Could testosterone help improve the health and sex lives of men AND women?

THE number of patients turning to testosterone to boost their mood, libido and energy levels is on the rise.

Some experts are calling for women to be offered free testosterone treatment on the NHS, believing that it could have important benefits to their health.

The sex hormone prescriptions, such as jabs and gels, have increased by 20 per cent since 2012 and now cost the NHS £20 MILLION a year.

But how is testosterone actually helping men and women?

Last week, consultant gynaecologist Nick Panay told the Royal College of General Practitioners’ annual meeting in Harrogate, North Yorks: “I strongly believe testosterone should be made available to all women who would benefit.

“Loss of libido impacts 15 per cent of menopausal women.

“It’s not just about a lack of sex drive.

“I have patients who report huge increases in their mood, energy, well-being, muscle strength and stamina.

“They go from feeling drained to being able to run marathons again.”

As women can experience a lack of sex drive after menopause, some doctors believe they should be prescribed testosterone.

Dr Channa Jayasena, of Imperial College London, said: “There is an argument to give testosterone to women beyond the menopause when they’re experiencing low libido.”

For some women, hormone replacement therapy can provide a solution to their lack of libido.

The NHS explains: “Sex drive can also fall if a woman’s natural testosterone levels drop.

“Testosterone is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands, so levels can drop if these are removed or they’re not functioning properly.”

Experts have also noticed that the growth hormone can help men to get in better shape, banishing diabetes and strengthening the bones.

A public figure that actively uses this treatment is singer Robbie Williams, who injects himself twice weekly with the hormone after his GP revealed he has the “testosterone levels of a 100-year-old man”.

Even though patients are increasingly turning to the hormone as an answer to their symptoms, not all experts are convinced the treatment is the answer.

Those suffering from a low libido and lack of energy can achieve similar results by changing their lifestyle, including exercising and reducing their alcohol intake.

A study published in the journal PLOS One last week argued that there is no benefit to treating ageing men with it.

Researchers from Georgetown University in Washington DC analysed more than 200 studies, dating back to the Fifties, and found supplementation with the hormone for low mood, energy boosts, sexual function and cognitive ability made no difference at all.

There are risks associated with testosterone therapy

The NHS have also urged caution for patients who are thinking about taking the hormone.

Their website claims: “It remains to be seen whether the benefits of testosterone therapy outweigh the risks for men currently considered to have testosterone levels within the normal range, and further studies are needed.

“There are risks associated with testosterone therapy, including an increased risk of prostate cancer and blood clots.”