Testosterone for women · Owasso, OK
Testosterone for women in Owasso and Tulsa
Testosterone for women at Pathway Health & Beauty is a low-dose, lab-guided treatment for menopausal women and women in perimenopause whose low libido, low energy or loss of muscle may be linked to low testosterone levels.
Tia Christ, APRN-CNP, checks your hormone levels first, explains what testosterone therapy can and cannot do, and follows you closely so your levels stay in the normal female range. The clinic is in Owasso, a short drive from Tulsa, with telehealth for women anywhere in Oklahoma.
HSA and FSA accepted · Financing through Cherry
The basics
Why testosterone matters for women
Testosterone is often called a male hormone, but women make it too. The ovaries and adrenal glands produce small amounts, and women’s bodies use it for sex drive, energy, muscle mass, bone density and a sense of well-being. Before menopause, testosterone is the most abundant biologically active sex hormone in women, present in higher amounts than estradiol.
Testosterone levels peak in a woman’s 20s and fall slowly with age. By menopause, many women have about half the testosterone they had in their 20s. Women who have both ovaries removed (surgical menopause) can lose about half their testosterone almost overnight.
Testosterone is also part of hormone replacement therapy for women and our wider women’s health care.
Symptoms
Signs of low testosterone in women
Low testosterone in women can be hard to pin down, because the symptoms overlap with perimenopause, thyroid problems, low iron, depression, stress and poor sleep. Common signs include:
Low sexual desire
Reduced libido, less interest in sex, fewer orgasms or less sexual satisfaction.
Fatigue and low mood
Low energy levels that rest does not fix, and a flat, unmotivated feeling.
Loss of muscle and strength
Less muscle mass and strength, even when you keep exercising.
Weight gain, thinning hair and brain fog
Weight gain around the middle, thinning hair, dry skin and trouble focusing.
Not every symptom is low testosterone
Low testosterone can come from aging, menopause, removal of the ovaries, adrenal or pituitary problems, chemotherapy, oral estrogen and some birth control pills, which raise SHBG and lower free testosterone. Hot flashes and vaginal dryness usually point to low estrogen rather than testosterone deficiency, which is why we test both.
Hormone and wellness lab testing →
The evidence
What testosterone therapy for women can help
The strongest evidence for testosterone therapy in women is for low sexual desire. The 2019 Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women, backed by The Menopause Society, the International Menopause Society and the Endocrine Society, supports testosterone for postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD): low sexual desire that causes distress and is not explained by medications, depression or relationship factors.
A 2019 systematic review of randomized trials found that testosterone improved sexual function, including desire, arousal, orgasm and pleasure, and reduced distress about sex. Many women also report better energy, mood, muscle strength and body composition, though the research on those benefits is weaker. Testosterone is not recommended on its own for bone density, heart health or cognitive function.
Testing
How we test testosterone levels in women
There is no single testosterone level that defines low testosterone in women, and a blood test alone cannot diagnose a deficiency. We look at your symptoms and your labs together through our hormone and wellness lab testing.
Total testosterone is tested before you start to set a baseline, then again after a few weeks to make sure blood levels stay within the normal range for premenopausal women. Testosterone therapy may push levels too high if it is not monitored, so we keep you in that physiologic range rather than chasing a number.
Your panel usually includes
- Total testosterone
- Free testosterone and SHBG
- Estradiol and progesterone
- DHEA-S
- Thyroid, iron, vitamin D and metabolic markers
Treatment options
How we prescribe testosterone replacement for women
There is no FDA-approved testosterone product for women in the United States, so women are prescribed testosterone off label, usually as low dose therapy at about one tenth of the dose used for men. Oral testosterone is not recommended because of its effects on cholesterol and liver function. Many women take testosterone alongside estrogen and progesterone as part of menopausal hormone therapy; others take it on its own.
| Testosterone cream or gel | Testosterone pellets | Injections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it is used | Small amount rubbed on the skin daily | Tiny pellet placed under the skin | Small dose injected on a schedule |
| How often | Daily | About every 3 to 4 months | Weekly or every few weeks |
| Dose changes | Easy to adjust | Wait for the next pellet | Easy to adjust |
| Notes | Most studied form for women. Wash hands and cover the area so partners and children are not exposed. | Steady levels, no daily routine. See hormone pellets. | Levels rise and fall between doses |
How long it takes
Most women notice a change in three to six weeks.
The full effect can take three to six months. If there is no meaningful improvement by six months, guidelines recommend stopping, and Tia will tell you so.
Safety
Side effects, hair loss and breast cancer questions
At doses that keep testosterone in the normal female range, side effects are uncommon. That is why we recheck your levels after you start and adjust your dose. Long-term safety data for women beyond about two years is limited, especially for breast cancer and heart disease.
Some testosterone converts to estrogen through the aromatase enzyme, so women with a history of breast cancer or uterine cancer, including women taking an aromatase inhibitor, need a careful conversation with their oncologist first. Testosterone is not used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Signs of too much testosterone
- Acne or oily skin
- Increased hair growth on the face or body
- Hair loss or thinning on the scalp
- Irritability
- Rarely, a deeper voice or clitoral enlargement, which may not reverse
Step by step
Testosterone therapy at Pathway
- 01
Free discovery call
A short call to talk about your symptoms and whether testosterone might be part of the answer.
- 02
Labs
A full hormone panel, including total and free testosterone, so we have a clear baseline.
- 03
A 60-minute visit with Tia
We review your symptoms, health history and labs, and talk through testosterone along with estrogen, progesterone and non-hormonal options.
- 04
Your treatment plan
Tia starts at a low dose of testosterone cream, pellets or injections, matched to your goals.
- 05
Follow-up and retesting
We recheck your levels after six to eight weeks, then every few months, and track your clinical response, not just your labs.
Why Pathway
Why women choose Pathway for testosterone therapy
- The same provider every time. Tia Christ, APRN-CNP, does every visit herself.
- Labs before and during treatment. Your dose is based on your numbers and how you feel.
- Honest about the evidence. You will hear what testosterone is proven to help and what it is not.
- The whole picture. Thyroid, iron, sleep, stress and weight are part of your plan.
- Close to home. Women come from Owasso, Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Claremore, Collinsville and Skiatook.
Serving Tulsa County
Testosterone for women near Tulsa, OK
Pathway Health & Beauty is at 7301 N Owasso Expy, Ste M115, Owasso, OK 74055, an easy drive from Tulsa. If you are looking for testosterone therapy for women in Tulsa from a provider who takes time to listen and checks your labs, many of our patients make the short trip.
Women anywhere in Oklahoma can start with a telehealth visit. See also menopause and perimenopause care.
FAQ
Testosterone for women questions
What does testosterone do for a woman?
Testosterone supports sex drive, energy, muscle mass, bone strength and mood. In women with low levels, testosterone therapy mainly helps low sexual desire.
What are the signs of low testosterone in women?
Low libido, fewer orgasms, fatigue, low mood, loss of muscle, weight gain and brain fog are the most common signs of low testosterone in women.
Is testosterone therapy safe for women?
At low doses that keep levels in the normal female range, testosterone therapy is considered safe in the short term. Long-term data is limited, so we monitor your levels and symptoms closely.
Can testosterone help low libido and sex drive?
For postmenopausal women with low sexual desire that causes distress, testosterone is the best-studied hormone treatment. It does not help every woman, and it works best when sleep, mood, medications and relationship factors are part of the conversation.
Will testosterone make me gain weight or look masculine?
Not at the low doses we use. Masculine changes such as a deeper voice happen with doses far above the female range.
Can I take testosterone without estrogen?
Yes. Some women use testosterone alone. Others combine it with estrogen and progesterone. Tia will help you decide based on your symptoms and labs.
Does insurance cover testosterone for women?
Because there is no FDA-approved testosterone product for women, insurance often does not cover it. Labs may be covered. We will give you a price before you start.
From the blog
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