What's to Know About Testosterone in Women?

At the mention of the word 'testosterone,' what comes to the mind of many people is some male stuff. This steroid hormone indeed plays very vital role in men and insufficiency may lead to some nasty symptoms. But then, testosterone is not just a male hormone; it is beneficial to women as well.

Testosterone in Women and Aging

Testosterone is more essential in men than in women as it plays very vital role in the development of reproductive tissues in males, including testis and prostate. It promotes secondary sexual characteristics such as muscle and bone mass growth as well as hair growth. But females also need the hormone in small amounts to maintain overall wellbeing and sexual interest. In women, testosterone is produced by the ovaries and the adrenal glands. It helps to maintain good sex drive and healthy bones. The hormone also helps to enhance cognitive function and manage pain response.

Some might think low testosterone, or low T, is the cause of aging; the reverse appears to be the case. As is the case in men, women experience a drop in testosterone levels as they grow older. The decline is, however, not as significant since females do not produce large amount of the hormone anyway. Levels vary, but the normal range is about 15 to 70 ng/dL. They peak in early adulthood and drop to around half the highest amount by age 40. The level of testosterone in a woman's body is said to rise gradually from around 24th day into her menstrual cycle through to around day 14 of the next cycle.

Aside aging, other factors that may give rise to low testosterone issue include:

Premature ovarian failure or early menopause
Oral contraceptives
Hysterectomy or ovary removal
Vitamin D deficiency
Stress
Morbid obesity
Diabetes
Smoking and alcohol consumption
Infections, including meningitis and syphilis
Poor exercise habits

Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women

Certain signs and symptoms that are associated with aging are, in fact, the result of low testosterone in some cases. They include:

Anxiety – When the level of testosterone in the body drops, it could make a woman more susceptible to anxiety attacks. These may, however, be mild in nature.

Weak bones – A balance of this hormone is known to support the maintenance of bone health. Too much or too little could give rise to issues. The problem of fragile bones as a result of low testosterone is more common in women after menopause.

Fatigue – This is somewhat related to the above. Drop in testosterone levels in women makes such prone to regular feeling of fatigue. This may occur as a result of or independent of sleep disturbances caused by the deficiency.

Low sexual drive – Lack of interest in sexual matters is another possible symptom of low testosterone in women. The same thing also happens in men. Insufficient amount of the hormone may cause women to have dry vagina, leading to painful intimacy.

Increased body fat – It is not uncommon to see many older women looking chubby. In fact, some consider this look a regular characteristic of such. This happens possibly as a result of drop in testosterone levels. Low T causes muscle tone loss and gradual weight gain.

Hair loss – Testosterone helps with the growth and maintenance of hair. So hair loss is one of the more visible symptoms of low levels in the body. You will notice this through patchy hair on the head or, worse, baldness. Body hair loss is also an effect, although you may find it a bit hard to detect this.

Women having low levels of testosterone could find it hard concentrating. They may also experience occasional mood swings and depression.

Testosterone Therapy for Women

Testosterone replacement therapy could be beneficial to women with insufficiency issues when supervised by a qualified health practitioner. It is effective in the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder. However, there is uncertainty over the safety of long-term use. Supplemental testosterone is not commonly recommended to women.

As previously stated, women only need testosterone in small amounts. Certain nasty side effects may be experienced when the quantity in a female body becomes excessive. In such cases, the benefits of testosterone replacement therapy are overridden. Deepening of voice and growth of facial hair are among the side effects of elevated testosterone levels in women. Side effects of supplementation could also include:

Acne
Abnormal enlargement of the clitoris
Male pattern hair loss or baldness
Infertility
Irregular menstruation
Jaundice
Nausea and vomiting
Cardiovascular disease
Joint swelling
Increase in body fat

These are only some of the unpleasant side effects women may experience when testosterone levels are raised through the roof. The scarier reality is that these horrible changes could become permanent.

A good number of the signs and symptoms associated to low testosterone levels can also occur as a result of other conditions or factors, including medications, depression, alcohol abuse, and thyroid gland disorders. Effectively, the best advice on the appropriateness of testosterone replacement therapy can only be sought from a doctor. You will need to take a blood test to measure the amount of the hormone in the your blood. Dose will differ between different individuals, based on diagnostic results.

REFERENCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testosterone
www.healthline.com/health/low-testosterone/testosterone-levels-by-age
growyouthful.com/remedy/testosterone.php
tctmed.com/7-symptoms-of-low-testosterone-in-women/
www.everydayhealth.com/low-testosterone/women/