Testosterone – Do You Need It?

More and more women are asking about testosterone supplements, especially since many celebrities recommend them.

While there are situations where it might be needed, it’s important to understand the risks and benefits before starting them.

Testosterone is already produced in the female body with progesterone being a key element in its production.

It is said to improve women’s sex drive, but it can also lead to side effects like increased hair growth, acne, and changes in voice.

Instead of using testosterone, adding progesterone can be a better way to boost your libido.

Recent studies suggest that testosterone supplements may increase the risk of heart disease, so it’s essential to discuss it with your doctor before considering them.

Not everyone should take it

Studies show that more women in England have been using testosterone in the past ten years.

But, experts say there is little proof that testosterone helps with tiredness and mood, and it can cause problems like hair loss, acne, and voice changes.

Doctors who work with bioidentical hormones have been cautious about advising testosterone for women. It has potential for side effects and there are no long term studies on its results.

Also, these doctors think it should only be used under direct medical supervision due to the risks and side effects.

Since there is no specific testosterone product for women, you will get a smaller amount of the products used for men.

A hormone expert’s view

Dr. Channa Jayasena, a hormone expert at Imperial College London, says:

“The main point is that too many women are being given testosterone when they don’t really need it. Women going through normal life changes are being told this is a special solution. But it is not, and we do not know what the long-term side effects are.”

Recently, experts have linked the treatment to a serious issue and that is heart disease.

Dr. Channa Jayasena commented:

“We still need more studies to know for sure how testosterone use in women affects the heart, but it is certainly not harmless,

Hair loss is a common symptom because testosterone can cause the skin to develop more male characteristics, including thinning hair and a receding hairline. Others may get acne due to testosterone stimulating the skin’s oil glands, which clog pores.”

Too much testosterone can also make a woman’s voice deeper by thickening the vocal cords. Unlike some side effects, this change can be permanent, even after treatment stops.

He further said:

“I want to be clear that this does not mean women who have been properly prescribed the treatment through the NHS should stop taking it. It just means women who do not have ongoing low libido should be aware of the potential risks. The good news is that the effects of testosterone usually go away when you stop taking it.”

Helpful information

So the very first question you need to ask when considering testosterone is why do you need it?

If you think your testosterone levels may be too low, then your doctor could certainly check those for you. However, you may find that simply increasing your levels of progesterone through supplementation may be helpful first.

Reasons women often give for wanting testosterone are libido, feeling tired and mood swings. Progesterone helps with all of these as well as low sex drive so look at your hormone balance first.

If low libido is a specific issue then the following can be helpful:

https://blog.wellsprings-health.com/are-any-of-these-killing-your-sex-drive/