High testosterone in women ups risk for cancer, diabetes, and metabolic disease
High testosterone in women ups risk for cancer, diabetes, and metabolic disease
Google Scholar, a more broadly inclusive search engine, was searched using the specific terms listed in Table 1, for any date, and with sorting by relevance. For this database, the first 200 citations were included in the initial screening for each relevant table. The reference lists of relevant articles from each search were also searched for additional relevant citations. In each table that analysed serum or salivary testosterone concentrations, these concentrations were converted to nmol/litre (nmol/L) to standardize across studies. Make sure you talk with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements. They may interact with medications you’re taking or be harmful, so your doctor is the best person to consult so they can take into account your full health profile. If your high testosterone is not caused by PCOS, but is instead due to an adrenal disorder like congenital adrenal hyperplasia, your doctor will have a different treatment plan, including medications and possibly surgery.
Another possible effect of high T in women is excessive hair growth in unwanted areas, known as hirsutism. (Yes, there’s a scientific name for those pesky chin hairs you have to pluck.) Other signs include acne, excessive perspiration, frontal balding, and deepening of the voice. For both men and women, testosterone plays a key role in the development and maintenance of muscle mass, strength, energy levels, and bone density. For women in particular, the maintenance of bone density and muscle mass is important, as both of these tend to deteriorate with age. Then, to deal with excess male hormones, treatment is similar to PCOS treatment — including birth control or androgen receptor blockers, Frederick says. In this condition, women notice unwanted hair growth in their bodies. There is a connection between abnormal hormonal conditions to an individual's genetics.
High testosterone levels in people with vulvas, also known as hyperandrogenism, can result in symptoms such as acne, excess body hair, and mood changes. Underlying health conditions impacting the pituitary, hypothalamus, or adrenal glands can also cause lowered testosterone levels. This is because these parts of the brain are responsible for the secretion of hormones which control the proper functioning of the ovaries. Before initiation of any medical therapy, expectations of treatment should be discussed with the patient. Patients should be assessed at routine intervals (every 3–6 months) for adverse effects and response to treatment until their condition is stable; they then should be monitored annually.
The authors of a 2021 study noted that males with high levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — a substance that works with testosterone — may have a higher chance of acne and hair loss. However, they did not link this effect directly to high testosterone levels. During perimenopause, levels of progesterone and then estrogen decline, while androgens slightly (temporarily) increase. This creates a situation of "relative androgen excess," where testosterone is relatively high compared to estrogen and progesterone. That’s why androgen excess is the primary driver of weight gain with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), some types of birth control, and perimenopause. Female androgen receptor knockout mice are as strong and muscular as their control counterparts. This suggests testosterone may not be necessary to reach peak muscle mass and strength in females.
External examination of the genitalia may be helpful to rule out clitoromegaly, but an internal vaginal examination is rarely indicated. Although there is variability, for adolescents aged 13–16 years, clitoromegaly is diagnosed when the crosswise width of the glans is greater than 8 mm and the length of the hood is greater than 27.4 mm 9. Larger widths may be concerning for virilization and should prompt laboratory androgen assessment. Pelvic ultrasonography is not routinely indicated unless serum androgen levels or the degree of virilization is concerning for an ovarian tumor Figure 1. The finding of polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasonography has a prevalence in adolescent girls of 30–40% and alone is not predictive of the presence or future development of PCOS 10.
Thrivelab is a telehealth-based provider of evidence-based hormone and testosterone balancing programs as well as natural bioidentical products to alleviate age-related symptoms and restore youthful vitality. Unfortunately, testosterone is made from pregnenolone, which is also the precursor to estrogen and progesterone. If your body is using more pregnenolone to create excess testosterone, there’s a chance your progesterone levels may be low. It's important to note that having acne doesn't automatically mean you have high testosterone levels, but it is something to keep an eye out for. Testosterone therapy is approved for the treatment of delayed male puberty and abnormally low production of testosterone secondary to malfunction of the testes, pituitary or hypothalamus.
Normally, this vitamin b6 test (bioenergetic-therapy.com) is done in the morning when testosterone levels are usually high. These tests may be vital if you have PCOS or if your menstruation has stopped due to excessive athletic training or anorexia nervosa. While this isn’t necessarily "normal," it is more common than most people think.
Insulin resistance occurs when the body fails to recognize the insulin hormone, which subsequently increases blood sugar levels. Insulin then remains unutilized in the bloodstream, which promotes the production of testosterone in the ovaries. If a person with a vulva has high testosterone levels, it can lead to symptoms that affect physical appearance and reproductive health. An imbalance of testosterone in females can have damaging effects on sexual and reproductive health. Learn more about symptoms, causes, and treatment options for high testosterone levels in people with vulvas. However, if a person with a vulva has high testosterone levels, it can lead to symptoms that affect physical appearance and reproductive health. Boys with low testosterone may fail to develop secondary sex characteristics such as deepened voice, pubic hair, and facial hair.
While women naturally produce less testosterone than men, some women struggle with high testosterone levels. Along with estrogen, testosterone helps to grow and maintain women’s bones and reproductive tissues. With the recent controversy surrounding South African Olympian Caster Semenya, many are beginning to wonder how common it is for women to have naturally high testosterone levels. Even with the advancement of hormone-testing technology, testosterone is still broadly considered a "male-only" hormone, despite its natural production in the ovaries.
If they’re consistently high or low, you may experience unpleasant symptoms worth discussing with your provider. Testosterone deficiency during fetal development doesn’t allow male characteristics to develop normally. This is called androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) and occurs when someone is genetically male but is insensitive to androgens (male sex hormones). In some cases, hormone therapy might be recommended to balance testosterone levels. Experiencing persistent acne, unwanted facial hair, or irregular menstrual cycles? Excessive hair growth, or hirsutism, can also be a sign of high testosterone in women.
