Testosterone-Why Too Much of a Good Thing is a VERY BAD Thing

  If you've seen me in the office or followed my page on Facebook, then you probably already know that women need a little bit of testosterone. Although considered a male hormone, testosterone is necessary in women too. Testosterone is important for improving energy levels, and improving mood, memory, and overall brain health. It helps with muscle size and strength. It helps build healthy, strong bones. It helps create a healthy pelvic floor by improving muscle strength and decreasing incontinence. It helps with libido and overall enjoyment of life. One thing I have noticed after doing hormone consulting for so long that low testosterone in women is associated with premature aging.

But like so many other things in life, too much of a good thing can be a very bad thing.

On almost daily basis, I am seeing social media posts of women who are being given extremely high doses of testosterone. Some women are being given doses of testosterone that are 10 times more than a normal healthy woman would produce, and even more than a normal man would make!

Testosterone molecule model via Wikipedia.

And these women are having unintended problems from too much testosterone, whether they are using pellets, injections, or topical testosterone creams or gels. Too much testosterone causes masculinization. Women with too much T can develop severe acne, an enlarged clitoris, increased facial and body hair, and scalp hair loss-even male pattern baldness. Recently, a woman commented on a post on my Facebook page after she was horribly overdosed on testosterone. She developed deepening of her voice, losing her ability to sing high notes. But more devastating was having severe scalp hair loss.  She now is seeing a doctor specializing in hair regrowth. She is using a prescription topical medication, that has some pretty scary side effects. She will be getting hair extensions. And she will end up spending a couple thousand dollars because she was overdosed by a provider who doesn't really have a deep understanding of hormones and used way more testosterone than was needed.

The reason that so many women are being overdosed on testosterone (and estrogen & progesterone) is because the providers they see use blood tests to measure levels. And it takes massive amounts of fat soluble hormones to get blood levels to increase. I have been preaching against the use of blood tests for years now. And yet it is still sadly the "standard of care" for most hormone providers, and it leads to horrible problems.

But there is a better way.

Just this week, I saw a woman who was able to increase her testosterone levels from an extremely low level (even lower than most 80 year old women) all the way up to the levels of a healthy 30 year old.  This client saw me initially a few years ago when she was low on all hormones.  She met with me for a consultation where we reviewed her saliva test results and I recommended some inexpensive, over-the-counter supplements. Her hormone levels are all in ideal range now, and more importantly, she feels better and has had improvement in a lot of symptoms. Her friends are even telling her that her skin looks better!

She has had no adverse effects. And she wasn't overdosed with testosterone or other hormones.

This is a safer, more sensible, and reasonable way to balance a woman’s hormones. My client should continue to thrive during menopause, and having balanced hormones should help her slow down the aging process.

This is why I went into medicine. To help women live their healthiest and happiest lives possible. Sadly, in traditional medicine, I didn't have the tools to help women achieve better health. Now, the saddest part of my day is watching women suffer needlessly because they choose to see the wrong hormone provider.

To prevent falling prey to bad hormone advice, you need to at least learn the basics about hormones. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to get accurate advice. To be totally bulletproof from bad hormone advice (whether it's from your own doctor or some social media guru) I'd highly recommend that you sign up for my Hormonal Harmony Course. You will learn why hormones are important, all of the testing options available and why saliva is usually superior, how to interpret your results and which over the counter products are safe and how much to use, and how and when to retest. The goal is so you can get your hormones balanced for a lifetime.

You just might save yourself from a lot of suffering. And you'll be more likely to keep your hair.

Or if you are a returning client, would like to take the Hormonal Harmony Course, and need a saliva test and follow up visit, use this link to sign up. have seen me in the past, click here for a very special offer (you're basically getting a saliva test and follow up visit for free. Only available for the next 4 people)