Unexpected Benefits of Testosterone for Women in Menopause!

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Healthy testosterone levels benefit women by improving mood, increasing energy levels, boosting sex drive, optimizing reproductive health and promoting muscles, bones & brain functions!

When combined with estrogen, testosterone is an amazing hormone that can give us many benefits! But, like any hormone, testosterone must be kept at healthy levels. When this hormone is out of balance in women, a string of symptoms may happen!

What Happens If Women Take Too Little or Too Much Testosterone?

If you take too little or have low levels of testosterone, the following symptoms may occur:

  1. Low libido and sexual satisfaction
  2. Decrease in energy levels
  3. Mood changes
  4. Increased risk of osteoporosis, as low testosterone levels reduce bone strength and mass.
  5. Increase in body fat, because testosterone helps build muscles and a lack of it may cause weight gain.

On the other hand, too much testosterone in women can leave obvious effects on our physical appearance, including:

  1. Excess body hair and facial hair, especially on the chin and upper lip
  2. Thinning hair, especially around the hairline
  3. Acne and oily skin
  4. Enlarged clitoris
  5. Decreased breast size
  6. Deepening of the voice or hoarseness
  7. Increased muscle mass
  8. Changes in body shape
Unexpected Benefits of Testosterone for Women in Menopause!

3 Ways to Balance Testosterone Levels Naturally

Eating testosterone-balancing foods, taking the right supplements and making lifestyle changes are the best ways to balance your testosterone levels!

As we age and reach menopause, our testosterone levels decrease naturally. However, there are also other causes that can lower our T levels, such as problems with our ovaries and adrenal glands. For example, our T levels drop if our ovaries are removed or the adrenal glands don’t function properly.

The good news is, there are ways to maintain healthy levels of testosterone!

Testosterone Food List: The Essential Nutrients to Balance T-Hormones!

Here are the best foods to regulate your testosterone levels naturally:

  • Oysters, crabs, lobsters and other shellfish
  • Tuna, salmon and sardines
  • Beans (white, kidney or black), peas and lentils
  • Eggs (especially the yolk)
  • Organic, grass-fed beef (chuck roast, or ground beef and liver), lamb and pork
  • Garlic and onions
  • Mushrooms
  • Pomegranate, avocado and grapefruit
  • Seeds (flax and chia) and healthy nuts (walnuts, almonds)
  • Olive oil
  • Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, turnips, radish
  • Berries (blueberry, acai berry, raspberry and more)
  • Dark chocolate
  • Cayenne

You might be wondering why these foods are effective in balancing testosterone. Well, aside from the fact that most of them are superfoods, they have the following components and nutrients:

Essential fatty acids and omega-3 – The body needs cholesterol to produce testosterone and the ideal way to get this is through your essential fatty acids. On the other hand, omega-3 is known for its balancing effects to hormones.

Protein – Amino acids are essential in the production of testosterone. The best sources of amino acids are protein-rich foods.

Indoles – These compounds help balance hormones (like estrogen and progesterone) which can affect testosterone production. Some studies have shown that it also helps in reducing bad estrogen, which in turn, balances T-levels in the body.

Testosterone Supplements for Women

Zinc, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin B, vitamin D3 + K2 and Omega-3 fatty acids are helpful supplements to support healthy testosterone levels!

Eating a variety of healthy foods is the primary key to balancing our T-hormone levels. However, there are times when we need to fill in the missing nutrients in our diet through supplements! Here are some supplements to keep your T-hormones well-balanced:

The combination of these minerals helps in the regulation of testosterone production and supporting hormone function!

You can also supplement with herbs like Maca, Ashwagandha, Black Cohosh, Rhodiola, St. John’s Wort and Ginseng. These are adaptogens that actually work with the brain to balance sex hormones, not only testosterone, but also estrogen and progesterone.

Another herb that is very effective in boosting testosterone production is Tongkat Ali. This herb comes from Malaysia and is considered an aphrodisiac and a treatment for sexual dysfunction. In women, it increases libido. Aside from this, the herb improves energy levels, endurance and stamina and reduces mental fatigue.

Damiana is one of the best herbs to fix low testosterone in women. It has two active and naturally occurring compounds that prevent T-levels from dropping too low: Pinocembrin and Acacetin. In addition to this great benefit, damiana also has antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties!

DHEA or Dehydroepiandrosterone is a hormone that our body naturally produces. It functions to create male hormones such as testosterone as well as female hormones.

Back in the days, products containing DHEA were banned. But it was approved by the FDA back in 2016.

As we age, our DHEA levels go down. But fortunately, there are now supplements available in the market.

DHEA includes many benefits such as prevention of bone loss, increased muscle mass, more energy and reduction of fat. Some have even reported better sex drive and a more lubricated genital area.

Moreover, these vitamins, minerals and herbs are known to relieve menopause symptoms. So, by including them in your diet, you’re hitting two birds with one stone!

Try each supplement for a couple of weeks and observe how you feel. Take note of any side effects or reactions and stick with the one your body is in harmony with.

Lifestyle Changes for Healthy Testosterone Levels

The imbalances in our T-levels can also be improved by incorporating healthy habits in our daily activities.

Here are some simple lifestyle changes to get your T-levels back on track:

  1. Minimize alcohol consumption and avoid smoking. Alcohol and nicotine disturb the natural cycle of hormones in the body.
  2. Avoid sugar as much as possible! High blood sugar can suppress estrogen production. A decrease in estrogen means that the body will overcompensate by converting more testosterone to estrogen. As a result, your T-levels will decline.
  3. Choose organic goods for your meals and snacks. Chemicals on your food are not good for testosterone production.
  4. Bask in the sun for better vitamin D production!
  5. Follow high-intensity exercises (HIIT). The more physically demanding the exercise is, the better for your T-levels!
  6. Avoid plastic containers containing harmful disruptors that can mess the balance of testosterone.
  7. Avoid trans-fats, or those products that contain “partially hydrogenated” vegetable oil. They can mess up hormone production.
  8. Practice yoga and meditation to boost your T-levels naturally!

Aside from all these things mentioned, one of the best ways to balance testosterone is to have sex regularly. OH, YES TO SEX AND INTIMACY! Having sex once a week is recommended to maintain testosterone levels in women. Studies have shown that your T-levels begin to fall after one week of not having sex. Another great reason to keep your sex life alive!

Dr. Berg suggests avoiding three specific things to boost low testosterone levels! Watch the video here [6:39]:

How to Increase Testosterone? Must Avoid These 3 Things & Boost Testosterone – Dr.Berg

What is Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

Testosterone replacement therapy is a medical treatment used by some women to restore the natural balance of testosterone.

This method, however, is not FDA-approved. Therefore, the safety of this therapy is still unknown. For this reason, some doctors do not recommend testosterone replacement therapy for men — and even more so for women! In rare cases, where it is prescribed, only women who have sufficient estrogen levels are able to pass.

Women experiencing the following symptoms have been more interested in testosterone therapy:

  • reduced sex drive
  • depression and fatigue after surgically induced menopause
  • estrogen therapy did not work in the relief of severe menopause symptoms

The therapy usually starts with low doses of testosterone, as your doctor monitors how your body will react. The effect of this therapy is different from woman to woman. Testosterone therapy is administered in different forms:

  • Tablet
  • Gel
  • Implant
  • Patch – to be changed every 24 hours
  • Injectable – given on a weekly or as-needed-basis by your doctor. Since it has a systemic effect, it can result in hormone imbalance.

Most healthcare practitioners recommend the use of testosterone therapy through local administration, because it reduces the risk of side effects. Aside from this, it’s easier to stop the therapy, in case there are severe body reactions.

There are studies that link testosterone therapy to an increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease. However, further scientific studies must be performed for clear evidence.

It is also important to note that testosterone creams are formulated for men and can be too strong for female use. Since there is no FDA-approved testosterone product for women, some women tend to have their own testosterone creams or gels formulated by compounding pharmacies. If not, others use products created for men and try to reduce the dosage themselves, which still risks getting it in excess.

A research in Australia found that using a testosterone cream in standard 1% with 5mg and 10mg dosages had shown significant effects. The 5mg dose normalized testosterone levels within premenopausal range, while the 10mg dose elevated testosterone levels above the range.

Dr. John Gray is behind the best-selling book “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus” (a really great book about how men and women’s brains work), suggests that it´s wiser to allow the body to regulate testosterone levels on its own than taking synthetic testosterone.

He advises that going the natural route (such as eating healthily, exercising regularly and taking essential vitamins & minerals) is still the way to go!

Oh, and just in case your hubby or son gets to read this, tell him Dr. Gray has a great tip for him!

“If a woman is stressed, holding space for her means hearing what she has to say and providing a particular kind of loving support. When you do that, she can share her emotions in a more positive way.”

We would love to hear your thoughts so feel free to add your comments below

Let´s support each other. Use the share buttons in this article, so more women can get help and feel great!

References:
healthline.com/health/low-testosterone/effects-on-body
bodylogicmd.com/hormones-for-women/testosterone
naturalnews.com/022900_testosterone_estrogen_women.html
medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/331.html
womenshealth.northwestern.edu/blog/sex-specific-effects-dhea
health.harvard.edu/womens-health/study-identifies-effective-testosterone-dose-for-women
health.harvard.edu/womens-health/testosterone-therapy-is-it-for-women
hormonebalance.org/images/documents/Davison%2003%20Androgens%20in%20Women%20SBMB.pdf

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Unexpected Benefits of Testosterone for Women in Menopause!

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Gita

Gita is the founder of My Menopause Journey. Since 2014, she has been supporting midlife women by sharing hard-earned learnings from her own experience. To advance her knowledge, Gita puts a lot of her time and effort into understanding the broad spectrum of women’s health. She immerses in extensive research about the physical, mental and emotional aspects of menopause. Gita believes in the life-changing power of healthy, holistic living — this is where she anchors her message to all women. Learn more about her marvelous mission in About us - My Menopause Journey.

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