How women may benefit from bioidentical testosterone therapy

Thursday, April 26, 2012 by: Healthy Times Newspaper
Tags: bioidentical hormones, women, therapy

(NaturalNews) Women experience a precipitous drop in estrogen during the years surrounding menopause. Ten or more years before the ovaries shut down, there are gradual declines in both progesterone and testosterone. Both are rarely measured in the course of normal physical examinations, yet both have critical roles in preventing the epidemic of estrogen-dominant diseases such as reproductive and breast cancer, autoimmune disease, reduced bone density and osteoporosis, as well as reduced libido and sexual insensitivity.

Testosterone therapy for women

More and more evidence over the last decade has suggested testosterone is a very important hormone in women, especially in terms of staying fit, lean and sexually active. A double-blind placebo controlled study of 75 women aged 31 - 56 who underwent hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy (ovary removal) found dramatic decreases in circulating testosterone levels. Over 12 weeks, the women were given a placebo patch, a patch containing 150 mcg of testosterone or a patch containing 300 mcg of testosterone. It was found the 300 mcg dose made significant improvements in sexual function, mood and general well being.

Perimenopause and menopause cause a similar decrease in testosterone as hysterectomy, though a more gradual one.

In the years before menopause and in spite of normal monthly cycles, or cycles with varying degrees of progesterone insufficiency (irregular periods, sore breasts, increased PMS, heavy bleeding, cramping, etc.), many women also have reduced testosterone levels and feel less energetic, weaker and have reduced libido. Testosterone seems to be quite important in maintaining a woman's energy level and sense of well being regardless of her age, and low levels can diminish motivation, induce fatigue and contribute to a low libido. Most all women with sexual dysfunction and lack of libido with low testosterone levels will benefit from restoration of adequate blood free testosterone levels via a topically compound cream. Women who exercise regularly will also experience what men do when they train and exercise - improved fitness, energy and recovery.

Does testosterone increase the risk of breast cancer?

It has been postulated for some time that estrogen contributes to breast cancer risk. This is a myth. Actually, bioidentical estradiol and/or estriol have never been shown to cause breast cancer, only synthetic non-bioidentical drugs such as Prempro do. Since exogenously administered testosterone can raise estradiol levels via conversion in the fat cells by the aromatase enzyme, some researchers have proposed testosterone replacement may increase breast cancer risk. Several studies have found this is NOT the case and, in fact, testosterone competing with estrogen at receptor sites can inhibit breast cancer cell growth.

One study looked at the effects of testosterone and tamoxifen (a widely used estrogen receptor blocker used to treat breast cancer) on breast cell stimulation. It was found testosterone inhibits growth stimulated by estrogen. Another study also found testosterone inhibits breast cell growth and has beneficial progesterone-like benefits to the uterus.

There is no FDA approved testosterone product, so compounded creams or gels provide an easy and inexpensive method of delivering bioidentical testosterone in an amount far less than what men need. This is determined by a combination of clinical symptoms and laboratory free testosterone measurements.

Article by David Mitzner, D.O. and Randy Ice, P.T. of Vintage Medical.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.vintagemedicalgroup.com/for_women.html

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM200009073431002

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2938865



About the author:
Watch the free video The AHA! Process: An End to Self-Sabotage and discover the lost keys to personal transformation and emotional well-being that have been suppressed by mainstream mental health for decades. Follow Mike Bundrant on Facebook for daily health and personal development tips.

Healthy Times Newspaper, founded by Mike and Hope Bundrant in 2004, serves local communities in Southern California.