The continued debate on women using testosterone to boost their sex drive

Most people understand that male sexuality is related to testosterone. When a man is feeling a low sex drive testosterone levels is one of the first tests that a doctor may run or even prescribe testosterone replacement. This of course is not the same when a woman expresses loss of sexual drive and in fact it is common knowledge that almost all doctors will not even mention that a woman could be low in testosterone levels and this is why she is not feeling any desire. Many women experience feelings of loss of sexual desire shortly before, during or after menopause. Too often these women are given only estrogen and progesterone but not testosterone therapy. When they continue to experience these feelings of diminished sexuality, women are sometimes usually advised to seek out psychological help. This is not to say that psychological help or more so help from a sexologist would not be a more appropriate solution, actually both may help. Woman as we know are more emotionally tied into the feelings of desire, meaning that they need to have desire and then arousal. The boost in testosterone for a woman could very well trigger the feelings of desire or as they would say for a man sexual urges. The added testosterone is all a woman may need to get the urge of sexual desire back. Even though the female body produces only one-tenth of the amount of testosterone that a males body does, that one-tenth has a tremendous impact on a woman's desire to want to have sex.

There are other ways that a woman can promote desire without the use of testosterone, but if she is indeed not getting the level of testosterone that her body does require, then it is going to be all that more difficult for her to get her engines going.

This is why hormone replacement therapy with only estrogen and progesterone that most doctors recommend is not sufficient in some cases (though they are very important as well). Estrogen does have a small role, in that it aids in the production of vaginal lubricants, which decrease after menopause. However, the sex drive itself is almost entirely fueled by testosterone. Any woman who is hoping to regain her sense of being a sexy and vibrant woman should seek out a hormone specialist who understands the role of testosterone on female sexuality. Along with the added benefits of the testosterone, a woman in her fifties can once again have the benefit of desire back in her life.

The one negative aspect about testosterone without the help from a sexologist along with a hormone doctor, is that many times when the desire does hit a woman she still may not be quite sure how to channel the sexual desire into her relationship and may still have problems with orgasm. For women that are younger and testosterone replacement is the not the problem for lack of desire and they emotionally have lost their sexual desire, then going to see a professional sexologist would be the best solution.

1/17/2011 10:51:13 AM
Dawn Michael
Written by Dawn Michael
I am Certified Clinical Sexologist and Relationship Coach, helping couples to enjoy a healthy sex life. I am a sexual healer, counselor and coach. I offer couples counseling as well as individual counseling. For more information visit my website "The Happy Spouse".
View Full Profile Website: http://www.thehappyspouse.com/

Comments
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Posted by jaysonblk
Hi Peace thank you for the kind words, I am a marriage counselor and a sexologist and if you want to set up an appointment to talk you can visit my website and go to the liveperson for a chat. <url removed> I can help you to find a good relationshp with someone, it sounds like you may need someone to talk to about things going on in your life. All the best, Dawn
Posted by Dawn Michael
Thank you Beth for the feedback and adding more information to the article that was very helpful. Yes for the most part the side effects are few, and if needed than it really is going to make a big difference for a woman to get her desire back!
Posted by Dawn Michael
Dear happyspouse, You are correct in that testosterone helps to fuel desire. Testosterone should always be included in all hormone replacement regimens because it is key in maintaining breast health, mood health, bone health and overall well-being. Side effects only occur when levels are raised to above normal. Raising levels up to normal will not produce side effects. You are also correct that young women may need testosterone supplementation even while their ovaries are still working (pre-menopause). By the time a woman is 40 years old she has half the amount of testosterone as a woman of 25. Youthful levels are the levels you should strive for with all hormone replacement. Normal levels of all of the ovarian hormones, testosterone, estradiol, progesterone and dhea are important elements in having a reliable sex drive and sexual response in adults of all ages! Thanks, Beth Rosenshein
Posted by Beth Rosenshein
Hi Callisse, I am not a medical doctor, but I am trained in the field of sexology and I work with doctors. The best thing that you can do is to go and see your gyno, or a hormone specialist and ask then to test your hormones including your testosterone levels, you have to ask because they will not offer. Yes of course there are side effects to any medication that you take and the same goes for a woman taking testoserone, like growing hair in places that you dont want it to grow, but if you do have low testosterone and that is one of the problems, you can always try out a patch and see how it works.
Posted by Dawn Michael
What is the test for testosterone level called? If my insurance won't cover it, is it expensive? If I'm not producing the hormone that signals menopause has started (recently tested), is it possible that I could still be low in testosterone? I have high androgen levels due to CAH. Is there any link between androgen and testosterone levels? What risks are there to testosterone supplementation? Is it expensive? What kind of doctor would I see about this?
Posted by Calli
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