(ORLANDO, Florida) – Menopause is something almost every woman goes through, but is rarely discussed. Most simply accept the life-altering symptoms such as hot flashes, fatigue, brain fog and low sex drive as a fact of life. But experts say there is a simple treatment for menopausal symptoms that is safe and effective, but drastically underused. In fact, a new national survey by Orlando Health finds most people do not even know it exists as an option for women.
“A lot of people think that testosterone treatments are only something men need, but it helps so many women dealing with the life-altering symptoms of menopause feel better within days of treatment,” said Terrence Peppy, MD, chief of obstetrics and gynecology for Orlando Health Physician Associates. “They have more energy, they’re sleeping at night and they can get up and do things that they want to do.”
In women, low-dose testosterone is delivered through a pellet injected under the skin during a quick in-office procedure, and while the tiny pellets have big impacts for women, the treatment is drastically underused. The survey found that these testosterone treatments ranked lowest (12%) of all interventions known to improve menopausal symptoms. Estrogen treatments are much more commonly known (43%), ranking below only diet and exercise. However, estrogen only treats two of the nine common symptoms of menopause and can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke. Testosterone pellets treat all nine symptoms without any dangerous side effects.
“Testosterone pellets are a simple solution and are an option for virtually every patient regardless of their medical condition or history,” Peppy said. “For many, easing symptoms improves their relationships with their partners, gives them energy to exercise and allows them to live their lives as they did before menopause.”
Testosterone pellets are released into the bloodstream over time and usually provide about three to four months of symptom relief. Dr. Peppy and his colleagues hope that the treatment will become more widely available as more women share their positive results.
