Testosterone: the missing piece of the jigsaw? | The Dr Louise Newson Podcast

This week we mark 250 episodes of the Dr Louise Newson Podcast!
And joining Dr Louise this week is Anita Nicholson, a nurse practitioner and menopause expert at Age Management Center in the US, where she aims to help patients lead the best quality of life for as long as they can.
Here, Dr Louise and Anita compare notes on the attitudes towards testosterone in the UK and the US, share their clinical experience of the benefits it can provide women, particularly in restoring their zest for life.
Finally, Anita shares three things she thinks could make a huge difference to women's health:
1. Women need to educate themselves. They have to be their own advocate.
2. I would love for hormones to become available and affordable. In the US, we don't even have vaginal oestrogen covered by some insurance here, never mind over-the-counter access.
3. More education of healthcare providers. So have a fellowship in menopause. Let's start very early with med students and nurse practitioner students so they understand that menopause and sexual medicine is very important for our life span and our health span.
You can follow Anita on Instagram @menopause_agewellfnp

[@NatalyaAlbertti]

Two beautiful ladies. Thank you ever so much for your tireless work in educating and empowering women.

[@anne-louisegoldie]

Another condition that I think needs to be included (but never is) is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.). It's autoimmune, neurological, and there's a lot of chronic, and acute on chronic inflammation. It's always ignored because of certain psychiatrists (in the UK at least) who don't have a clue, and doctors follow their lead in error. MS was labelled as a hysterical disease until not long ago. But Myalgic Encephalomyelitis needs to be there in the discussion, along with Lupus, MS, RA and other inflammatory autoimmune conditions. POTS is a feature of M.E. as well, and the risk for osteoporosis and sarcopaenia from an enforced sedentary existence is a problem. Replacing hormones could be helping patients significantly, and also for mitochondrial support. But who's looking at this when it's excluded from the literature? 😊xx

[@wendylpa]

Wonderful talk! I’ve suffered greatly from POTS for years but yet NO MD has ever mentioned T may help POTS. They just say drink more salt. 🙄 Meanwhile the severe exercise intolerance/muscle pain from POTS have prevented me from exercising properly (since perimenopause started!). Likely NOT coincidental!

[@goga2300]

Im 55y for past 12years Im like zombie. Chronic fatigue, joint/ muscles pain, swelling brain fog..and many more. Finally I got HRT but not testosterone. It did only help me with flashes and better sleep. No one can prescribes me T!!! I suffer from moods, depression, no desire , low libido ( for 5y!!). Im waiting for my live end , I fed up with this world! I feel like 120 years old nan hardly moving..GP ignores my symptoms..

[@AvidReader88]

i can so relate ..i have a history of low hormones for over 20 years plus, 19 years of zero libido, not even low, but zero, it literally shut down overnight when i was 39 ( i'm almost 58 ) I should have been given hrt when i was diagnosed with advanced osteoporosis 14 years ago but my then DR said i was too young to be in menopause and didn't feel i needed hrt, despite the osteoporosis diagnosis and my symptoms, nights sweats, hot flushes etc . I do have hrt now, but it feels like a game of lets try this , and doesn't include testosterone ( i cant get it on the nhs anyway and cant afford to go private ) it's all there in my history ( including chronic anxiety and depression ) i feel like no one is listening to me ..i feel no joy in my life, i'm an auto pilot most days..depression nipping at my heels again ..

[@laurenceapitz1678]

thank you so much for doing this ! I live in France, where testosterone is not prescribed to women, even from doctors who prescribe HRT, it’s just not a thing. I’m desperately trying to find a solution because at the age of 53, I am ready to retire sexually, which is a nightmare.

[@jennysiepka9900]

can you obtain DHEA or Donkat Ali? Worth a try...

[@laurenceapitz1678]

@@jennysiepka9900 thank you, I finally found a gynecologist who dosed it and I was at 0. nothing left. he accepted to prescribe it !

[@L.A.6482]

So impressed to hear pioneers in women’s medicine. You are truly making historic connections and interpretations that are groundbreaking in importance. Continue to teach other practitioners. Progress for women has always been massively slow in coming but we are NOT giving in.

[@angela7185]

Fantastic informative conversation. Thank you

[@Lilylibra]

Absolutely fabulous interview. So much good advice and information. Once again, Dr Louise, you’ve excelled. ❤️💪

[@mariacorso9113]

Great talk ladies , I use Androfeme Testosterone in Australia 🇦🇺 thank u.

[@madeleinebray5205]

Can you tell how long it took to take effect? I'm in Australia, too and have just started using androfeme.

[@catherineberra-veau4301]

Do you know if it can be ordered from France ?

[@leemeli7585]

Very low E, P and T here, but T first made my hair fall out. Now E and P feeling better..about to try T again.

[@danagodfrey2979]

Good inform information cheers

[@janemasini356]

When is testrone going to be licenced for woman for HRT? IN THE UK?

[@Over50andMe]

🙌🙏🏽👏 I live in the UK. When I mentioned testosterone to my GP. The GP’s jaw dropped 😮. I was stared at like I was out of my mind. The response was “ are you aware it is a MALE hormone’. I felt so little in that consultation. However I made some research there are some natural alternatives. Fingers crossed 🤞🏼 they work just as good 😊

[@funtimefranky]

I’m in London, my GP prescribes it. My gynaecologist prescribed it first.

[@elenastaffy6119]

fantastic ❤❤❤

[@George-ky4wf]

Hi, I went to see a private menopause specialist... and had my bloods done - came back that I was lower than normal in estrogen...and testosterone. But doctor wanted me to boost my estrogen FIRST before giving me testosterone... saying that the testosterone will just convert to estrogen unless I get my estrogen higher first. (I don't really want to take more estrogen... I just want the testosterone - which HAS come back as low. Is my doctor right?

[@AvidReader88]

i'm the same , and yes, testosterone converts to estrogen if estrogen is low

[@jennysiepka9900]

yes test can convert to estrogen... how long does your dr want you to wait to start the test? until your estradiol level is optimized?

[@CatamaranChannel]

25:23 still its also very very hard for men in the e.u. to get trt, as far as i know.

[@andreadragojlovic9482]

Is testosterone recommended if you are planning to conceive? I’m 32 years old, my testosterone (total, free and bioavailable) is very low.

[@allisonbisset7318]

Interesting when you said about only giving patients Testosterone, I just don't think that's a thing here, too many say T will only convert to Oestrogen ?

[@jennysiepka9900]

if Testosterone did such a good job of optimizing our Estradiol levels, why are we not just giving T? It is because it is not going to aromatize enough to push the Estradiol to be at an optimal level...

[@labbe52]

💯❤