswoman Andrea Fischer, “the FDA does not regulate the practice of medicine, and health care practitioners may choose to prescribe a lawfully marketed medication, based on their clinical assessment for purposes other than their approved use”.

There are also possible side effects to men when they undergo hormone therapy. According to a Harvard study, some may experience tender breasts and swollen ankles. It also causes overproduction of red blood cells, which puts you at risk for blood clots. There is no reason for you to take testosterone if it doesn’t work for you because it is not for everyone as Dr. Nagler said, there may be reasons not to take it.

Testosterone replacement can increase the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks specially to older men. The FDA requires testosterone drug makers to relay to their users that the therapy could increase the risk of heart attack and stroke and it may not increase the hormone levels that has been declined due to aging. They still require pharmaceutical companies to have long-term trials to identify the overall health effects of testosterone therapy.