Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
Testing Testosterone?
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Health & Wellness
  3. Health Centers
  4. Women

Testing Testosterone?

I am a 44-year-old female. My doctor said my testosterone level was low. I took injections for three months and didn’t like the side effects. Is there an alternative?

Andrew Weil, M.D. |August 28, 2008

Shot of an attractive young woman with a headache standing against a gray backgroundhttp://195.154.178.81/DATA/i_collage/pi/shoots/783719.jpg
2 min

You don’t say why your testosterone levels were tested or what benefits, if any, you derived from the injections you had. The most common complaint that leads to testosterone testing in women is low libido (diminished interest in sex). Testosterone, the main male sex hormone, is also present in small amounts in women. It is made in the ovaries and in the adrenal glands. Women’s levels are relatively low compared to men’s and begin to decline gradually after a peak at around age 20, but we don’t actually know what normal or average levels are for women of different ages. And we don’t know for sure that testosterone is responsible for women’s sex drive.

A study from the University of Pennsylvania published in October 2002 found that women who reported declining libido had fluctuating levels of testosterone. Those whose levels varied the most were two to three times more likely to report decreased libido than those whose levels were most stable.

But the latest study on the use of testosterone (given as a spray of different doses and tested in 261 premenopausal women) found that it didn’t do much to boost libido. The study, published in the April 15, 2008 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, found only limited improvements.

What’s more, using testosterone replacement as a way to restore a woman’s flagging sex drive may be risky. A study published in the July 24, 2006 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine found that taking estrogen and testosterone together appeared to more than double the risk of breast cancer. The findings came from the long-running Nurses’ Health Study, which includes more than 120,000 women. Over 24 years of followup, the researchers found that the risk of breast cancer among women taking the combination of estrogen and testosterone (most often in the form of the prescription drug Estratest) was 2.5 times higher than it was among women who never took hormones. Even after accounting for other breast cancer risk factors, such as family history, age, and weight at menopause, the researchers saw an increased risk.

In addition, testosterone often causes unpleasant side effects in women: excessive hair growth, acne, balding, and deepening of voice. Tieraona Low Dog, MD, an internationally recognized expert in the fields of integrative medicine, dietary supplements and women’s health, tells me that these side effects may be less likely to occur with topical testosterone cream than injections. She also suggests trying damiana (Turnera diffusa), a traditional herbal remedy from Mexico, for low libido, which she said is especially effective around menopause. You can find damiana extracts in stores that sell herbal products.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

A Healthy Valentine's Day? | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Women

A Healthy Valentine's Day?

A Mug Of Mugwort Tea? | Women | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Women

A Mug Of Mugwort Tea?

Mature Woman Experiencing Hot Flush From Menopause
Women

A New Treatment for Hot Flashes?

a test for ovarian cancer
Cancer

A Test for Ovarian Cancer?

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
A Healthy Valentine's Day? | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Women

A Healthy Valentine's Day?

A Mug Of Mugwort Tea? | Women | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Women

A Mug Of Mugwort Tea?

Daily Tips
Minimize Sore Throat Pain
Health Tips

4 Ways To Minimize Sore Throat Pain

Getting Enough Vitamin C
Health Tips

3 Reasons Why The Body Needs Vitamin C

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright2023 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com