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

How Low Testosterone Affects Women’s Health

If the free testosterone level is between 1.8 ng/mL and 2.2 ng/mL, this regimen is continued. 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.

For example, some types of breast cancer treatment involve blocking estrogen production. And your levels may be low immediately after childbirth and during breastfeeding. Because testosterone levels fluctuate so much, it can be challenging to diagnose low levels. Doctors recommend that you have a blood test 8–20 days after the start of your menstruation. After seeing a doctor, you can make an appointment with the closest laboratory to complete this test. Low testosterone, often referred to as low T, can lead to symptoms such as decreased energy, reduced libido, and diminished muscle mass. This is further complicated because laboratory tests are not sensitive enough to measure low testosterone levels in women.

However, these gels are traditionally used for men that have much higher average testosterone levels than when compared with women. Doctors and researchers still do not fully understand how low testosterone levels affect females or how best to treat the deficiency. Levels of other hormones, such as estrogen, also reduce over time, especially when menopause starts. However, many females with low testosterone levels do not experience these symptoms. Time spent sleeping is crucial for many aspects of wellbeing, including mood, memory, cognitive functioning, stress, and immune function. In addition to its role in these, poor sleep can also negatively impact testosterone levels. A study found that restricting sleep to 5 hours for 8 nights resulted in a decrease in testosterone levels by 10%-15%.

There is currently a lack of research into the treatment of low testosterone in females. Many doctors are much more concerned about high testosterone levels. This article explains when doctors may consider does testosterone thicken your blood levels low in a female as well as the symptoms, causes, and treatments for low testosterone. Still, the use of androgens in postmenopausal people is highly controversial. (Androgens are hormones that play a role in male traits and reproduction.) Views differ among sexual medicine experts and professional societies.

For this reason, too little or too much testosterone can have a great impact on a woman’s overall health. Low testosterone may cause you to feel depressed or anxious, tired, weak, and have less interest in sex. You may find your period becoming irregular, your hair thinning, your skin and vagina drying, and good sleep harder to get. In women, especially those who haven’t yet gone through menopause, the most common cause of excess testosterone is PCOS.

This treatment is also contraindicated during pregnancy, since testosterones, and even its precursor DHEA, cross the placenta and may cause changes in the genitals of the fetus. Special caution should be used when treating women of childbearing age. Testosterone may be known as a male sex hormone, but women need it, too. Testosterone is part of what drives female desire, fantasy, and thoughts about sex.

These imbalances lead to disruptive symptoms that significantly impact a woman’s quality of life. The next section will look more closely at these signs and symptoms. Testosterone stimulates ovulation and increases fertility, but its role in sexual function and libido is only a piece of the overall effect it has in women. Similarly, while menopause is a time when many women experience a decline in testosterone levels, it is not the only period when therapy can be beneficial. Despite the lack of targeted therapies for women with low testosterone, they have one option that may increase their levels.

Moderate but bearable changes in mood, sex drive, and physical health are normal while experiencing a low testosterone level with age. One 2017 review found that testosterone replacement therapy significantly improved depression symptoms and overall quality of life in those with low testosterone. In the early days of hormone research, studies done on women with low testosterone levels were not always consistent or accurate. For example, in one study, women who were testosterone deficient and started on supplementation were found to have increased abdominal weight gain. However, researchers failed to take into account that the women had other hormonal imbalances as well.