The Benefits of Testosterone in Menopause with Elektra Health

testosterone Elektra Health

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/mpk527/elektrafinal_-_1_31_22_1157_AM8mqbg.mp3

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EPISODE SUMMARY:

Testosterone is a hormone that affects all people, yet when it comes to women, they’re often left out of the conversation, leading to a lack of knowledge and proper research for female health. In today’s episode, we sat down with Jannine Versi and Jacqueline Giannelli to discuss testosterone, how it affects the body, controversies surrounding testosterone and women, and Jannine and Jacqueline’s game-changing platform, Elektra Health.

First, we asked Jannine and Jacqueline to tell us what exactly testosterone is and how it works in women’s bodies. They told us that despite being the most abundant hormone in the female body, testosterone is often left out of conversations surrounding female hormones. Testosterone is important for bones, muscles, cognition and more, with the female body holding 10 times as much testosterone during its reproductive years. In women, 50% of testosterone is made in the ovaries, while the other 50% is from the adrenal glands. With testosterone being such an important yet overlooked topic, we were curious if women had come to Elektra Health seeking help for their testosterone levels. They told us that while it is not yet common, for there is not enough research out there to start conversations, some women have approached them about testosterone in correlation with sexual health needs. We also asked about DHEA, and they said that DHEA is a hormone that is the precursor to both testosterone and estrogen. Some DHEA supplements are even available over the counter to treat deficiencies.

When asked about the decline of testosterone levels as we age, Jannine and Jacqueline debunked the idea that we lose all testosterone during menopause. They explained that for women, testosterone peaks in our 20s and 30s, and while the levels can lower during menopause, our bodies are not deficient in testosterone when going through menopause. There is a significant lack of conversation and research surrounding the correlation of testosterone and the female body, and Jannine and Jacqueline partially attributed this to the lack of proper and available treatments. With not enough research available to have FDA approved testosterone products for women, women are then seeking treatments elsewhere and given inaccurate hormone doses. Elektra Health is striving to change the conversation, and ways in which one can help make a difference are by talking to their doctor and asking questions and doing research on nonprofits and advocacy groups that watch where funding goes and advocate for more women’s health research.

For what inspired them to start Elektra Health, Jannine and Jackie said it stemmed from recognizing the gap in women’s health. In society, there’s been a steady increase in interest about fertility and pregnancy. While reproductive topics are important to discuss, in comparison, there is a severe lack of discussions surrounding menopause. When navigating menopause research, Elektra health believes in two crucial areas: education and community. Elektra Health approaches menopause holistically, encouraging women to evaluate their lifestyles and see if any reasonable changes can be made. The importance of community is a huge factor for Elektra Health. Jannine and Jacqueline strived to create a platform where women can connect with one another, share their stories, and offer helpful advice surrounding menopause. A lack of proper education and community can lead to improper treatments, and to highlight this, Bridgett shared with us her story of using Testosterone pellets. After being prescribed them by her doctor, she was not given enough initial information to understand the dangerous side effects they can bring about. Had she known, she would have been better informed and could have found a better treatment option.

When asked about recommendations for testosterone products, Jannine and Jacqueline suggested trying men’s FDA approved testosterone products at 1/10 of the dose. They also emphasized that unlike estrogen treatments, testosterone treatments can take a while and are also often accompanied by other forms of treatment, such as counseling and lifestyle changes. We also wanted to know about the side effects of having too high or too low testosterone levels. They explained that if a woman has too much testosterone over long periods of time, she may experience symptoms such as chin hair, pimples, darkening of body hair, change in lipids, voice deepening, and clitoral enlargement.

For further testosterone research, Elektra’s website offers information about proper testosterone replacement therapy. Jannine and Jacqueline also told us about ISSWSH, or the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health. ISSWSH is a women’s health organization that is a great resource for testosterone research. Another feature on Elektra’s website is called Meno-morphisis. Currently in beta-testing, Meno-morphisis will be a holistic approach to navigating menopause It will offer guidance from experts, an online community, and access to a personal coach.

Finally, we talked to Jannine and Jacqueline about markers for perimenopause and menopause. When asked about the validity of the AMH test, they told us that while it tests the quality of a woman’s eggs and follicles, tests such as the AMH test are not reliable enough to be used as benchmarks for perimenopause and menopause.

Jannine Versi and Jacqueline Giannelli

Jacqueline Giannelli FNP-BC, NCMP – Jacqueline Giannelli is Elektra Health‘s founding NP and board-certified family nurse practitioner specializing in women’s health with a special focus in menopause, urogynecology, and women’s sexual health. Jacqueline is a North American Menopause Society-certified practitioner and Assistant Medical Director at Maze Women’s Health. She earned her nursing degrees at NYU and San Francisco State University, and BA from Georgetown University. While not at work, Jacqueline enjoys tennis, hiking, cooking for her family, and hunting for treasures in New York City.

Jannine Versi, Co-Founder and COO of Elektra Health – Jannine Versi has spent over a decade working in healthcare, tech, and government. On the founding team of Cityblock Health, Jannine overdsaw clinical programs and community partnerships. Previously, she worked at Google and Valera Health, and served in President Obama’s White House & Commerce Department. She earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, BA from UPenn, and was a Fulbright Scholar. Jannine spends her free time scouring for new recipes to test out with her kitchen gadgets.

ELEKTRA HEALTH: The menopause transition is a universal female experience, yet it’s shrouded in stigma, shame, and secrecy. We believe it’s time to change this outdated narrative

Elektra is built around one simple mission: smashing the menopause taboo. We’re creating a movement to reimagine menopause as the beginning of a new chapter, one that is powerful & transformative.

We provide deep expertise & science-backed solutions alongside community support & guidance to give you agency over your hormonal health. Our approach is holistic and integrative, and it starts with education from trusted experts.

We believe women deserve better. Join our movement to ensure every woman lives a bold, fearless & thriving menopause, and beyond.

In this episode, we discuss…

[0:01] Introduction
[0:19] Guest Introduction
[4:12] Start of Interview
[5:21] What is Testosterone?
[9:06] What is DHEA?
[11:34] When Testosterone Levels Start to Decline
[13:24] Controversies Surrounding Testosterone
[19:18] Elektra Health
[26:00] Recommendations for Testosterone Products
[31:37] Side Effects of Too Much or Too Little Testosterone
[33:47] Elektra’s Website
[35:51] Meno-Morphosis
[39:00] AMH Test
[42:53] Closing Thoughts
[44:22] Outro

Useful Resources:

Elektra Health I [https://www.elektrahealth.com/]

Elektra Health’s LinkedIn I [https://www.linkedin.com/company/elektra-health/]

Elektra Health’s Facebook I [https://www.facebook.com/elektrahealth]

Elektra Health’s Instagram I [https://www.facebook.com/ThePointsPartner]

mySysters I [https://mysysters.com/]

International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health I [https://www.isswsh.org/]

TAKE A SURVEY AT https://hotflashescooltopics.com/ TELLING US ABOUT YOUR MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS AND YOU COULD WIN A FREE FULL-SIZE STATE OF MENOPAUSE SYMPTOM RELIEF PRODUCT!

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