The Truth About Testosterone in Women

You say "steroids" and picture a baseball scandal, a jacked guy, a bad spray tan. But cortisol is a steroid. Estrogen is a steroid. The cream you put on poison ivy is a steroid. The word covering all of them is also covering testosterone therapy for women, and that collision is quietly costing women muscle and bone they don't have to lose.
In this solo episode, prompted by a magazine interview on steroid use in women, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon breaks down what these molecules actually are, what they do inside a cell, and why the line between medicine and misuse has nothing to do with the word "steroid."

Study and References:
The Effects of Supraphysiologic Doses of Testosterone on Muscle Size and Strength in Normal Men (Bhasin et al., NEJM 1996) - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8637535 (youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&a…)
Testosterone Enhances Estradiol's Effects on Postmenopausal Bone Density and Sexuality (Davis et al., 1995) - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7616872 (youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&a…)
Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women (2019) - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31498... (youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&a…)
ISSWSH Clinical Practice Guideline for the Use of Systemic Testosterone for HSDD in Women (2021) - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33814... (youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&a…)
The Global Epidemiology of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use: A Meta-Analysis (Sagoe et al., 2014) - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24582... (youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&a…)
What Is the Prevalence of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use Among Women? A Systematic Review (Piatkowski et al., Addiction, 2024) - onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1... (youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&a…) "
The Compounds for Females Are Really Commonly Faked!": Women's Challenges in Anabolic Steroid Acquisition (Piatkowski et al., Drug and Alcohol Review, 2024) - onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1... (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.13931?…)

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⏰ Chapters:
00:00 - Beginning
01:25 - Introduction: The Sister Who Says "Oh My Gosh, You're Taking Steroids" Why Medicine Needs a Shared Vocabulary
03:43 - What a Steroid Actually Is: Four Rings of Carbon
04:49 - Anabolic vs. Androgenic: Same Receptor, Different Effects
06:16 - A Brief History: From Wasting Disease to the Weight Room
08:59 - Restoring vs. Exceeding: Why the Range Is the Whole Game
11:38 - The Davis Trial: Testosterone, Bone Density, and Lean Mass
13:38 - Oral Compounds, the Liver, and Why Conversion Matters
14:20 - What Gets Sold Isn't What's Labeled: The Australian Drug-Checking Data
15:31 - The 1.6% vs. 4% Myth: Reading the Prevalence Data Correctly
18:33 - Why GLP-1s Are Pushing Women Toward Androgens
20:26 - Permanent Effects: Voice Changes and What the Literature Shows
21:33 - The Four Questions to Ask Before Any Androgen Conversation
24:25 - Closing: Entering the Sarcopenia Era
‼️ Disclaimer: The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.