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SottoPelle® Recognizes Dr. Erica Balthrop for outstanding contributions to BHRT and Her Quality Care for Her Patients! 

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SottoPelle® announces its “Featured Provider Series” showcasing various Providers that have made a difference to their patients, offering leading-edge Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).

Erica Balthrop, M.D. has been a SottoPelle® Trained Provider since November 2019.

Erica Balthrop, M.D. specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology and has been in a private medical practice in Clarksdale, MS for more than 20 years.  Dr. Balthrop is one of three physician partners at The Woman’s Clinic, P.A.

In regards to hormone therapy, Erica Balthrop, M.D. has been using other alternatives such as injections and creams.  Living in a small town, she knew most patients were driving 2 hours or more to seek therapy and wanted to bring the same service closer to home.  Living in a rural community, Erica Balthrop M.D.  wanted to offer the same level of services as a large city, and the result was finding SottoPelle® and bringing that methodology to her practice.

Erica Balthrop, MD. has the following education and qualifications:

  • Erica Balthrop, M.D. completed her undergraduate studies at Loyola University of Chicago in 1987.
  • She attended graduate school at Western Kentucky University and completed her Doctor of Medicine degree at Finch University in 1996.
  • Erica Balthrop, M.D. completed her Residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cook County Hospital in 2000.

 

When she’s not working, you’ll find Dr. Balthrop spending time with her 3 children.  Soccer is a big sport in their family and keeps them on the move.  She is also a seasoned runner, who has even had the opportunity of running a full Marathon.

“We are proud to be associated with Erica Balthrop, M.D. whom we have trained to understand the best practices of BHRT,” states CarolAnn Tutera, CEO of SottoPelle®.   “We are thrilled to have Dr. Balthrop as a Provider of Note who shares our vision of best practices and quality patient care.”

To view additional information about Erica Balthrop, MD. or to contact the office; please visit his SottoPelle® directory listing:   https://www.sottopelletherapy.com/doctors/erica-balthrop-md/

Provider Information:

Erica Balthrop, M.D.
The Women’s Clinic
2000 North State Street
Clarksdale, Mississippi 38614
(662) 627-7361

SottoPelle® Recognizes Rikki Youngworth, FNP-C for outstanding contributions to BHRT and Her Quality Care for Her Patients!

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SottoPelle® Announces its “Featured Provider Series” showcasing various Providers that have made a difference to their patients offering leading-edge Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).

Rikki Youngworth, FNP-C has been a SottoPelle® Trained Provider since October 2019.

Look around you the next time you’re out and about. Chances are many of the men and women surrounding you are experiencing daily fatigue, unexplained weight gain, mood changes, and muscle aches due to hormonal imbalance. But often these symptoms can easily be alleviated by addressing that imbalance. For many, that journey toward wellness begins by restoring the natural balance of their hormones with SottoPelle® bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, thus helping to ease their symptoms for physical, mental, and emotional health. Rikki Youngworth FNP-C offers personalized care and BHRT pellet therapy, at Valley Spinal Care, helping patients live life to its fullest potential.

Having had her life personally changed from hormonal balance, Rikki strives to focus on the patient’s physical and emotional wellbeing to meet their individual needs. She believes in having a collaborative relationship with her patients, with a passion for patient education and optimal wellness. “I’ve always been passionate about caring for others and being a Nurse Practitioner allows me to live that passion”. At Valley Spinal Care, Rikki helps her patients live happier and healthier through services including chiropractic care, trigger point injections, weight management, allergy testing, and myotherapy.

Rikki Youngworth, FNP-C has the following education and qualifications:

  • Rikki Youngworth, FNP-C graduated from University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work in 1993
  • Master of Social Work in 1995
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Grand Canyon University in 2006.
  • Rikki Youngworth, FNP-C began her career and spent the next 14 years, working at John C Lincoln Hospital in cardiac, oncology, and medical-surgical units.
  • Rikki Youngworth, FNP-C completed her Master’s degree at Chamberlain College of Nursing in 2018 and is now a family nurse practitioner certified through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

When she’s not working, you’ll find Rikki, a seasoned long-distance runner, outside hiking, or biking and spending as much time as possible with her partner and their 5 children.

“We are proud to be associated with Rikki Youngworth, FNP-C whom we have trained to understand the best practices of BHRT,” states CarolAnn Tutera, CEO of SottoPelle®.   “We are thrilled to have Rikki Youngworth, FNP-C as a Provider of Note who shares our vision of best practices and quality patient care.”

To view additional information about Rikki Youngworth, FNP-C or to contact the office, please visit his SottoPelle® directory listing:  https://www.sottopelletherapy.com/doctors/rikki-youngworth-fnp-c/

Provider Information:
Rikki Youngworth, FNP-C
Valley Spinal Care
1 N. Central Ave, Suite #104
Phoenix, AZ   85004
(602) 368-3578
https://www.valleyspinalcare.com/

SottoPelle® Recognizes Kushna K. Damallie, MD. for outstanding contributions to BHRT and His Quality Care for His Patients

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SottoPelle® Announces its “Featured Provider Series” showcasing various Providers that have made a difference to their patients offering leading-edge Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).

Kushna K. Damallie, MD. has been a SottoPelle® Trained Provider since October 2019.

Kushna K. Damallie, MD. was born in Nassau, Bahamas, and completed his undergraduate studies at Morris Brown College in 1995.  Kushna K. Damallie, MD. is an obstetrics & gynecology specialist in Clarksdale, Mississippi.   Kushna K. Damallie MD. completed his residency at Johnson City Medical Center East Tennessee State University.  He currently practices at The Woman’s Clinic and is affiliated with Northwest Mississippi Medical Center.

Kushna K.  Damallie, MD.  has more experience with Gynecologic Care, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Obstetric Care than other specialists in his area.   Kushna K. Damallie, MD. is dedicated to outstanding care and proactive support for the many issues and concerns that arise as we age.  Since adding SottoPelle® BHRT to his practice, Kushna K. Damallie, MD. has been able to provide his patients with more options to relieve their health issues.

Kushna K. Damallie, MD. is affiliated with numerous hospitals throughout Mississippi and more, such as Northwest Mississippi Medical Center, North Sunflower Medical Center and Merit Health Northwest Regional Medical Center.

“We are proud to be associated with Kushna K. Damallie, MD. whom we have trained to understand the best practices of BHRT,” states CarolAnn Tutera, CEO of SottoPelle.   “We are thrilled to have Kushna K. Damallie, MD. as a Provider of Note who shares our vision of best practices and quality patient care.”

Kushna K. Damallie, MD. has the following education and qualifications:

  • Kushna K. Damallie, MD. attended Boston University School of Medicineand then graduated in 1999
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology ABOG
  • Mississippi State Medical License 2003 – 2020
  • North Carolina State Medical License 2010 – 2012
  • Tennessee 2001 – 2020
  • Over 21 years of experience in the field of medicine

To view additional information about Kushna K. Damallie, MD. or to contact the office, please visit his SottoPelle® directory listing: https://www.sottopelletherapy.com/doctors/kushna-damallie-md/

Provider Information:
Kushna K. Damallie, MD
The Women’s Clinic
2000 N. State Street
Clarksdale, Mississippi  38614
(662) 627-7361
https://www.facebook.com/twcobgyn38614

 

SottoPelle® Recognizes Dr. Edmund H. Lew, MD for outstanding contributions to BHRT

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SottoPelle® Announces its “Featured Provider Series” showcasing various Providers that have made a difference to their patients offering leading edge Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).

Dr. Edmund H. Lew, MD has been a SottoPelle® Trained Provider since September 2019.

Since 2016, Dr. Edmund H. Lew has added Age Management Medicine to his practice.  He is SottoPelle® certified in Advanced Bio-identical Hormone Replacement for both men and women, nutrigenomic DNA testing and treatment, and Regenerative Medicine using PRP (platelet-rich plasma).  He is also certified in Aesthetic procedures, including neuromodulators, dermal fillers, and fibro-blasting treatment for skin tightening using Plasm Pen. He is also certified in procedures that enhance sexual function, including the P-Shot, P-Shockwave and O-Shot.

 

Dr. Edmund H. Lew is affiliated with numerous hospitals throughout California and more, such as Adventist health Glendale, Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center.

Dr. Edmund H. Lew is a devoted family man who lives with his wife in La Canada, where they raised their 3 children. One of their greatest blessings is living close enough to enjoy frequent family gatherings. Dr. Lew’s older son, Dr. Matthew Lew, MD, just joined his father in medical practice in August of 2019. His daughter teaches Biology at a high school in San Gabriel.  His younger son is studying to be a registered nurse.

“We are proud to be associated with Dr. Edmund H. Lew whom we have trained to understand the best practices of BHRT.” states CarolAnn Tutera, CEO of SottoPelle®.  Dr. Edmund H. Lew has obtained from SottoPelle both the same sourcing of the hormone pellets and the tools to customize the therapy to each patient’s individual hormone needs. “We are thrilled to have Edmund H. Lew as a Provider of Note who shares our vision of best practices and quality patient care.”

Edmund H. Lew MD has the following education and qualifications:

  • University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, M.D. (1983)
  • University of San Francisco, Department of Psycho/Biology, B.A. (1976)
  • American Board of Family Medicine
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • American Academy of Family Physicians
  • Over 37 years of experience in the field of medicine

To view additional information about Edmund H Lew, MD, or to contact the office, please visit his SottoPelle® directory listing:  https://sottopelletherapy.com/doctors/edmund-h-lew-md/

Provider Information:
Edmund H. Lew, MD
Lew Medical
1505 Wilson Terrance, Suite 250
Glendale, California  91206, United States
(818) 246-7115
https://www.lewmedical.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ed.lew.104

Getting your Hormones in Shape for Summer

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Swimsuit season is here! But if you are struggling with the symptoms of hormone imbalance, you might not be too excited about showing off your “beach bod.” Both men and women can have a harder time maintaining a healthy weight and muscle mass ratio when they are “out of balance.” When your hormones are out of whack, the rest of the body usually follows. 

Weight Gain in Women
Ladies, does any of this sound familiar?  

  • Weight gain around the middle 
  • Bloating 
  • Favorite jeans don’t fit 
  • Less muscle mass 
  • Have a harder time losing weight 

As estrogen levels drop during perimenopause and menopause, weight gain and changes in weight distribution can be an unpleasant side effect. Women gain an average of five pounds during menopause, but many women who are already overweight or obese will continue to gain. Other factors can contribute to weight gain during this time, including fatigue, antidepressant use, sleep changes, “empty nest syndrome,” and changes in job or relationships. 

 And it’s not just about switching from a bikini to a one-piece. Significant weight gain in your 40s puts you at greater risk for serious health problems like breast cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and depression.  

 One way to prevent this cascade of health problems is to maintain healthy hormone levels. With SottoPelle bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, one treatment every few months can keep you feeling and looking your best all year round without the hormone roller coaster. Customized to you, pellets deliver the right dose of hormone at the right time for constant, consistent results. 

Weight gain in Men
Men aren’t immune from hormone-related changes that affect their beach body, either. As testosterone levels drop, men tend to experience an increase in weight, an increase in body fat, and a decrease in lean muscle mass and strength. Sometimes breast tissue enlarges (gynecomastia).  

 Additional symptoms such as fatigue, sleep problems, depression, and a decrease in motivation or self-confidence can also contribute to weight gain in men during this time. And, just like with women, obesity raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.  

 Something else many men don’t realize: obesity and hormone imbalance can contribute to erectile dysfunction. In fact, obesity and hormone imbalance in men seem to feed into one another, each causing the other to become worse. 

 Good thing SottoPelle Therapy works for men, too! SottoPelle’s bioidentical testosterone therapy delivers a steady, consistent dose of natural hormone right into your bloodstream, keeping your T levels where they need to be all year long. 

 Men and women, If your 40+ “beach bod” isn’t what you hoped it would be and you can’t seem to get and keep the weight off, it could mean that your hormones need to get in shape before you can. 

Book your SottoPelle appointment today and your beach vacation next! 

Resources 

https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/june/obesity-and-weight-management-at-menopause/ 

https://www.obesityaction.org/community/article-library/men-is-obesity-affecting-your-sex-life/ 

Re-igniting Your Relationship

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Do you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain?

You don’t have to answer… these are just the lyrics to a familiar song about a longtime couple who went “looking” for adventures in romance and wound up re-discovering one other.

Maybe one of the reasons the song has stood the test of time is because many men and women can relate. Keeping a relationship fresh can be challenging when you’ve been together for a long time. Jobs, kids, parents, stress, plus the effects of aging can all take a toll.

If the romance between you and your partner tastes a little flat, don’t assume it’s “love on the rocks.” There are many things you can do. Think of this list as a swizzle stick for your marriage, stirring up all those feelings from when you first fell in love! So, belly up to the bar and let’s see what’s on the menu.

Write a Love Letter to Your Spouse

Everyone loves to feel loved. Spending some time thinking about and expressing what you love and appreciate about your partner is a great way to re-kindle some of those feelings. Human psychology often leads us to take things (and people) for granted. Let your spouse know you are still in love with him or her. There’s a good chance that some of those little details you fell in love with haven’t changed a bit.

Try Something New Together

Whether it’s a new restaurant, a weekend away to a place you’ve never been, or a salsa class, doing something new together will boost both of your dopamine levels and give you that “butterflies in the stomach” feeling we associate with new love. According to Psychology Today, studies show that learning a new activity together strengthens a couple’s bond.

Kiss More Often

Did you know that simply by smiling, you can improve your mood? The physical act has an impact on your mental state. In the same way, you can increase feelings of love and attraction by simply making an effort to kiss, touch, and cuddle more often with your partner. Give it a try!

Revisit Special Places

Where did you meet? Go on your first date? Did you have a particularly romantic encounter, for example on a cruise or vacation? Go back to that place and watch how the triggered memories can rekindle your flame.

Fix Your Physiology

Sometimes there is a physiological component to why you just aren’t “feeling it.” Hormone imbalance can take a toll on your sex life, creating loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and vaginal dryness. Low hormone levels can cause belly fat build-up and a reduction in lean muscle mass, making you feel less attractive. Out of whack hormones can even tank your mood, create anxiety, or launch you into depression. If any of this sounds familiar, a SottoPelle provider may be able to help. Bioidentical hormone replacement with pellet therapy is a safe, proven way to bring your hormones back to healthy levels so you can look and feel your best.

So, whether it’s piña coladas, whiskey sours or a cold glass of non-alcoholic bubbly water, let’s toast to your relationship and all the ways to keep it fresh and fun even as the years go by!

Why Your Bones Want You To Have Healthy Hormones

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You know that having balanced hormones helps alleviate symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, loss of libido and mood swings. But healthy hormone levels do more than improve the way you feel– they can save your bones (and maybe even your life).

May is National Osteoporosis Month, and according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation:

● An estimated 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, 80% of them women
● Almost half of women over age 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis
● A woman’s risk of hip fracture is equal to her combined risk of uterine, ovarian and breast cancer.1

Not only that, studies show that the risk of death goes up sharply in the event of a hip or back fracture.2

What does this have to do with hormones?

The hormone estrogen protects women’s bones, and when menopause hits and estrogen levels plummet, women are at greater risk for bone loss, osteoporosis and fractures. Hormone replacement therapy keeps estrogen levels where they should be, protecting your bones and, as a result, your health and vitality.

What if I am already taking medications to prevent bone loss?

While for older women with a diagnosis of osteoporosis, bone building drugs can and do reduce the incidence of fractures, many younger post-menopausal women with osteopenia (bone loss that is not as severe as osteoporosis) are being prescribed these drugs on a “preventive” basis. These drugs can have serious side effects, and research shows that they don’t provide much protection from fractures for women in these situations.3

Maintaining healthy hormone levels can help women protect their bones without the side effects associated with bone building medications.

What about men?

Just like with women, healthy hormone levels are an important part of protecting bone health in men.

A 2017 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that one year of testosterone therapy significantly increased bone density and bone strength in men aged 65 and older. This is part of what researchers have dubbed “the T Trials,” an effort by the National Institutes of Health to study the effects of testosterone treatment in 790 men ages 65 and older. The ongoing trials will next seek to confirm if testosterone therapy and its bone-building ability also protects men from suffering fractures.4

In the meantime, it’s exciting that the research is catching up to what we already know– that healthy hormone levels are key to aging well, staying strong, remaining vital, and holding onto your health, all the way down to your bones!

Resources:

1. https://www.nof.org/preventing-fractures/general-facts/what-women-need-to-know/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4124750/
3. http://hormonebalance.org/userfiles/file/aarp_bone_health.pdf
4. https://www.healio.com/primary-care/mens-health/news/online/%7B65bd909f-b9ad-420a-89f8-2128df053f51%7D/testosterone-treatment-improves-bone-density-strength-in-older-men

Fits Like A Glove

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Finding your “fit.”

Some things we just have to live with.

Luckily, the symptoms of hormone imbalance are not one of them.

Still, hundreds of thousands of women and men are suffering through uncomfortable physical and mental symptoms that take a toll on their work, relationships, and quality of life. Sometimes their doctors have told them to “just live with it.” Others may have offered them hormone replacement creams, pills or patches made of risky synthetic hormones.

There’s another option.

What makes SottoPelle® different?

The SottoPelle approach to hormone replacement therapy is different, as we use bio identical HRT “pellets” placed painlessly under the skin. Let’s take a look at why this is the most desirable approach to HRT.

The definition of bioidentical is “chemically identical to what your body produces naturally.” This means your body can’t tell the difference between bio identical hormones and the hormones your body once produced, naturally. To your body, they are the same, and that means that in your body, they behave the same way.

The “Hand in the Glove” Analogy

We like to think of Bio identical Pellet therapy as “a hand in a glove.” The glove is the hormone pellet, and the hand is your body. When you put the two together, everything fits…” like, a glove”. The two work seamlessly together.

If you were given a glove designed any other way, your hand wouldn’t fit quite right. That’s what happens with synthetic hormones. They are made with estrogen or testosterone, but they are not biologically identical to your own. This creates a “mismatch” in your body that can lead to unwanted side effects.

It might help to understand how delicate and sensitive the hormonal system in our bodies is. Hormones bind with cells and tissues via proteins in the body called hormone receptors. Once bound, the hormones can create the necessary cellular changes that keep you healthy and feeling good. Your naturally occurring hormones have the perfect molecular structure to “fit” into these hormone receptors. 

When you have a hormone imbalance, your body doesn’t make enough to meet your needs, and you experience symptoms. SottoPelle’s bioidentical hormones, being molecularly identical, are received by your body in the same fashion, react in the same way on a cellular level and produce the same results as your naturally occurring hormones. They quench the thirst of those empty hormone receptors. They fill the gap perfectly.

Synthetic hormones do not have the same molecular structure, absorption capabilities or receptor affinity as bioidenticals. On top of that, the doses are, to some degree, “one-size-fits-all”. The delivery system doesn’t work the same way your body does. The glove doesn’t fit.

Why bioidentical hormones are preferred

The continuing research on bioidentical hormones is making the picture more and more clear: on a cellular level, little things make a big difference.

When we take a look at the science of bioidentical hormone replacement, we learn that:

● bioidentical progesterone does not have a negative effect on blood lipids or vessels like many synthetic progestins

● bioidentical progesterone may carry less risk regarding breast cancer incidence 

● bioidentical estrogens and progesterone suggest a reduced risk of blood clots compared to their non-bioidentical counterparts

● bioidentical hormones are safer and work better than commonly used synthetic versions of hormone replacement therapy

Not only is SottoPelle hormone replacement method biologically identical to your own naturally produced hormones, but our delivery method is also individualized. Through blood tests, we know the correct amount of hormones you need, and we can provide it. We don’t have to squeeze you into someone else’s glove.

Also, our unique delivery system ensures that the correct amount of hormone reaches your bloodstream in a steady, consistent dose, not with the ups and downs produced by other delivery methods like pills, creams or patches.

Just like wearing a well-fitting glove helps you do the job with ease, having the right fit for your hormones helps you live your life with balance, convenience, confidence, and joy.

Let us help you find your “fit.” Contact one of our SottoPelle Certified Providers today. 

Your overall health and wellbeing will thank you for it.

Five more Myths about Testosterone and Women

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Five more Myths about Testosterone and Women

We’ve already posted our Top 5 Myths about testosterone use in women, but, believe it or not, there is even more misinformation out there! Let’s dispel a few more untruths about testosterone replacement therapy for women.

Myth #1: Testosterone has adverse effects on the heart. We aren’t sure where this one came from. Perhaps because men have more testosterone than women and men are at greater risk of heart disease than women, someone drew a correlation where none exists. In reality, the exact opposite is true. There is substantial evidence that testosterone is cardiac protective. It has a positive effect on lean body mass, blood sugar metabolism, cardiac muscle, and lipid profiles in both men and women. It is even used to treat and prevent cardiovascular disease. For women with congestive heart failure, testosterone has been shown to improve muscle strength, insulin resistance, and functional capacity. You heard it here: healthy levels of testosterone are good for your heart!

Myth #2: Testosterone causes liver damage. Perhaps this myth arose after concerns of liver and kidney damage in men who took anabolic steroids and oral synthetic androgens. Testosterone patches and implants, unlike pellet hormone replacement therapy, pellets bypass the liver and have no adverse effects on the organ itself, liver enzymes, or clotting factors. We might also add that non-oral testosterone does not increase the risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis the way oral estrogens, androgens and synthetic progestins do.

Myth #3: Testosterone causes aggression. This completely unfounded myth couldn’t be more wrong. Although anabolic steroid use has been shown to increase aggression, this is not the case for testosterone therapy. Even large doses of subcutaneous (under the skin) testosterone therapy do not increase aggression. In fact, studies show that in 90% of women treated for symptoms of androgen deficiency, instances of anxiety, irritability and aggression all decreased with therapy. We’ve known this for a long time: androgen therapy has been used to treat PMS for more than 60 years.

Myth #4: Testosterone may increase the risk of breast cancer. This myth can be a little complicated to sort out because some past studies have noted an association between elevated androgen levels and breast cancer. However, methodological limitations and inconsistencies in these studies call them into question, as well as the fact that they do not account for elevated estradiol levels (excess testosterone can be converted by the body into estradiol, an estrogen associated with breast cancer). Clinical trials have confirmed that a healthy balance of testosterone and estradiol is breast protective. Testosterone therapy does not increase the risk of breast cancer and may actually lower it in women on estrogen therapy.

Myth #5: The safety of testosterone use in women has not been established. We’ve been accumulating data on testosterone use in women since 1938, when testosterone implants were first used in female patients. Long-term data confirms the safety, efficacy and tolerability of doses of up to 225 mg in women for up to 40 years of therapy. Additionally, data on higher doses of testosterone used in transgender “female to male” patients shows no increase in mortality or major health problems, including breast cancer or vascular disease. Testosterone is safe for women. Seven decades of data proves it.

For more myths about testosterone therapy and women, read our Top 5 Myths on Testosterone Use in Women.

Reference:

Glaser et al. Testosterone therapy in women: Myths and misconceptions. Maturitas (2013) 74:231-234

Top 5 Myths About Testosterone Use In Women

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Think testosterone is just for guys? Think again. Testosterone plays a crucial role in women’s health, too, and it’s not what you think. Women across the globe are discovering, with the help of SottoPelle® Therapy, a bioidentical hormone replacement, that testosterone therapy can ease their symptoms of menopause and improve their quality of life in more ways than one.

Let’s take a look at the top 5 myths about testosterone use and women.

  1. Myth #1: Testosterone is a “male” hormone. While we usually associate testosterone with men, the fact is that testosterone is an extremely important part of the hormonal system in both sexes. Testosterone is, in fact, the most abundant biologically active hormone in women! The androgen receptor for testosterone is actually found on the X chromosome. However, testosterone became a member of the “boys only” club, it isn’t based on science.
  2. Myth #2: In women, testosterone only helps with sex drive and libido. Yes, testosterone is the most abundant active sex steroid present in a woman throughout her lifespan, but that’s not where its influence ends. Functional androgen receptors (molecules that bind to testosterone and other androgens to perform specific functions for cells) are located in almost all tissues in the female body, including the breast, heart, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, lung, brain, spinal cord, nerves, bladder, uterus, ovaries, endocrine glands, vaginal tissue, skin, bone, muscle and more. This is why testosterone replacement therapy can help women not only with sexual issues, but also with bone loss, muscle loss, urinary complaints, breast pain, rheumatoid complaints, incontinence, and fatigue, just to name a few.
  3. Myth #3: Testosterone masculinizes women. Large doses of testosterone will create a masculinizing effect, as evidenced by hormone treatment for transgender persons. But low dose, individualized testosterone treatments, such as those used with SottoPelle® Therapy, a bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, are designed to bring testosterone levels up to normal, not to exceed them. Any unwanted side effects can be reversed by lowering the dose. Some research has even shown that low doses of testosterone not only don’t masculinize women, they also produce a “feminizing effect.”
  4. Myth #4: Testosterone use will change your voice. Unfortunately, anecdotal reports have suggested that testosterone therapy can cause hoarseness or permanent vocal changes in women; however, studies have produced no conclusive evidence of this. The most common causes of hoarseness and voice change are allergies, laryngitis, reflux, voice over-use, mucosal tears, medications, and vocal cord polyps. Taking testosterone is not going to change your voice.
  5. Myth #5: Testosterone causes hair loss in women. This myth doesn’t make a lot of sense biologically speaking as men have higher levels of testosterone in their bodies than women, and yet they experience more hair loss. The fact is that many factors contribute to hair loss (including genetics), and approximately one third of women experience hair loss and hair thinning with normal aging. As aging coincides with a natural decline in testosterone, this may be where the myth developed. In truth, testosterone pellet therapy has been associated with scalp hair re-growth in many women, suggesting that instead of making women lose hair, raising testosterone back to healthy levels may help them to grow more of it.

Those aren’t all the myths associated with testosterone use in women, but they are some of the most common. Check back for more myths about testosterone therapy and women in our next blog post.

Reference:

Glaser et al. Testosterone therapy in women: Myths and misconceptions. Maturitas (2013) 74:231-234