Testosterone insufficiency in women: fact or fiction? » Sexual Medicine » BUMC

Low testosterone in women: Signs, causes, and treatments

The latter two are produced in the adrenals, ovaries, and peripheral tissues by conversion. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a disorder that directly affects the adrenal glands and the production of the body’s hormones. Hirsutism is a hormonal condition that can causes growth of unwanted hair, specifically on the back, face, and chest.

The idea behind checking testosterone levels is not to target a certain testosterone level for treatment effectiveness, but rather to make sure that testosterone levels in women don’t get too high. It’s true that low testosterone levels in women can sometimes impact female sexual function negatively, but that’s far from the whole story. Many people think of testosterone as a male sex hormone, but everyone requires a certain amount. While males have more testosterone than females, female adrenal glands and ovaries produce small amounts of this hormone. Low testosterone can cause side effects like decreased sex drive, depression and weakness in females. For these reasons, doctors usually advise against testosterone treatment for women.

A deficiency of this hormone can also have psychological and emotional effects on women — potentially impacting their quality of life. However, women also have testosterone — albeit in smaller quantities — and it plays a number of vital roles in the female body. At-home test kits for checking your testosterone levels are available without a prescription. The kits provide everything you need to collect a blood or saliva (spit) sample to send to a lab for testing.

As the dose is so low, testosterone used in this way does not usually increase your risk of developing facial hair, voice deepening or skin changes. It can sometimes take a few months for the full effects of testosterone to work in your body, whether this is using the cream, gel or the implant. Moreover, the relatively insensitive testosterone assays used and the failure to consider the effect of SHBG binding, or estrogen.

If the measurement is lower, the dosage may be increased to 75-mg DHEA a day. Androgen values should be checked within several months and, if needed, the dose may be further increased to 100-mg DHEA. DHEA treatment is used in premenopausal and postmenopausal women with low androgen levels. Of all methods of hormone replacement DHEA is preferred although options such as Estratest and testosterone 1% gel are available. DHEA has recently been used to treat women who have adrenal insufficiency, who by definition have markedly decreased DHEA levels. It has been found to improve general energy, well-being and sexuality. DHEA has also been studied in older men and women to aid in muscle strength with variable responses.

After menopause, women may experience low testosterone levels, which can lead to a decrease in sex drive, fatigue, and loss of muscle mass. Testosterone therapy may make sense for women who have low testosterone levels and symptoms that might be due to testosterone deficiency. However, the wisdom and effectiveness of testosterone treatment to improve sexual function or cognitive function among postmenopausal women is unclear.

Less than 1% of women experience hair loss while following BioTE protocols. The most common cause of hair loss in women is thyroid deficiency. Fortunately, the BioTE method also optimizes thyroid health to help ensure a whole-body approach to better health. Thrivelab offers personalized hormone replacement therapy with physicians who are committed to helping you feel your best tren and test cycle. The process is simple and affordable and can be done from the comfort of your own home, thanks to telehealth visits and accessible patient care 24/7.

The LifeMD Affiliated P.C.s are administratively led by LifeMD Southern Patient Medical Care, P.C., with registered office 1200 South Pine Island Road, Plantation, FL 33324. Medical treatment from licensed providers is provided by the “LifeMD Affiliated P.C.s,” an affiliated network of medical Professional Corporations and Associations. For this reason, too little or too much testosterone can have a great impact on a woman’s overall health. When women don’t have enough testosterone, it can lead to several symptoms.

Dr. Debra Karnasiewicz, a board-certified internist who specializes in the care of women, told “GMA” that she believes the research on testosterone and women is lacking. When it is used, testosterone should only be taken under the care of a medical professional as a prescription medication. Testosterone levels very with age, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and start to drop around age 30 or 40.