Friday Q&A: Your Sex Questions!
Testosterone for women; when low libido is *normal*; testosterone use for men; & vaginal estrogen and breast cancer risk
ICYMI
👉 My conversation with Dr. Kelly Casperson: Let’s Talk About Sex
👉 My recent newsletters:
As always, question #1 (about testosterone for women) is free for everyone; questions #2-4 (about libido; testosterone use for men, and vaginal estrogen) are for paid subscribers only.
Click here to submit your questions (about anything) for future Q&A posts!
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are entirely my own. They do not reflect those of my employer, nor are they a substitute for advice from your personal physician.
QUESTION #1
Can you talk about testosterone use for women? I heard it helps with sex drive, but my OBGYN won’t prescribe it.
- Ann S.
Dear Ann,
Absolutely. Both men and women naturally produce testosterone, which wanes with age. Testosterone therapy isn’t currently FDA-approved for low sexual desire for women; however, it is sometimes used off-label in conjunction with estrogen and progesterone hormone therapy in postmenopausal women when no other cause for low sexual desire is identified. According to experts like Dr. Kelly Casperson, the typical dose for women is 1/10 of the recommended dose for men, and it comes in a cream or gel. Pellets or compounded testosterone are not recommended.
Testosterone has many other potential benefits such as improved mental clarity, lean muscle mass, and energy. It also has potential risks such as excess hair growth on the chin and chest, acne, and a deepening of the voice. Long-term safety data on testosterone use in women is woefully sparse.
It’s important to take a broad look at the myriad potential causes for low sexual desire—from hormonal issues to psychological and social factors, too. As always, you should talk with your physician before starting any treatment or medications.
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QUESTION #2
Why is low sex drive something we have to fix? I am in a loving relationship with my spouse … together for 30 yrs … and we haven’t had sex in 10+ yrs. We are content with this. What’s the problem? - Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
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