High Testosterone Levels in Women: Causes, Symptoms, and More

High Testosterone Levels in Women: Causes, Symptoms, and More

Some women seek treatment for lower testosterone levels caused by another health condition or surgery, such as removal of the ovaries. If your symptoms seem abnormal, a doctor may suggest a testosterone test to measure hormone levels in your blood. To perform this test, a doctor will draw some of your blood and examine it for hormone levels. Learn more about symptoms, causes, and treatment options for high testosterone levels in people with vulvas. Once women are started on testosterone therapy, improvement in sexual symptoms — if it is going to occur — will take about four weeks, with maximum results in about 12 weeks. However, if there is no change in sexual function six months later, testosterone therapy should be discontinued, and other reasons for the sexual problems should be explored.

But a really common thing that we see, especially in women over 35 is lower progesterone. And progesterone is the one that tells our uterine lining to stop growing so that it’s not so thick and therefore it keeps our periods from becoming too heavy. She also discusses how progesterone, estrogen, thyroid hormones, and cortisol all interconnect and why it’s all a balancing game. We also talk about the different types of hormone testing, and why one test isn’t best for all women at all stages of life.

If you take a blood test and find that your testosterone levels are high, there are some foods and herbs you can incorporate into your diet to help reduce levels naturally. Medical conditions causing low levels of testosterone, such as ovarian tumors, should be treated by a medical professional. However, testosterone levels also naturally decrease as we age, so there isn’t always an underlying concern. Both females and males experience an initial surge of testosterone and estrogen during puberty, which lasts through young adulthood. During perimenopause (the period before menopause) and menopause, your levels of estrogen (particularly the type called estradiol) drop significantly. This also happens if you have your ovaries removed or damaged before age 40, resulting in early menopause. The results provide important insights for health care providers and transmasculine and gender-diverse individuals who are considering starting hormone therapy.

That is why low levels during menopause can cause such distressing symptoms. Since women naturally create much lower levels of testosterone, they are more sensitive to changes in androgens than men. As previously mentioned, assessing what happens when you stop taking testosterone injections is to be considered as acceptable testosterone levels in women is not always easy. There are no set national guidelines, and the fact that laboratories and medical centers can each have their own set of standards makes this type of diagnosis all that much more difficult. According to some reports, menopause typically brings a decline in the production of testosterone. Since this hormone provides a woman with sexual desire, it is understandable that her libido would begin to fall in response. Decreased vaginal lubrication is also responsible for changing desires in terms of intimacy and sexuality.

Therefore, maintaining optimal testosterone levels can have a positive impact on women’s sexual health and overall quality of life. When testosterone levels in women are too high or too low, it can lead to various health issues. High testosterone levels in women, also known as hyperandrogenism, can cause symptoms such as acne, excess hair growth, irregular menstrual cycles, and infertility. On the other hand, low testosterone levels in women, known as hypoandrogenism, can result in low libido, fatigue, muscle weakness, and mood swings. Furthermore, fluctuations in testosterone levels can impact menstrual cycles. Testosterone helps regulate the menstrual cycle by influencing the production of other hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. If testosterone levels are too low, it can disrupt the regularity of the menstrual cycle, leading to irregular periods or even amenorrhea (absence of periods).

Additionally, certain factors such as age, exercise, stress, and medication can affect testosterone levels. Testosterone hormone therapy can boost sexual desire in both a pre-menopausal and post-menopausal woman. [7] Even so, experts have yet to pinpoint an exact testosterone level (whether it’s total testosterone or free testosterone) that can be used to diagnose HSDD. Testosterone levels naturally begin to drop once it peaks in your 30s. They may suggest DHEA to start before trying an off-label testosterone treatment.

Low levels of testosterone in women are best treated by addressing any underlying medical or mental health issues, not by taking testosterone supplements made for men. For these reasons, doctors usually advise against testosterone treatment for women. In fact, there are many possible side effects of testosterone therapy in women, even in women with naturally low levels of testosterone. Some women may have higher or lower levels of testosterone and higher or lower levels of estrogen (“female” sex hormones) than others. Avoid testosterone pills because they can lead to liver problems and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — the “good” cholesterol. Testosterone injections given in the muscle can lead to very high testosterone levels and tend to be very painful. Injected testosterone that leads to high levels can cause rage, acne, excessive facial or body hair growth (hirsutism), and hypersexuality.

If you suspect that you may have high free testosterone levels, it is recommended to consult with a healthcare professional who can perform appropriate tests to assess your hormone levels. It is important to note that while these natural strategies can help support optimal testosterone levels, individual hormonal imbalances may require medical intervention. If you suspect you have a hormone imbalance or experience symptoms such as low libido, fatigue, or menstrual irregularities, consult with a healthcare professional for a comprehensive evaluation and personalized treatment plan.

There are currently no testosterone products on the market approved for women. Generally, women’s bodies make about 1/10th to 1/20th of the amount of testosterone as men’s bodies. While oral contraceptives have been shown as an effective treatment for blocking testosterone, this treatment method can interfere if you have immediate plans to get pregnant.

This trial was single-blinded, with the assessor blinded to the group assignments. Due to the nature of the intervention, it was impossible to blind the patients or the principal investigator. The statistician, however, was blinded by coding the data into categories such as A and B to ensure unbiased analysis. They are not medicines and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure diseases.