Testosterone is a hormone that is made within your body and helps maintain sexual function, bone strength, reproductive tissue, and muscle mass.
You may think testosterone is only found in men, but women also need testosterone in order for their hormones to stay in balance. In fact, small amounts of testosterone are released into a woman's bloodstream from the adrenal glands and ovaries.
If your body is producing way too much testosterone, it can cause your periods to become irregular or even absent. You may also have more body hair (chin, chest, back, etc.) and develop frontal balding, increased muscle mass, acne, fertility issues, a deeper voice, a subsequent increased risk of heart disease, and loss of libido.
Depending on how your doctor tests your hormone levels (typically through blood work or saliva), it's also important to list off your symptoms. Just because your levels don't show any abnormalities, doesn't mean your testosterone isn't out of balance.
If your doctor has diagnosed you with low testosterone levels, you may be interested in trying testosterone therapy. Testosterone therapy can be taken in the form of pills, gels, creams and patches.
Cecilia Lacayo, MD, shares why testosterone is an important hormone for both men and women, and how women can improve testosterone levels.
Thursday, 08 January 2015 14:11
Identifying & Treating Low Testosterone in Women
The medical community is finally starting to recognize the importance of testosterone for women.
Additional Info
- Segment Number: 2
- Audio File: healthy_talk/1502ht4b.mp3
- Featured Speaker: Cecilia Lacayo, MD
- Organization: Wellness and Hormone Centers of America
- Guest Twitter Account: @WellnessHCA
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Guest Bio:
Dr. Cecilia Lacayo has been practicing medicine in the Delray Beach-Boca Raton area for over 20 years, she had her own facility prior to merging with Wellness & Hormone Centers of America. While going through a very difficult time with weight gain and perimenopausal symptoms, she followed a traditional medical treatment path. Her symptoms did not improve. Her passion for self-healing led her to extensive studies in Functional Medicine, a systems-oriented approach that addresses underlying causes of disease.
She discovered an entire world of synergistic modalities that complemented her traditional medical training. Once she restored balance in her own life she was determined to share this approach with her patients. Restoring her own health was Dr. Lacayo's best investment. Dr. Lacayo blends the scientific approaches of traditional medicine with the scientific use of natural elements, backed by clinical research and proven with clinical trials. This is the true pursuit of health.
Her goal is to restore vitality and optimal healthy living in all stages of life. After two years, Dr. Lacayo completed a Fellowship and in 2011 obtained the title of Advance Fellow of the American Board of Anti-Aging, Functional and Regenerative Medicine (A4M).
Dr. Lacayo specializes in: bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, Testosterone Treatment, medical weight loss, monitoring food sensitivity, neurotransmitter testing, IV therapy for nutrient and antioxidant replacement, dietary counseling, micronutrient and genetic testing, heavy metal detoxification, and PRP rejuvenating skin therapy She gets to the root cause of the problem for people who are suffering from such conditions as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, anxiety, ADHD, irritable bowel syndrome and dermatitis.
She is an active Member of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (ABIHM). - Length (mins): 10
- Waiver Received: No
- Host: Mike Smith, MD
Published in
Healthy Talk w/ Dr. Michael Smith
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