After years of low libido, sleep issues, joint and muscle pain I finally found an OBGYN who listened and took my concerns seriously! Did blood work last week and turns out my testosterone is less than 3, my SHBG was 17 and my DHEA Sulfate was 59! Also my vitamin D is 11.8 💀 Do not get medically gaslit please fight for your health ❤
@@JW-qz4jlthey prescribed a testosterone cream to see if that helps my symptoms that could be caused by the hormone imbalance and I take vitamin D supplements:)
Thank you! This was very informative. Im 26 and went to see my gyno because I thought I was in permi-menopause. Turns out I was actually extremely anemic, immunosurpressed, dealing with several nutrient deficiencies and have very low t. I've been training hard and dieting strictly for 7 years straight... I lost and maintained a healthy weight for 4 of those years but then the SAME lifestyle seemed to be increasing my weight gain. Come to find out, I was doing too much and eating too little and I slowed my metabolism. I cut out carbs, red meats, and most fats. I was literally eating oatmeal, chicken breasts and spinach lol. I thought I was doing ALL the healthy things but I was actually depriving my body of vital nutrients.
@doll6536 my doctor suggested hormone replacement therapy but I didn't want to do that because of the potential side effects. I just increased it naturally by eating more lean meat( beef, chicken, fish) and eggs, exercises (specifically weight lifting) and reducing stress/cortisol. Now my hormones are back to normal, my sex drive is back, my period is regular, my mood is stable, my skin has cleared up.
@@JerrTheHooman did you have any thyroid problem like Hashimoto’s? What were your nutrient deficiencies? I’m low vitamin D (almost all the time for years) and borderline low b12 and iron. I’m on supplements for those. I’m terrified they might say there’s nothing they can do besides hormone therapy, I’m only 29. My cortisol was good and my estrogen was good too. I am slightly overweight so I’m trying to lose weight but it’s hard. How long after did you retest your levels with the lifestyle changes? Was there a drastic increase? I literally feel like I’m in perimenopause..low energy, mood swings, can’t concentrate, night sweats and vaginal dryness with no libido 😔
@doll6536 my thyroid hormone was fine. I had low b12, severe low iron to the point I was anemic and having dizzy spells/heart palpitations, low vitamin c, and vitamin d as well. I didn't go back to get a re-test. I'm just assuming there was an increase since all of my symptoms improved. Ive been working on getting my testosterone up and fixing the vitamin deficiencies for 4 months now. I'm that 4 months, I have lost 7 lbs, put on a significant amount of muscle, went from never wanting sex ever to wanting it damn near every day, and I just FEEL amazing. I used to be tired and sore and just felt BAD all the time. Now I'm full of energy and boucing off the walls. ( I originally went to the doctor suspecting perimenopause but that VERY rare in your 20s.)
I’m 44 and started HRT a few months ago but oestrogen made me feel terrible. I have low testosterone level so started Testim gel and feel great. Is it ok to use it without oestrogen and progesterone? So only using testosterone gel. Is that ok? Thanks!
Often in perimenopause testosterone is the first thing to decline! I. Those cases testosterone only can be extremely helpful and necessary. Often as hormone shift patients need to change their plan to accommodate. Thanks for watching!
I’ve had symptoms of low testosteron since I got Burnt out at 25. Was worried I had entered early menopause bc of nightly sweats and all other symptoms. Two years ago (then 42, now 44) all my symptoms got much worse, gained 15kg in a short time, nearly no libido. Just got lab work done. My T was hardly detectable, less than 0,10 nmol/L 😳 I have NO other things off, no nutrient deficiencies, thyroid ok. Could this all relate back to the burnout in my 20ies? The adrenals took a massive hit and never recovered? I have always led a very healthy life style but 8 years ago I had an open abdominal surgery (getting a large fibroid removed from the outside of my uterus). Was left with nerve damage that led to chronic and debilitating pain. Was bed ridden for 3 years and pumped with medications. Got a new medication after those 3 years so I got better, was able to work part time again. Could get a bit active again and was slim and fit, then out of no where at 42 I started rapid weight gain. Could it perhaps be not the adrenals but just the mitochondria overloaded by the toxicality of medications I still need to take daily? I mean I cant get off those 😢 What then? Should I just get hormone replacement therapy? Since I cant really adjust my life style? I took crazy amounts of zink for a while hoping it would help and I spend a lot of time in the sun whenever I can and supplement with vit d during winter. No amount of life style changes have helped so perhaps hrt is my best option? 😟
Often times when I get my panel done with my gynecologist they don’t want to test due to “women’s hormones fluctuating anyway”. I have been trying to increase my muscle mass since 2021 and did a competition for bikini bodybuilding that year and all the GYN I’ve seen say “you’re healthy and young and beautiful, don’t worry.” But I’m 31 and trying to do better. How can I get them to take my concern seriously? My test is always less than 8 and they say it’s ok. Also, I have cysty breasts and read that’s from estrogen dominance. Any advice on what I can ask my provider next week?
That’s so frustrating and super common, unfortunately. That’s a great question and I really appreciate that. For estrogen and progesterone you can ask her to run them on the right day of your cycle (7 days before your period is best). For testosterone 8 is low for someone your age. Ask her what optimal is for your age range. That might spark a good conversation. That said, supplementing testosterone is a big conversation in younger women as you can’t be on testosterone if you plan to be pregnant. Its hard to build muscle mass with T that low though. Hopefully that helps! Thanks for watching! I would love if you would subscribe too.
Hey@@DrAlexandraMayer , I subscribed! :) Thank you for your response. I got results back, they went from 18 to 20- but that still seems suboptimal. Is it safe to take a low dose of test if I might want to have a baby int he future? I know you need to cycle off. Thank you!
I had an Everlywell hormone test done- I have no idea how accurate they are. However, it said I have low DHEA and testosterone, but high progesterone. I am 20. I wish I knew what was going on! PCOS runs in my family, but I have very regular but heavy cycles.
I don’t know how accurate Everlywell is. My go to for a case like this is DUTCH testing. There is so much more this could be than PCOS. Estrogen metabolism, balance between hormones. It all matters. Hope that helps!
I've had very unreliable testing results with everlywell! Also a professional told me they are not trusted results! If you have a history of pcos usually testosterone and androgens are typically elevated with the condition..
@Dr. Alexandra Mayer I won't test with everlywell again the specialist I was consulting with told me many women at her practice had received unreliable results with them ! Dutch is the best option out there ..thank-you doctor for all your educational videos
Thank you so much! There are definitely doctors out there that understand this. It’s about looking around to find the one that is the best fit for you :).
Does low testosterone lower estrogen and present itself with those symptoms? My recent lab work shows low testosterone and it’s lowered my testosterone estrogen, which is showing more of these symptoms.
Good question. Some testosterone can be converted to estrogen in the body. It isn’t the main source of estrogen in cycling women. Also, just a reminder in cycling women estrogen should be run on specific days in the cycle to really see if levels are optimal.
Hi! Thank you so much for watching! I do not give any specific medical advice or dosing over social media. Dosing is based on labs, symptoms, and the patient's case. There are good starting doses. My personal thought is start low and increase if needed always using labs and symptoms to guide us.
Hi Erin! Thanks for watching. Here are some general thoughts. Disclaimer: this is not to be considered medical advice. Below are general thoughts and guidelines. For medical advice pertaining to individual cases, you should consult with your physician. That said, topical testosterone/ estrogen creams are medications used in treatment of vulvodynia. They are used in peri and post- menopausal women, not teenagers. Given that info, low testosterone in young women could be a consideration for vulvodynia. In teenagers it may be less likely. If pain is worse around menses, estrogen and progesterone, and the ratio between the two is also a consideration. Also, it’s important to note that treatment for vulvodynia tends to require combination treatments. Anxiety and depression are common in these patients as well. Pelvic floor PT is also a consideration.
I see high DHEA is PCOS patients sometimes. To get an accurate idea of what’s going on I recommend having a hormone specialist look at your case as well as your labs and help you determine what’s going on from the full picture. Hope that helps! Thank you for watching!
I’m sorry to hear about your symptoms and I’m glad that this video helped. I have a couple videos on depression and hormones which will likely be very helpful for you! Thanks for watching! Please subscribe
Great question! Many labs put “healthy” ranges at 3-50. I would not say a T that low is healthy but lab ranges aren’t really reflective of what healthy is. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching! Please subscribe
I'm 34 and want to try out a really low dose of testosterone. I've been off birth control for 5 years now and my sex drive is almost non existent. I'm just afraid of getting oily/facial acne again like in my teens if I go on test. Also don't want my hair to start thinning.
Hi Jessie! With proper dosing you can avoid side effects like that. Especially if you work with someone who addresses all the hormones and SHBG to take a comprehensive look at libido. This is so common in women who have a long history of birth control use. So much can be done to balance hormones and get you back to feeling great! Thank you so much for watching!!
I always recommend double checking testosterone from DUTCH with blood levels. Plus you need your doc to assess the other androgens on DUTCH too. Stress can lower testosterone, as can many environmental factors. Also, Mitochondrial health is key for hormone production. Thanks for watching! Hope that helps!
@@DrAlexandraMayer Hello Doctor. Please can you explain why you would suggest that testosterone is checked with a blood test? If testosterone is exceptionally low but DHEA is within range on a DUTCH test. Etiocholanolone and Androsterone normal but on the higher end of spectrum. Many thanks for a great video
think i have found the answer to my question- Testosterone glucuronide is mostly made by the UGT2B17 enzyme, which also makes the glucuronide forms of 5a-DHT and 5b-androstanediol. Genetic variants of this enzyme reduce the urinary levels of these hormones without affecting serum levels. The genetic variants of UGT2B17 vary in the population from 7-80% (variation dependent on genetic ancestry, with the highest rates in those of Asian descent). Heterozygous individuals show milder reductions in urinary testosterone than homozygous. For this reason, low and very low levels of urinary testosterone should be confirmed with serum testing before treatment is applied. Serum testing can include free and total testosterone and SHBG. Testosterone levels may be better understood by also considering its downstream metabolites (5a- androstanediol, 5bandrostanediol). Technically, these metabolites can also be formed from DHEA metabolites without going through the testosterone pathway, but they generally tend to correlate with testosterone production.
@@harrietvictoria273 Yes that is true. The way hormones are measured and through what route of collection really matters! Testosterone urine should be confirmed with blood.
After years of low libido, sleep issues, joint and muscle pain I finally found an OBGYN who listened and took my concerns seriously! Did blood work last week and turns out my testosterone is less than 3, my SHBG was 17 and my DHEA Sulfate was 59! Also my vitamin D is 11.8 💀 Do not get medically gaslit please fight for your health ❤
So glad that you found a great doctor to listen to you! Thanks for watching!
How did they treat?
@@JW-qz4jlthey prescribed a testosterone cream to see if that helps my symptoms that could be caused by the hormone imbalance and I take vitamin D supplements:)
Do you know what panel they ran for you? I need to have mine done desperately
@@gipsiesrealmAsk your GYN and if they deny you the answers with excuses 😢, it means it's time to change doctors. Simple.
Thank you! This was very informative. Im 26 and went to see my gyno because I thought I was in permi-menopause. Turns out I was actually extremely anemic, immunosurpressed, dealing with several nutrient deficiencies and have very low t. I've been training hard and dieting strictly for 7 years straight... I lost and maintained a healthy weight for 4 of those years but then the SAME lifestyle seemed to be increasing my weight gain. Come to find out, I was doing too much and eating too little and I slowed my metabolism. I cut out carbs, red meats, and most fats. I was literally eating oatmeal, chicken breasts and spinach lol. I thought I was doing ALL the healthy things but I was actually depriving my body of vital nutrients.
never cut out fats 😯
I’m 29 and felt the same way. I have low t right now too. Did they give you anything?? What did you do to get your testosterone up??
@doll6536 my doctor suggested hormone replacement therapy but I didn't want to do that because of the potential side effects. I just increased it naturally by eating more lean meat( beef, chicken, fish) and eggs, exercises (specifically weight lifting) and reducing stress/cortisol. Now my hormones are back to normal, my sex drive is back, my period is regular, my mood is stable, my skin has cleared up.
@@JerrTheHooman did you have any thyroid problem like Hashimoto’s? What were your nutrient deficiencies? I’m low vitamin D (almost all the time for years) and borderline low b12 and iron. I’m on supplements for those. I’m terrified they might say there’s nothing they can do besides hormone therapy, I’m only 29. My cortisol was good and my estrogen was good too. I am slightly overweight so I’m trying to lose weight but it’s hard. How long after did you retest your levels with the lifestyle changes? Was there a drastic increase? I literally feel like I’m in perimenopause..low energy, mood swings, can’t concentrate, night sweats and vaginal dryness with no libido 😔
@doll6536 my thyroid hormone was fine. I had low b12, severe low iron to the point I was anemic and having dizzy spells/heart palpitations, low vitamin c, and vitamin d as well. I didn't go back to get a re-test. I'm just assuming there was an increase since all of my symptoms improved. Ive been working on getting my testosterone up and fixing the vitamin deficiencies for 4 months now. I'm that 4 months, I have lost 7 lbs, put on a significant amount of muscle, went from never wanting sex ever to wanting it damn near every day, and I just FEEL amazing. I used to be tired and sore and just felt BAD all the time. Now I'm full of energy and boucing off the walls. ( I originally went to the doctor suspecting perimenopause but that VERY rare in your 20s.)
I’m 44 and started HRT a few months ago but oestrogen made me feel terrible. I have low testosterone level so started Testim gel and feel great. Is it ok to use it without oestrogen and progesterone? So only using testosterone gel. Is that ok? Thanks!
Often in perimenopause testosterone is the first thing to decline! I. Those cases testosterone only can be extremely helpful and necessary. Often as hormone shift patients need to change their plan to accommodate. Thanks for watching!
I’ve had symptoms of low testosteron since I got Burnt out at 25. Was worried I had entered early menopause bc of nightly sweats and all other symptoms. Two years ago (then 42, now 44) all my symptoms got much worse, gained 15kg in a short time, nearly no libido. Just got lab work done. My T was hardly detectable, less than 0,10 nmol/L 😳 I have NO other things off, no nutrient deficiencies, thyroid ok. Could this all relate back to the burnout in my 20ies? The adrenals took a massive hit and never recovered? I have always led a very healthy life style but 8 years ago I had an open abdominal surgery (getting a large fibroid removed from the outside of my uterus). Was left with nerve damage that led to chronic and debilitating pain. Was bed ridden for 3 years and pumped with medications. Got a new medication after those 3 years so I got better, was able to work part time again. Could get a bit active again and was slim and fit, then out of no where at 42 I started rapid weight gain. Could it perhaps be not the adrenals but just the mitochondria overloaded by the toxicality of medications I still need to take daily? I mean I cant get off those 😢 What then? Should I just get hormone replacement therapy? Since I cant really adjust my life style? I took crazy amounts of zink for a while hoping it would help and I spend a lot of time in the sun whenever I can and supplement with vit d during winter. No amount of life style changes have helped so perhaps hrt is my best option? 😟
I tried compounded testosterone cream, it didn’t work for me. Do different t doctors use different testosterone? I don’t want the pellet.
Try holy basil and damiana love
Often times when I get my panel done with my gynecologist they don’t want to test due to “women’s hormones fluctuating anyway”. I have been trying to increase my muscle mass since 2021 and did a competition for bikini bodybuilding that year and all the GYN I’ve seen say “you’re healthy and young and beautiful, don’t worry.” But I’m 31 and trying to do better. How can I get them to take my concern seriously? My test is always less than 8 and they say it’s ok. Also, I have cysty breasts and read that’s from estrogen dominance. Any advice on what I can ask my provider next week?
That’s so frustrating and super common, unfortunately. That’s a great question and I really appreciate that. For estrogen and progesterone you can ask her to run them on the right day of your cycle (7 days before your period is best). For testosterone 8 is low for someone your age. Ask her what optimal is for your age range. That might spark a good conversation. That said, supplementing testosterone is a big conversation in younger women as you can’t be on testosterone if you plan to be pregnant. Its hard to build muscle mass with T that low though. Hopefully that helps! Thanks for watching! I would love if you would subscribe too.
Hey@@DrAlexandraMayer , I subscribed! :) Thank you for your response. I got results back, they went from 18 to 20- but that still seems suboptimal. Is it safe to take a low dose of test if I might want to have a baby int he future? I know you need to cycle off. Thank you!
You hair looks amazing!
Fantastic info! Wow, thank you so much!
You’re welcome! Thank you for watching! I am always bringing out new videos on hormones. Hit subscribe and I hope they are helpful for you 😊
Great video. Thank you
Glad you liked it!
I had no libido early 20s on
I had an Everlywell hormone test done- I have no idea how accurate they are. However, it said I have low DHEA and testosterone, but high progesterone. I am 20. I wish I knew what was going on! PCOS runs in my family, but I have very regular but heavy cycles.
I don’t know how accurate Everlywell is. My go to for a case like this is DUTCH testing. There is so much more this could be than PCOS. Estrogen metabolism, balance between hormones. It all matters. Hope that helps!
I've had very unreliable testing results with everlywell! Also a professional told me they are not trusted results! If you have a history of pcos usually testosterone and androgens are typically elevated with the condition..
@@faithhinson2498 That doesn't surprise me. I am not a personally a fan of everlywell.
@Dr. Alexandra Mayer
I won't test with everlywell again the specialist I was consulting with told me many women at her practice had received unreliable results with them !
Dutch is the best option out there ..thank-you doctor for all your educational videos
I wish my doctor understood this stuff like you do D:
Thank you so much! There are definitely doctors out there that understand this. It’s about looking around to find the one that is the best fit for you :).
I have POI and undetectable testosterone
Excellent video!
Oh no. I've been forgetting about getting dryer sheets for months when I do groceries so I guess its my body protecting me from their toxicity
Does low testosterone lower estrogen and present itself with those symptoms? My recent lab work shows low testosterone and it’s lowered my testosterone estrogen, which is showing more of these symptoms.
Good question. Some testosterone can be converted to estrogen in the body. It isn’t the main source of estrogen in cycling women. Also, just a reminder in cycling women estrogen should be run on specific days in the cycle to really see if levels are optimal.
Am 22yo and i have a testosterone level of 0.60 ! Is that normal
What is the appropriate dosage for a woman Dr??
Hi! Thank you so much for watching! I do not give any specific medical advice or dosing over social media. Dosing is based on labs, symptoms, and the patient's case. There are good starting doses. My personal thought is start low and increase if needed always using labs and symptoms to guide us.
Great video. Where would one find optimal levels of total and free testosterone for young women?
I definitely like to see it in the upper end of the reference range from the lab. I often see 5 or 10, which are too low. Hope that helps!
can low testosterone lead to vulvar issues in a teenager (ie neuroleptive vulvodynia) especially if they do not take birth control?
Hi Erin! Thanks for watching. Here are some general thoughts.
Disclaimer: this is not to be considered medical advice. Below are general thoughts and guidelines. For medical advice pertaining to individual cases, you should consult with your physician.
That said, topical testosterone/ estrogen creams are medications used in treatment of vulvodynia. They are used in peri and post- menopausal women, not teenagers. Given that info, low testosterone in young women could be a consideration for vulvodynia. In teenagers it may be less likely. If pain is worse around menses, estrogen and progesterone, and the ratio between the two is also a consideration. Also, it’s important to note that treatment for vulvodynia tends to require combination treatments. Anxiety and depression are common in these patients as well. Pelvic floor PT is also a consideration.
My total testosterone is very low and free testosterone is a bit high/normal, while my dhea is 456 what does it mean? :(
I see high DHEA is PCOS patients sometimes. To get an accurate idea of what’s going on I recommend having a hormone specialist look at your case as well as your labs and help you determine what’s going on from the full picture. Hope that helps! Thank you for watching!
I have low testyand very high HSBG !! Rxplains why im depressed
I’m sorry to hear about your symptoms and I’m glad that this video helped. I have a couple videos on depression and hormones which will likely be very helpful for you! Thanks for watching! Please subscribe
I thought healthy T levels for women was 15 to 70 - not 8.
Great question! Many labs put “healthy” ranges at 3-50. I would not say a T that low is healthy but lab ranges aren’t really reflective of what healthy is. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching! Please subscribe
I'm 34 and want to try out a really low dose of testosterone. I've been off birth control for 5 years now and my sex drive is almost non existent. I'm just afraid of getting oily/facial acne again like in my teens if I go on test. Also don't want my hair to start thinning.
Hi Jessie! With proper dosing you can avoid side effects like that. Especially if you work with someone who addresses all the hormones and SHBG to take a comprehensive look at libido. This is so common in women who have a long history of birth control use. So much can be done to balance hormones and get you back to feeling great! Thank you so much for watching!!
im trying bhrt first
I’m 26 and my testosterone is .5 … what’s going on with me?
That number is from a dutch test
I always recommend double checking testosterone from DUTCH with blood levels. Plus you need your doc to assess the other androgens on DUTCH too. Stress can lower testosterone, as can many environmental factors. Also, Mitochondrial health is key for hormone production. Thanks for watching! Hope that helps!
@@DrAlexandraMayer Hello Doctor. Please can you explain why you would suggest that testosterone is checked with a blood test? If testosterone is exceptionally low but DHEA is within range on a DUTCH test. Etiocholanolone and Androsterone normal but on the higher end of spectrum. Many thanks for a great video
think i have found the answer to my question- Testosterone glucuronide is mostly made by the UGT2B17 enzyme, which also makes the glucuronide forms of 5a-DHT and 5b-androstanediol. Genetic variants of this enzyme reduce the urinary levels of these hormones without affecting serum levels. The genetic variants of UGT2B17 vary in the population from 7-80% (variation dependent on genetic ancestry, with the highest rates in those of Asian descent). Heterozygous individuals show milder reductions in urinary testosterone than homozygous. For this reason, low and very low levels of urinary testosterone should be confirmed with serum testing before treatment is applied. Serum testing can include free and total testosterone and SHBG.
Testosterone levels may be better understood by also considering its downstream metabolites (5a- androstanediol, 5bandrostanediol). Technically, these metabolites can also be formed from DHEA metabolites without going through the testosterone pathway, but they generally tend to correlate with testosterone production.
@@harrietvictoria273 Yes that is true. The way hormones are measured and through what route of collection really matters! Testosterone urine should be confirmed with blood.
I am 43 female. My totaltesterone value is 6.5 what does it mean
Pls guide
I can’t give individual medical advice on social media. I always suggest consulting with a hormone expert
Mine at 1,7😩 and my oestradiol is 468