Last week I was approached via LinkedIn by a man who wanted to offer his business services pro bono to assist me in my Testosterone Addiction campaign.  My initial reaction, hmmm there must be a catch to this. I agreed to meet with him at a local Starbucks and he began asking questions.  He said, “I have never heard of testosterone addiction and I am curious.”

I said, “Most people haven’t. It’s not something being talked about.  I’m bringing it to the forefront.”  I showed him the TIME magazine article “Manopause” and pointed out that the $2 billion testosterone sales are projected to grow to $5 billion by 2018!

I didn’t know what to expect and I am cautious because testosterone is strongly associated with SEX and I’m wary of “creepers.” It turns out he is not a creeper, he’s a good man and has worked with many of the same people I have so I felt safe.

I discussed how testosterone overdosing is a common practice and the medical community is aware of it; however, the public is not being made aware of this.

I just happened to bring my purple binder with all my testosterone research and book outline. I opened it and there was one of my lab reports. I said, “Let me show you what overdosing looks like.”

Exhibit A:  My first appointment at the hormone clinic.  You’ll see June 19, 2009 my total testosterone level was 28 and this lab, (Labcorp) uses a reference level of 14-76.

Exhibit B: The second report dated December 2010, a year and half later, you’ll see my level is 437 and this lab (Sonora Quest) uses a reference level of 2-45.”

I said, “437 is a male level.”  He was shocked!  My levels were higher than a man his age.

I have more reports with my levels ranging from 20 to 285 but we will save those for the book. If you are currently on testosterone and you are starting to feel like something isn’t right, you should have a lab test done.  Don’t go to the doctor who is prescribing it.  Find a lab on your own. Do your own personal scientific method research study on yourself.  I did, which took me from hormonal hell to hormonal heaven!

Many people I have talked to say, “Lisa this is malpractice.” Even physicians have said this to me.  For those who know me, I am not the type of person who is going to be lawsuit happy.  I take responsibility for myself, my actions, my behavior, the choices I make and believe I had some responsibility in deciding to start hormone replacement therapy. However, I don’t take on others’ responsibilities (something ‘I’ve been working on for the past 20 years).  I didn’t know what I didn’t know. As the late beautiful soul, Maya Angelou said, “When you know better you do better!”

So, my purpose is to do better for others so they don’t put themselves into the position I found myself in! The jury is still out on the long-term effects of testosterone replacement therapy and I’m warning others to be cautious. What might be a short-term cure for a little sex drive issue could turn out to be a chronic and possibly devastating health problem!