Testosterone for Women: testing, dosing, & symptoms of low testosterone | Felice Gersh, MD
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 มิ.ย. 2024
- Women need testosterone. It's not a "male hormone;" it's a human hormone. And just as with every other human hormone, women need the right amount to be healthy and feel good.
Join me to do a deep dive into what testosterone does in the female body and what levels are needed for optimal health. We'll look at why someone might have too little (or too much!) and what symptoms you might notice if your testosterone is too low (or too high!).
We'll also talk about testing, dosing, formulations, and other issues around testosterone supplementation.
Watch for my latest Instagram live at / dr.felicegersh
I am a full time practicing doctor. I see patients in my office in Irvine, CA and worldwide via telemedicine. If you need more healthcare assistance than I can provide in a video series, please contact my office:
integrativemgi.com/
---- Contents of this video --------------------------
00:00 - What is testosterone?
02:24 - Testosterone is an androgen
03:26 - How do women make testosterone?
04:55 - DHEAS
06:13 - Causes of low testosterone
08:17 - Low testosterone is not caused by menopause
10:02 - Menopause can cause HIGH testosterone
12:40 - Many women benefit from some testosterone as they age
14:04 - The interconnection btw estrogen and testosterone
16:57 - You must get testosterone thru a compounding pharmacy
18:27 - Testosterone level targets and dosing
The absolute BEST medical provider I've listened to so far!! Years of researching, listening, reading, watching & this woman is FABULOUS!
I love the clarity, intelligence and humor of all of your videos. I am so happy to be on a cyclic schedule as I continue to learn from your videos. Thank you so much for being here!💖💖
I'm 68 & have been using bioidentical hormones since pre menopause at 50 because I had muscle stiffness symptoms during peri-menopause. I only switched from progesterone cream to oral compounded progesterone recently and noticed it is calming as well. I always have assumed we need to cycle the progesterone through the month and love hearing your message to do so even my NDs never mentioned doing so!! Im going to look into your educational courses to help myself further. ❤
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video ❤
So informative, thank you very much!
This was really informative, thank you!
So informative! Thank you
If you're having trouble with testosterone pellets, then you're not doing it correctly. Start at the lowest dose first and incremental increase after mid point testing. Creams are useless due to inconsistencies in rate and amount of absorption, especially for testosterone cream. Love the detail on the hormones interactions.
You are amazing. I learned so much from you.
Thank you for the useful information❤
How do you suggest to best support adrenals? Would love a video on that topic
Thank you Dr. Gersh for the most amazing, educational videos. I took your course as well and it was extremely helpful.
Regarding testosterone, is it possible that when supplementing with DHEA will raise testosterone enough to not need testosterone supplementation?
Also, you mentioned that estrogen and progesterone supplementation should be well established first for a few months before introducing testosterone? Is this the case for DHEA as well?
Thank you!
I took your Prescribing Hormones for Menopause course. I really like the Advanced Rhythmic HRT Dosing Protocol. Would you suggest a similar protocol for testosterone?
❤❤❤❤❤❤ thank you more videos please🙏
I was prescribed testosterone cream. It’s only .5mg per ml and they said to start with 1-2 clicks per day. So I just did 2 clicks for a total of 1mg. It seems so low. Is that a normal amount for a post menopausal woman who had a hysterectomy 12 yrs ago? My Dr has not gotten back to me. I know she wants to be conservative but I heard you need at least 5mg daily. I have no energy or libido. Please help!
It is OK to start with low dose. And then to correct it.
Yes thats low for most women
I have high testerone with PCOS symptoms (many of which you described like acne, excessive hair growth like a man on face and body, baldness) and a tumor on my pituitary which causes elevated prolactin. Could the tumor on the pituitary cause high testerone in addition to the ovaries?
Unfortunately I tried testosterone for two weeks, and it made me irritable. I was ready to punch someone in the face. I had to stop. I’m sure mine is low in post menopause and I have zero libido, but I’m thinking testosterone might not be for me.
some women cannot tolerate even the smallest doses of T. I have seen this happen in my female patients. Cut down the dose as much as possible and build up slowly.
@@drarden6303, thank you! That’s good to know. I really appreciate your input.
That's interesting. Women are meant to have testosterone, there must be some other reason it doesn't work for you. Maybe the dose is too high.
Hi Doctor, please how can we contact your office? please
The website you have listed for your office doesn’t go to a page.
On estradiol patch..take progesterone orally...had a complete hysterectomy years ago. I dont have any ovaries. Low limbido..trying to figure it out.
The first competent Doctor able to explain the need for testosterone in women. Every other “doctor” on you tube swear on the importance to prescribe it to all menopausal women.
women produce 10 times more testosterone that estrogen. Ii's a fallacy that is a "male" hormone. This woman is not basing her assumptions in studies. Go to PUB MED and read them yourself.
As I hold my box of syringes & testosterone waiting for someone at my appt to show me how to give myself shots.
This is very informative. So most menopausal women are not being prescribed T correctly? I have to use a male gel called Tostran, which is double strength (!) , and then guess how much to apply for it to be a suitable dose for me. Which is going to be a 1/20th amount of this double strength product. The prescribed dose is 1 full pump on alternate days, or 2-3 times a week. Much too strong.
I haven't heard of any women using Testosterone twice daily, even if we could get a suitable product (I'm in the UK, under the NHS). What are the benefits of that twice a day regime? Thank you 😊xx
Your doctor should order a 1 or 2% Testosterone cream from a compounding pharmacy. One is Women's International Pharmacy in Arizona.
@@drarden6303 thank you 🤗. Unfortunately, I'm in the UK, we don't really have compounding, definitely not in the NHS. We're reliant on doctors agreeing to prescribe a men's licensed product, which they're reluctant to do at best. There used to be a T patch licensed for women, but they stopped supplying it because doctors didn't prescribe it often enough. It's like the HRT Dark Ages here in many ways. I'm glad you have better access 😊xx
@@anne-louisegoldieWe still have to pay out of pocket… the compounding pharmacy is not covered by insurance.
@@MissWeezeyUSA that's big pharma and medication monopolies for you. And unfairness to women.
The American insurance healthcare system seems scary to me, inexpensive treatments are charged at wildly inflated costs. And your compounded isn't covered.
We don't have the option of compounded here, it's all prepackaged products. I understand the advantage of being sure of the dose and ingredients in prepackaged, and for inventory control in the NHS, but it takes away any other options for patients.
I wonder if any countries have the perfect balance? 🤗xx
How do you “release”
Or free
Up testosterone?
Apparently if you take boron it can lower the 'sex hormone binding globulin,' which is what binds up testosterone. I don't know how well it really works. If you have too much estrogen it can lower the testosterone or decrease the sensitivity of the testosterone receptors. There are lifestyle steps and supplements that can help lower excess estrogen. Also it's important to know that certain prescribed medications can be blocking the testosterone or increasing the 'sex hormone binding globulin' and so lowering the free testosterone.
What about if you have Primary Adrenal insufficiency and very low testosterone?
Love to know that too!!
What about taking DHEA in a pill form as an alternative to taking testosterone?
I take sublingual dhea. They call it the poor man's testosterone. It has actually restored my free testosterone to youthful female levels so I am happy with this.
@@charleedell92 How many mg/ day do you take?
@@charleedell92Where do you get it from? Do you need prescription for that?
But you should not take DHEA, without testing it first to see if actually is low
@@charleedell92 Cool!! I might try that if it comes to it. I have plenty of testosterone but it's bound up by high SHBG.
I have testosterone deficiency (symptoms & lab work), and was just prescribed the gel (testavan 20mg/g gel). I was told its the only product available here in Portugal. I’m originally from Sweden and there I got the same reply. Perhaps that is the only thing available in Europe? Is it really that bad to take? 😟 (if dosed the recomennded pea sized amount?) I am 44 now and had a lot of lab work done. I have good levels of all female hormones, as well as adrenal function, thyroid & pituary gland. I belive I’ve had a low level of T since I suffered from anorexia in my late teens. I know looking back I’ve had symptoms since my early to mid 20ies. At some point, around 27 I had hormone testing done and was told everything was fine, just a bit low on testosteron, and at that time they didnt think that would be a problem for me. Of course I know now that a lot of my health issues were probably related to that low level 😢 My levels of T were now so low they were (had them take 3 times) not even detectable in the tests. I have all sorts of health problems. Yes non existent libido is one, but problems with joints and muscle, cognition and physical strength, memory, general recovery after illness or injury and specifically issues with nerve recovery (irreversible neurological pain after abdominal surgery 8 years ago). The list goes on. So I am in great need of at least trying testosteron to see if it can help. To be warned then that gel is bad is so disheartening 😢 Will I only get myself into more trouble? Its the only thing available for me in this part if the world. When choosing between gel or nothing, with all my problems, should I still give the gel a try? 😟
Gel is not bad. Injections are best.
My close relative who is 41 years young,started taking Testosterone about 3 years ago. It helps a lot with sleep and strength. I noticed a little hair on her face but she doesn’t care because she feels better. She has the pellets inserted. I will soon go to a doctor that is a hormone women’s doctor. I’m hopeful, I’d like to gain weight and sleep better among other issues like getting up at night to go to the bathroom. I agree I do not like the pellets.
Dr. Gershwin does NOT like pellets, it’s a huge money maker & when you get pellets you get too much hormone in beginning.
Injections are best.
I’m on bioidentical extradiol/progesterone, the levels look good but zero sex drive, and zero passion for live, in fact I’m too passive to even work. It’s like all the magic has gone from the world . Tried dhea but it gave me a stomachache and a jitters like having too much coffee ( tried tablets and topical oils - very small doses, still no good. I’m a a good candidate for testosterone?
I have dhea that I take when on it at bedtime. Deepest sleep ever.
I wish my doctor would add testosterone…I feel the same way you describe.
Why wouldn't women just supplement or replace testosterone and let it convert to the estrogen on its own? Is this a good method? I heard what ypubsaid about it down regulating estrogen receptors but i guess it is hard to understand how that happens when all estrogen comes from testosterone? Thanks for the great video!
That happens mostly in men. Not so much in women. Dr Gersh explained this in an older video
and there is no guarantee that T gets converted to Estradiol. It could get converted to dihydrotestosterone
@@leenmarier5729 I must have missed that video. Do you happen to have the link? Or do you remember the topic she was talking about? I have tried to search her videos but I can not find that one.
My shbg is sky high which is making my free testosterone low. Any ideas how to fix this?
Where can I get test online? Does anyone know?