Dr. Maupin discusses the issues some women may have from testosterone replacement.
Most of you know that when I replace hormones for my female patients, I only use bio-identical estradiol and testosterone in the form of long lasting (3-6 months) subcutaneous pellets.
I have limited my practice to this type of delivery system because pellets deliver the most stable dose with the fewest side effects, while supplying a steady supply of testosterone compared to other delivery forms of bio-identical testosterone. However, no medical treatment is perfect for everyone, and it is important to know what the side effects of any treatment is both as a doctor and a patient. There is no medical care that I know of that does not create complaints of some form by patients. Sometimes it is because they have not listened, or not read our literature given them at their appointment. We try to prepare patients for the temporary symptoms of their first Testosterone insertion
There are several problems that occur during the first 4 months after the T pellets are inserted. These side effects are treatable and temporary. and usually present during the first 4 months after the first pellet insertion. I will dedicate the accompanying Healthcast to the early side effects of testosterone pellets and what we recommend lessening these effects. Of all the types of testosterone replacement for women, pellet replacement has fewer and less severe side effects than all other forms of testosterone for women. The immediate side effects of this type of testosterone
Temporary issues in the first 4 months:
- Vaginal Itching-not an infection!
- Clitoral enlargement!
- Hyper-sexuality
- Weight Gain=muscle gain
These four complaints compose the most common phone calls we get after treatment with Testosterone pellets, even though we give our patients handouts preparing them for the adaptation changes the female body goes through when readjusting to testosterone blood levels in their bodies. The changes caused by testosterone deficiency occur slowly, so slowly in fact that you may not realize the numbness of the vulva and vagina, the shrinkage of the clitoris and vaginal opening, and lack of libido and muscle mass that accompanies loss of T. It takes several months for reversal of those deficiency symptoms and the adaptation that takes place as everything goes back to the normal you were accustomed to when you were younger, before testosterone became deficient. It is the re-adaptation to testosterone that causes the symptoms during the first 4 months.
For a full video describing these issues and the treatments, please go to my website biobalancehealth.com watch the videocast for #601. This presentation will include the slides and audio explaining them. You can also go to You Tube to view the short lectures and slides about the side effects of testosterone pellets in women #600-603.
This Health cast was written and presented by Dr. Kathy Maupin, M.D., Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Expert and Author. www.BioBalanceHealth.com • (314) 993-0963.
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