Why Testosterone Is Essential for Women: What You Need to Know

When most people think of testosterone, they think of men—but here’s the truth: testosterone is incredibly important for women, too. In fact, testosterone is our primary sex hormone before our ovaries even start making eggs, and it continues to play a key role in our health and well-being long after menopause.

Let’s break down why this hormone matters so much, what happens when it’s low, and how we can support healthy levels—naturally and with hormone therapy.

Why Women Need Testosterone

How does testosterone affect womenTestosterone isn’t just about libido. While it does help fuel sexual desire, it also:

  • Supports lean muscle mass
  • Maintains bone density
  • Boosts motivation and drive
  • Supports mood and mental clarity
  • Helps with energy, stamina, and recovery from exercise
  • Improves skin elasticity
  • May help regulate blood sugar and metabolism
  • Plays a role in attention and focus (especially for women with ADHD)

During our reproductive years, our ovaries produce testosterone, which contributes to overall hormonal balance. As we age, particularly after our 30s, testosterone levels begin to decline. If your ovaries are surgically removed, your testosterone levels can plummet quickly—sometimes resulting in fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, decreased libido, and difficulty building muscle.

Often Overlooked Benefits of Testosterone for Women

Besides sexual health and energy, many women are surprised to learn testosterone can:

  • Improve ADHD symptoms by enhancing focus and attention
  • Support cardiovascular health
  • Enhance overall confidence and assertiveness
  • Improve sleep quality

How to Replace Testosterone

If your levels are low, there are several effective ways to replace testosterone:

  1. Creams or Gels – Often applied daily to the inner thigh or upper arm. A good option for gentle, consistent dosing.
  2. Injections – Usually done weekly or bi-weekly. Provides a reliable and more rapid boost, though levels can fluctuate more.
  3. Pellets – Implanted under the skin every 3–4 months. A convenient option for long-term, steady hormone support.
  4. The right method depends on your lifestyle, preferences, and health history. Always work with a trained provider who understands female hormone optimization.

Natural Ways to Support Testosterone

In addition to hormone therapy, some lifestyle strategies can help support testosterone levels:

  • Strength training – Resistance exercise is one of the best natural ways to stimulate testosterone production.
  • Adequate protein intake – Especially from high-quality sources like grass-fed meats, eggs, and collagen peptides.
  • Good sleep hygiene – Poor sleep is associated with lower testosterone.
  • Stress reduction – Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which can suppress testosterone.

Supplement Support

Certain supplements can also support natural testosterone levels:

  • Zinc – Helps with hormone production and balance
  • Magnesium – Supports enzymatic activity involved in testosterone creation
  • Ashwagandha – Adaptogen that may reduce stress and help maintain testosterone
  • DHEA – A hormone precursor that can sometimes support testosterone production
  • Vitamin D – Low levels are linked to low testosterone

These should always be used under the guidance of your provider—especially if you’re also on hormone therapy.

In Summary

Testosterone is a powerhouse hormone for women—vital for energy, focus, libido, mood, metabolism, and more. Whether you’re navigating perimenopause, postmenopause, or have had your ovaries removed, optimizing your testosterone levels can be life-changing. At Hyer Health, we’re here to help you explore the right approach for your body and your goals.

Have questions about your hormone health? We offer free 15-minute phone consults. Let’s talk!

Is Semaglutide for Weight Loss Right for You?

Tis the season for Fun, Food, Friends and Family. It’s also the season when we tend to get a little Fluffier.

The good news is, on average, people only gain about a pound during the holiday season. The bad news is more than half of Americans are already overweight, and being overweight sets the stage for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. But let’s push that gloom and doom aside for just a minute.

First, has anyone told you lately that you are special, and you are loved?

Take a deep breath and let that sink in. Go ahead, fill your lungs and heart with a huge helping of self love.

You are a blessing to your family and friends. You deserve good things in your life. You deserve to enjoy life and feel good about yourself. The people who love you want you to take extra special care of yourself because they need you and they want you around for a long time.

For many of us, we spend time thinking of others during the holiday season. And that’s on top of our regular work, decorating, cleaning, and everything that is our life.

Who do we need to call? Who do we invite to our get-togethers? Who do we need to buy gifts for and what should we buy?

Well, please add yourself to the gift list. Doctor’s orders!

The holidays can make us anxious and even a little depressed because we know another year is ending. Maybe you didn’t accomplish everything you hoped – like losing 5 or 10 pounds. Maybe you’ve got an even bigger weight loss goal for the new year and now you’re not sure you will be able to do it. These feelings are normal, but they don’t have to be your normal.

This time of year – the beginning of December – is the absolute best time to prep yourself for the holidays and build momentum for the new year. You’ve got me in your corner, and I’ve got a great resource to have your back.

One of my favorite options is the FDA approved Semagultide – a safe, beneficial new treatment option to add to your weight management program. Patients lose between 20 and 40 pounds in 12 to 16 weeks, on average. But there are even more benefits. Semaglutide will make you feel satiated, so you are less likely to overeat or snack because it tapers hunger. It targets the areas of the brain that regulate appetite and hunger. When you combine this with intentional healthier eating and exercise, even light exercise, the benefits are compounded, and the results are fast and can be long lasting – as in the rest of your life!

As we age, eating right and exercising may simply not be enough. I love Semaglutide because it gives my patients hope and a fighting chance. It’s working hard in the background and focusing on regulating your eating even when you aren’t.

To see if semaglutide is a good option for you, I recommend starting with a blood test. We need to see where you are today and identify any health issues and get to the root cause of those issues. Once we see the results of your test, we can build a program tailored just for you and your needs.

I’ve got a holiday gift for you too. Here’s my Day Starter recipe for good health and happiness this holiday season. How you begin your day can set the tone for the entire day. The steps below will take no more than 10 minutes, but they will affect every other minute of your day – in a very positive way.

Day Starter Recipe

Day Starter Recipe

  1. Stretch! Have you ever noticed that animals stretch as soon as they wake up? They know something you don’t. A good morning stretch gets your blood flowing, warms your muscles, and gives you a purposeful, healthy start to the day.
  2. Lemon Water! Once you finish your stretch, pour a glass of room-temperature water and add a squeeze of lemon. Lemon water wakes up your immune system, helps detoxify your body, regulates your digestive system, and helps maintain your PH balance, just to name a few of the benefits.
  3. Daily Gratitude and Intention! Take five minutes to give thanks and with meditation or prayer, set an intention for the day. Being grateful puts you in a mood of love and that alone can lower your blood pressure and help you feel relaxed. We have so much to be grateful for, especially the simple things in life. Give thanks for a night of sleep, for waking up, for being given another day, for having a home… for all the things good in your life big and small. Then, think about what you want to get out of this day and set your daily intention(s).
  4. Move! For a great energy boost, do 10 squats, 10 push-ups, and 10 stomach crunches. If this seems too difficult, start with fewer reps, or modify the routine with 10 knee lifts, 10 lunges using a chair for balance, and 10 standing pushups using a wall. The goal here is to move and get your body warmed up.
  5. Self Love! Make your last step a quick look in the mirror, take a deep breath in and release. Then, smile and give yourself a positive affirmation, such as, “You are loved and you can do this.”