Testosterone can be prescribed in oral, transdermal (applied to the skin), and injected forms.

However, oral dosing of testosterone should be avoided, as it is metabolized by the first-pass effect in the liver, making it less effective. Oral dosing of testosterone can also lead to excess conversion of testosterone into estrogen.

For men, this is not a good thing.

All of these issues can be avoided by taking testosterone either transdermally or via injection.

For men, transdermal doses range from 20 to 200 mg per day; and for injections, 40 to 80 mg once or twice per week. I use natural testosterone prepared by a compounding pharmacist.

Testosterone therapy is not just for men. Women respond very favorably to testosterone. Average doses for women range from 0.25 to 2 mg per day (transdermally).

I rarely use testosterone alone in women; it is usually combined with natural progesterone with and without natural estrogen.

Although women do not tolerate the larger doses of testosterone that men do, small physiologic doses of testosterone can help a woman improve her muscle mass, burn fat, reverse osteoporosis, improve libido as well as enhance brain function.

Adverse effects from testosterone therapy are rare in these dosing levels. Higher doses of testosterone can cause women to develop excess facial hair and acne, and experience mood changes.

Men can experience some moodiness with testosterone. Occasionally, libido is too elevated with testosterone and the dosage needs to be lowered.

Testosterone replacement therapy can be truly life-changing. In the past, there has been some concern from many in the medical establishment that testosterone therapy can increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer. These concerns have recently been proven to be unfounded.

I have seen natural testosterone provide incredibly positive effects including reversing long-standing depression. Having your testosterone levels checked on a yearly basis is a must.

More information about this therapy can be found in my book, “The Miracle of Natural Hormones.”