Answers to Commonly Asked Questions ( 40 - 45 )

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40. I don't hear much about testosterone. Should I take it?

There are certainly good reasons to consider testosterone replacement. Testosterone is often called "the male hormone." But, we know that testosterone, which is a steroid hormone like estrogen, is also produced in women. Women with POF have lower testosterone levels compared to women who don't have POF. Testosterone is known to arouse sexual desire. And, one of the common complaints women with POF have is a loss of interest in sex.

In addition, low testosterone levels are associated with greater bone loss in all women (premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal). In postmenopausal women, testosterone replacement along with estrogen has shown to increase bone density more than estrogen alone.

41. Why is there such hesitation about testosterone?

Because there are some distressing side effects, even in small doses. They include facial and chest hair, acne, deepening of the voice, and possibly liver damage. The worst side effect is that it can increase cholesterol levels and raise the risk for cardiovascular disease.

42. There are certainly some good aspects (I would like to feel like making love with my husband again!). When will there be additional information?

Again from NIH: "We definitely need a lot more research in this area. We definitely can't recommend male hormone replacement to everyone yet. This is why NIH is preparing a long term protocol to evaluate adding a testosterone replacement to the current estrogen/progesterone treatment for women with POF."

43. What are the long-term risks of taking HRT?

Unfortunately, there have not been any studies regarding the long-term risks of HRT on women with POF.

The studies that have been completed were in women at natural age menopause. Because women with POF are taking HRT to replace an estrogen deficiency (much like a diabetic takes insulin for diabetes) the risks associated with HRT in natural age menopause can't be directly correlated.

The biggest fear about taking HRT is the risk of breast cancer. Although women are more likely to die from heart disease than breast cancer it is breast cancer we fear.

44. Several times you've mentioned research that is going on at The National Institutes of Health (NIH). Can you tell me what and where NIH is and what kind of research they're doing?

On a campus of just under 300 acres The National Institutes of Health is located in Bethesda, MD right outside of Washington, DC. NIH is part of the Public Health Service, which in turn is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to basic research NIH does a lot of clinical research. Clinical research involves people who are willing to volunteer for studies of diseases and experimental treatments.

Every patient who is admitted to NIH is enrolled in a scientific study known as a "protocol." Protocols that are drawn up by a principal investigator and a team of associates pose a question aimed at coming closer to a complete understanding of the mechanisms and eventual cure for some disease or disorder.

There are about 900 studies underway at any given time. We are fortunate that Premature Ovarian Failure is one of the disorders being studied.

For more information about NIH, visit the NIH website at: http://www.nih.gov

45. You didn't answer my question! I wanted to know about folic acid, about …

You're right! There are so many questions we didn't answer! This is a booklet and it's meant as an overview of Premature Ovarian Failure. We were concerned that if we kept answering all the questions readers had (and us too!) that we'd never get this FAQ done. Now that you are armed with information about POF use it as a base to increase your knowledge. As you can see from this FAQ there is new information being presented all the time. And you will probably find that soon some of this information will be outdated or updated.

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