Hormone replacement therapy
What about other hormones?
Q: I’m 51, and my hormone panel showed that my hormone levels are very low — but it’s not just estrogen, it’s ALL of them, including some I didn’t even know I had! But my doctor has said that all I really need are the estrogen and progesterone pills. Do I need testosterone and DHEA along with estrogen and progesterone, or can I get by without them?
A: Testosterone and DHEA may be harder to ask for from a conventional doctor, so you may want to wait on these and get the bioidentical estrogen and progesterone first. We do not usually recommend Estratest or any other products with methyltestosterone because they are oral, and not hormones in bioidentical form. There are exceptions — it may sometimes be prescribed for women with breast cancer, for example.
If really needed for libido, energy, or muscle tone, there are some bioidentical testosterone products that can be considered for women. The female testosterone patch is still being studied and seems held up by the FDA for various reasons. Testim Gel is FDA-approved for men by prescription, but women only need a pea- or dime-sized amount of it daily, applied to the skin of the thigh, pubis, or clitoris area.
Alternatively, bioidentical testosterone can be obtained by prescription from a compounding pharmacy, which supplies it in cream or gel form. I suggest only 1–4 mg applied topically daily for women, starting at the lower dose and increasing it slowly.
You can also look at our articles on low libido and rekindling your desire to read more about testosterone.
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Our Personal Program is a great place to start
The Personal Program promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritional supplements, our exclusive endocrine support formula, dietary and lifestyle guidance, and optional phone consultations with our Nurse–Educators. It is a convenient, at-home version of what we recommend to all our patients at the clinic.
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Related to this article:
References & further reading for FAQ’s about HRT
Original Publication Date: 03/02/2009
Last Modified: 08/17/2009
Principal Author: Marcy Holmes, NP, Certified Menopause Clinician