Q. At age 29, I had to have a hysterectomy that included my ovaries. After the fat-stored estrogen left my body (producing horrid hot flashes), I complained to my ObGyn about my missing libido. He wrote me a prescription for an estrogen and testosterone mix.
I began taking the pills, but I had strange changes in my body. I developed acne, facial hair, body hair and a low voice. I even began to walk differently. It helped some with sex drive, but I felt less and less feminine and more masculine. I hated it. I don’t think testosterone is worth the worry, even for women without ovaries.
A. You experienced predictable side effects of testosterone. The FDA has not approved testosterone to lift libido in women. If physicians prescribe this male hormone off label for women, they should use the lowest dose that works to boost sex drive without producing masculine characteristics. This requires careful follow-up. In your case, that doesn’t appear to have happened.
