Low testosterone in women may cause low libido, a lack of energy, and irregular menstrual cycles. Your doctor can measure your testosterone levels with a blood test and, if necessary, treat it with testosterone supplements.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bd00c4c7-aac8-428e-a7e6-06b4f1fcb424 But in most cases, low T diagnosis and treatment isn’t recommended in women.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293092d029-7236-49f1-ac5c-abd9b1aacdf5
Overview Overview What Is Low Testosterone in Women? Low testosterone (or “low T”) in women is the production of too little testosterone, a type of sex hormone. In women, testosterone is produced primarily in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Men make more testosterone than women, but the hormone is still very important for females: In women, testosterone helps maintain energy levels, libido, and bone and muscle health.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762951ce0c92-f355-4fa1-be97-2c1b008af336
Signs and Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women Symptoms The symptoms of low testosterone in women can overlap with those of other conditions, including depression, thyroid problems, or anemia (low iron). Some common ones include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629cc345a4e-69fd-4e3d-8580-6f2626030acd Low libido or sex drive (hypogonadism) Fatigue Loss of strength and muscle tone Irregular menstrual cycle Infertility or trouble conceiving Vaginal dryness Depression or anxiety Thinning hair Dry or brittle skin Sleep problems
Causes and Risk Factors of Low Testosterone in Women Causes The main cause of low testosterone in women is aging, particularly after menopause, when the body decreases the production of reproductive hormones like testosterone and estradiol (the primary sex hormone in women). Additionally, certain surgeries, health conditions, and medications can all cause a drop in testosterone levels, such as:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762950336d16-3b55-4645-9472-46e408ad00f8 Menopause (when the ovaries produce fewer hormones, including testosterone) Premature menopause Ovarian insufficiency Ovary removal surgery (oophorectomy) Amenorrhea (loss of menstrual period from stress, weight loss, or exercise) Turner syndrome (a genetic condition where the ovaries don’t develop normally) Addison’s disease (adrenal insufficiency) Hyperprolactinemia (too much of the hormone prolactin) Pituitary gland tumor Chemotherapy Radiation Malnutrition or anorexia Certain medications may also contribute to low testosterone in women, including:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292d82dffd-8dfb-4eb9-99a6-ce1d57422892 Hormonal birth control Corticosteroids Antiandrogen medication (testosterone is a type of androgen hormone) Oral estrogen therapy Opioids Some of these medications are actually used to treat conditions of high testosterone in women, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) .
How Is Low Testosterone in Women Diagnosed? Diagnosis Doctors are advised against diagnosing low testosterone in women.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762933208c0b-8206-4713-bb20-5283c334171e It’s not exactly clear whether low T is the direct cause of symptoms such as low libido.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629146a4955-f7b4-4b69-97ab-1f5143f00c25 Moreover, other conditions can cause similar symptoms in women, including depression, diabetes, or heart disease.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296888623d-4565-4883-acae-31080f0a0b95 And even though testosterone levels can be measured with a blood test, hormone levels can vary throughout the day. In people who menstruate, testosterone can also be higher on some days than others. There’s also no “normal” amount of testosterone for women, including for premenopausal women; and T levels naturally decline with age.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762920798737-8b4e-44a0-8e3a-99d8cbeba377e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fc8996a0-d66a-4f61-b22c-c06202c83aa0
Treatment and Medication Options for Low Testosterone Treatment Currently, no treatments have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat low testosterone in women, in part because these therapies haven’t been well-studied in women. Still, in certain situations, some doctors may prescribe testosterone replacement therapy off-label, which can come in various forms, such as:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293570d4ab-5e29-4571-bc6b-5cd452a382e6 Injections Pellets Creams Patches Gels Pills or capsules But doctors may avoid prescribing testosterone replacement therapy in women, as the benefits are unclear, and it can come with risks. According to the Endocrine Society, any woman who does take testosterone replacement therapy should be monitored for signs and symptoms of androgen excess, or signs of elevated testosterone.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e8beb595-72bc-4795-812a-f0504cd8f43a Over-the-counter DHEA supplements are another option; DHEA is a precursor to testosterone, and can prompt the body to make more of the hormone.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762951ca1216-c547-4f44-9bbe-67f0c14a7ba0 Instead of testosterone replacement therapy, your doctor may recommend treatment to address symptoms such as low libido, vaginal dryness, anxiety, depression, or sleep issues.
Prevention of Low Testosterone Prevention It’s not known whether it’s possible to prevent low testosterone that stems from, for example, genetics. But by taking steps to avoid malnutrition, extreme exercise, stress, or weight loss that can cause amenorrhea in premenopausal women, you can help keep testosterone levels from dropping even further.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bcf6e3dc-fc45-4569-8398-4a46f9d0b6e4
How Long Does Low Testosterone in Women Last? Prognosis and Outlook Testosterone levels in women naturally decline with age, but testosterone replacement therapy can bring those levels up. While long-term safety information about the use of testosterone therapy in women is inconclusive, some research suggests it’s safe to take in the short term.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293063518f-a04b-4878-a3d8-164481260ae6
Complications of Low Testosterone in Women Complications Low testosterone in women has been linked with low libido, although the relationship isn’t clear-cut. Other health issues can also play a role in low sex drive, including vaginal dryness, emotional distance from a partner, stress, and mood problems.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a415ebcf-d121-41e6-9e9d-82b44d3ed3a6 The FDA has approved two medications to help improve sexual desire in premenopausal women: flibanserin (Addyi) and bremelanotide (Vyleesi). But the effectiveness of these medications is unclear.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c077ce1a-0faa-40c4-ae08-a82c40f9457f
The Takeaway Low testosterone in women is the deficiency of testosterone, a type of sex hormone in the body. Testosterone production naturally declines with age, and some research has linked low T to low libido, fatigue, vaginal dryness, and more. No FDA-approved treatments exist for low testosterone in women, but hormone replacement therapy can be prescribed off label in forms such as creams, injections, and patches to boost testosterone levels and improve symptoms.
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: Low Testosterone in Women Mayo Clinic: Testosterone Therapy in Women: Does It Boost Sex Drive? Cleveland Clinic: Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women (and Reasons Why It Might Be Low) MedlinePlus: Could You Have Low Testosterone? Harvard Health Publishing: Testosterone: What It Is and How It Affects Your Health
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