Testosterone molecule model via Wikipedia.
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!
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)
When it comes to balancing hormones, women often turn to various treatments, including hormone pellets. However, while some women will get good results, especially in the short term, using hormone pellets poses substantial risks that can severely affect a woman's overall well-being. Here’s why hormone pellets may not be the best solution for the majority of women attempting to achieve hormonal balance:
1. Elevated Hormone Levels After Insertion/Low Levels as Pellets "Wear Out"- Pellets typically contain testosterone with or without estrogen, achieving levels at first that are significantly higher than what a normal woman would produce. These hormones spikes can be dangerous, especially right after a fresh pellet is inserted, Then, after the pellet has been in place for a few months and before the next one is placed, hormone levels can be lower than normal.
2. Ignoring Progesterone- Many hormone pellet clinics ignore or minimize the importance of progesterone, and some clinics don’t even recommend the use of progesterone in women using pellets. This is problematic because progesterone plays a crucial role in improving the efficiency of estrogen and potentially lowering the risk of breast cancer. (Which may especially be important because women with high testosterone levels seem to have a higher risk of breast cancer.) Progesterone also has significant calming effects on the brain, improving sleep and mood and making it essential for overall health. I have personally seen many women who have had pellets placed without having progesterone replaced or even measured.
3. Interruptions in Natural Hormone Cycling- Normal estrogen (and progesterone) levels in women naturally drop every month, which is crucial for resetting hormone receptors. These receptors need this natural cycling to maintain sensitivity to hormones. Constant exposure to hormones via pellets may lead to a decreased number of receptors, thus reducing hormone effectiveness over time.
4. Irremovability of Pellets- Once inserted, hormone pellets cannot be removed, which poses a significant risk for women who experience a bad reaction. Unlike topical or oral hormone treatments, the irreversible nature of pellets makes it impossible to correct any adverse effects immediately.
5. Lack of Expertise Among Providers- Some providers at hormone clinics are not true hormone experts. Some have only completed a basic course on pellet insertion (often sponsored by the pellet manufacturer) and may not have had extensive experience treating women prior to working at these clinics. This limited training can be dangerous if an adverse reaction occurs and the provider lacks the necessary knowledge to address it comprehensively.
6. Severe Adverse Effects of Testosterone Pellets/Elevated Testosterone Levels- Testosterone pellets can cause severe adverse effects, including masculinization. This may result in troubling symptoms such as loss of scalp hair, acne, facial hair growth, deepening of the voice, and more—with some effects possibly being irreversible. Shockingly, some women using testosterone pellets may develop testosterone levels higher than those typically seen in men!
7. Risks from Pellet Insertion- Pellet insertion is a minor surgical procedure that comes with its own set of risks, including mild discomfort or pain at the insertion site, infections, scarring-especially after several insertions, and the potential for the pellet to fall out.
8. High Expense- While one's health is certainly worth the investment, at some pellet clinics the monthly cost may end up being $300 or more monthly (or over $3000 per year) with lab testing, provider visits, and the cost of the pellets themselves. That may not be sustainable for the long term for many women.
9. Difficulty getting back in balance after using pellets- It is much easier to get into hormonal balance when starting from scratch than after one has been overdosed with hormones. Coming off of high dose hormones is extremely uncomfortable and can take a very long time. It is better to start with small doses of hormones and go up if needed than starting with large doses and then trying to come off.
In conclusion, while hormone pellets may seem like a convenient solution for balancing hormones and some women do have good results for a while, the associated risks make it an unreliable and potentially dangerous option for many. For a safer and more effective balancing of hormones, women should consider alternative treatments that allow for regular monitoring and adjustments without the irreversible risks presented by hormone pellets.
