How Low Testosterone Affects Women’s Health

Understanding Low Testosterone Levels in Women: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

And yet, hormonal health is still too often treated as an afterthought. Many women describe years of feeling dismissed by doctors, told to “come back if you want to get pregnant”, or offered little more than the contraceptive pill. On average, women with PCOS wait over two years and consult several different healthcare professionals before receiving a diagnosis. You see, while men have more of it, testosterone is not a “male hormone”—it is a human hormone that is just as important in women as it is in men.

Managing low testosterone in women involves various strategies that aim to restore hormonal balance and improve overall well-being. Understanding these options can help address the symptoms of low libido, particularly for women over 40. Moderate but bearable changes in mood, sex drive, and physical health are normal while experiencing a low testosterone level with age. Maintaining healthy testosterone levels often involves lifestyle changes and, in some cases, treatment from your GP.

In both females and males, testosterone is involved in maintaining sexual response. It stimulates sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and overall sexual satisfaction. A well-balanced diet rich in essential nutrients is fundamental to supporting healthy testosterone levels.

It affects up to 13% of women globally and costs the US alone an estimated US$15 billion (£11 bllion) each year. Other substances like alcohol, opiates and medications all spell bad news for T levels, as does poor diet. “Men are very sensitive to external factors impacting their body’s testosterone production,” says Dr Huang. “Telling someone who has no energy and is tired all the time with depression (a common symptom of low T) that ‘all’ they need to do is lose weight won’t cut it,” says Dr Foster. Instead he believes prescribing patients TRT gives them the motivation they need to lead a healthy life.

Testosterone deficiency can also contribute to a loss of muscle mass along with decreases in bone density, cardiovascular health, and cognitive performance. Doctors may prescribe a medication called Estratest in post-menopausal women. This medicine has both estrogen as well as testosterone in it.

Some women may also be deficient in enzymes that process DHEA and DHEA-S into testosterone. According to the Department of Health & Human Services in Victoria, Australia; testosterone production in women is often age-dependent. By the time a woman is 40 years old, her levels of androgens have decreased by half. Balance My Hormones helps men and women restore their hormones to optimal levels through bespoke TRT and HRT treatment plans. We aim to offer cutting-edge international treatment methods with over 25 years of experience in hormonal health, all backed by science and British safe practices. One of the difficulties that are posed to medical staff when it comes to testing for low T is the fact that hormone levels in women fluctuate from day to day.

This can be problematic because females require significantly less testosterone (a much lower dose of medication) than males. Because of this delayed diagnosis and therefore treatment, men are often left struggling in silence while feeling mentally and physically lethargic. What’s more, one in four men delay seeking medical advice for five years. As he puts it, “most men are never educated about hormonal health in the same way women are around menopause”. Bodybuilders who supplement with testosterone often have enhanced muscle strength and bone density as well as decreased body fat. But bodybuilders take supraphysiologic doses of it—that is, amounts much higher than any woman’s body would ever make on its own.

To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as its sources do. Women who are breastfeeding also shouldn’t take testosterone medications as it could pass on to the child. If you feel that you may be suffering from low testosterone, free t4 blood test (figmmg.unmsm.edu.pe) a necessary step in the process is to be diagnosed. A proper diagnosis will help you learn exactly what you are dealing with so you can deal with it safely and effectively.

Essential nutrients support your body’s functions and help manage symptoms of low testosterone. While specific dietary changes to increase testosterone aren’t proven, maintaining a healthy weight and including vitamins and minerals can improve energy levels and mood. Regular physical activity boosts endorphins, potentially enhancing libido and reducing stress. Treatments for low testosterone in women haven’t been largely studied by medical experts. While doctors know about the effects of excess testosterone in women, the symptoms of too-little testosterone aren’t as well known. As a result, doctors don’t always have the same regimen for treatments related to low testosterone levels.