Patent ID: 8551516

Claim:
A method of improving health in a woman having an elevated level of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) of at least 84 nmol/L comprising: a. orally administering to the woman estrogen in an amount sufficient to achieve a therapeutic effect equivalent to a conjugated equine estrogen dosage of about 0.2 to about 3.0 mg/day; and b. topically or transdermally administering to the woman from about 50 to about 3,000 μg/day testosterone in order to provide: i. a therapeutic effect equivalent to: (a) a total testosterone serum blood level of from about 85 ng/dl to about 1000 ng/dl, (b) a free testosterone serum blood level of from about 7 pg/ml to about 30 pg/ml, or (c) a bioavailable testosterone serum level of from about 13 ng/dl to about 70 ng/dl; and ii. an increase in: (a) total testosterone of from about 9 ng/dl to about 820 ng/dl, or (b) free testosterone of from about 1 pg/ml to about 15 pg/ml; in the presence of elevated SHBG levels of at least 84 nmol/L, wherein the improved health is manifest by restoration, enhancement, or improvement of a characteristic selected from the group consisting of sexual desire, stimulation to sexual organs, ability to achieve orgasm, pleasure in sexual activity, and frequency of sexual activity.