An essential anti-aging and libido hormone
Hormones are the chemical messengers that keep our bodies working. Their optimal level production and flow are among the key factors that govern our physical and psychological health throughout our lives. Among the reproductive hormones that influence human’s mental and physical health, testosterone is the one which has often been associated with men and virility. But research has revealed that testosterone is equally important for women as well. During the early reproductive years, the woman’s body accumulates 10 times more testosterone than estrogen. But as the process of aging continues, the production of testosterone is reduced, and that correlates with a number of physical and behavioral changes.
Testosterone production in woman’s body
Like estrogen, testosterone is also produced by the ovaries. Small quantities are also produced by the adrenal glands and peripheral tissues although ovaries are the major contributor of testosterone. During early years of adulthood, the ovarian capacity to produce testosterone is quite high. But with the passage of time, as the women reach to the age of late 30s or early 40s, the quantity of testosterone produced is gradually diminished. And once the woman reaches her 50s, when menopause occurs, the testosterone production is reduced by half. In women who have undergone hysterectomy or oophorectomy the production of testosterone can drop even lower.
Impact of testosterone deficiency in Women
Reduction in the levels of testosterone in a female body may lead to several issues. Following are some of the common visible effects.
- Testosterone directly affects the skin cells and hair follicles. Thus low testosterone levels can induce and speed-up the processes of hair loss and aging.
- Another important aspect of testosterone is its association with fat storage within the adipose tissues of the body. Lower levels of testosterone within the body may result in weight gain which ultimately leads to fatigue, tiredness and low energy.
- Testosterone is directly related to the sexual desire. A major consequence of its deficiency is loss of libido.
- Testosterone affects the bones and muscles equally. Low testosterone levels may enhance the risk of osteoporosis and loss of muscle tone.
- Another important impact of lower production of testosterone is on brain functioning. The lower level of testosterone causes loss of mental focus and concentration. Mental fogginess and loss of cognitive skills has been reported in several cases.
- Besides causing cognitive and behavioral harms, low testosterone levels also affect the cardiovascular health in women.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy for Testosterone Deficiency
For women facing testosterone deficiency, the best available treatment is testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Although other treatment options such as anabolic steroids exist, testosterone replacement therapy is the safest. Scientific evidence proves that women treated with TRT therapy significantly improve their libido. The other reported benefits of TRT therapy include increased blood flow to organs and reduction of risk to Type2 diabetes by dropping insulin resistance. Overall advantages of TRT therapy in women as reported by the individuals include relieve in the symptoms of menopause e.g. vaginal dryness, hot flashes and urinary urgency. Regarding psychological impacts, TRT decreases the symptoms of depression, anxiety and mental fogginess thus improving focus and concentration. TRT also reduces the chances of development of breast cancer and malignant tumors.
Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy
Based on the origin, there are different types of Testosterone replacement therapy options available. But the best of them is bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). Utilizing BHRT as a treatment has several benefits. It is just like injecting your own hormones. Biologically identical hormones are similar in structure at the molecular level to the hormones already naturally produced within the body. These hormones are not treated as foreign agents by the body. Rather they get metabolized and excreted in the same way as the ones that are produced naturally.
Testosterone: A must have for the aging women
We are living in the era of increased stresses and polluted environment. In today’s challenging lifestyle, women who are facing the problems of aging, lowered libido, decreased cognitive abilities and musculoskeletal problems such as osteoporosis, must get their testosterone levels tested. And if they are diagnosed with the deficiency of this hormone, the best available treatment such as Bioidentical Hormone Therapy should be considered. Click here to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Fleischman, our Bioidentical Hormone Therapy specialist.