Testosterone Levels in Women Testing & Therapy

Testosterone Levels in Women Testing & Therapy

While many scientific studies and huge amounts of data show the safety of supplemental testosterone in postmenopausal women, only about 50% of women who take it experience a significant increase in sex drive. That’s because while testosterone plays a big role in pumping up sexual desire, it is far from the only thing that drives libido, which means that if yours is lacking, low testosterone may not be your issue. Desire for sexual activity also depends on neurotransmitters, blood flow to the genitals, and the ability to experience sexual pleasure. And plenty of other things can sabotage libido, including painful sex, medications, stress, insomnia, illness, and the monotony of monogamy. All this means that while it could be worth trying supplementation if your sex drive isn’t what you’d like it to be, increasing testosterone levels is not a quick, universal fix. Testosterone is predominantly recognized as a male hormone, but it is also produced in the ovaries and female adrenal glands in small quantities. There is now increased speculation about testosterone levels in women due to media coverage of track star Caster Semenya, who was barred from competing due to her naturally high levels of testosterone.

See permissions for copyright questions and/or permission requests. It was also striking that in some of the participants the endometrium was still active, or that signs of ovulation were observed, despite the use of testosterone. In the UK, the FA’s position contrasts that of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), British Cycling and British Rowing, who have implemented bans on transgender athletes based on the sporting exemption in the Equality Act 2010. There are currently 20 transgender women registered to play amateur football in England. Over the past decade, 72 transgender footballers among millions have taken part in FA grassroots games on a weekly basis.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. A commercial testosterone product intended for men is another option, but never do this without a prescription from a health care professional. So while I do sometimes prescribe a product meant for guys, it is not convenient, as one must be very precise about the dosage. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your testosterone levels and reaching your weight goal. There aren’t many studies on testosterone treatment in premenopause.

However, sometimes testosterone levels can be too high or too low, which may indicate other health issues. Women with high testosterone may reduce their testosterone levels naturally by incorporating certain foods and herbs into their diets. 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.

There are lifestyle changes which have been proven to dramatically improve the quality of life of people experiencing high testosterone. Oral contraceptives are sometimes also prescribed to treat and help block the production of excess testosterone. The best oral contraceptives for high testosterone and hirsutism are those with low doses of norgestimate, desogestrel, and gestodene.

During pregnancy, maternal testosterone levels naturally rise in the third trimester. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common hormonal disorder of excess androgens, tend to have even higher levels of free testosterone (FT), potentially exposing their developing babies to more androgen in the womb. Prior studies have suggested that prenatal androgen exposure can influence growth patterns, particularly in early school age boys, leading to accelerated catch-up growth up to seven years of age. What goes on in the womb does not stay in the womb as prenatal hormone exposure plays a critical role in shaping childhood growth and body composition. The findings suggest that structured, alternate-day exercise routines, including squats, crunches, and high marches, may enhance muscle strength and bone mineral density in women through testosterone modulation.

While women produce it in a smaller quantity, it is still essential for various functions, including maintenance of libido (sex drive), bone health and muscle mass. In some cases, an intersex condition could be the cause, wherein the person has chromosomal, hormonal, or physiological sex variations that don’t fit into the typical, binary definition of male or female. In extreme cases, high testosterone levels in women could be an indication of a more severe medical condition where tumors may be present on the ovaries or the adrenal glands.

Clinical chemistry was analyzed at the Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). Quantitative measurement of serum hormone levels was performed using MassChrom Steroids LC-MS/MS Assays (Chromsystems) by UPLC-ESI-MS (LCMS-8060, Shimadzu). Cis women have been reported to have stronger immune responses than cis men. This can confer advantages in the defense against infections, but it may also contribute to a higher susceptibility to autoimmune diseases (32–34). Despite well-established differences in incidence and disease course of autoimmune diseases between cis women and cis men, the underlying biological mechanisms remain incompletely understood.

The menstrual cycle, a fundamental aspect of female reproductive physiology, encompasses a series of cyclic events orchestrated by intricate hormonal interplay. Typically lasting approximately 28 days, although varying among individuals, the menstrual cycle how can a woman raise her testosterone levels be broadly divided into the follicular, ovulation, and luteal phases1. During the follicular phase, which spans approximately the first 14 days of the cycle, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) prompts ovarian follicles to mature, leading to the release of estrogen2. Estrogen promotes thickening of the uterine lining in preparation for potential implantation3. Ovulation marks the midpoint of the cycle and is characterized by the release of a mature egg from the ovary triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH).

However, taking testosterone may also increase the risk of heart disease. People who’ve had their ovaries removed (oophorectomy) will also have low testosterone levels because their ovaries are responsible for about half of all testosterone production. Women who are experiencing problems with their sexual function should therefore be evaluated by a medical expert with experience in this field, such as a gynecologist.