High Testosterone In Women: Know Its Symptoms, Causes, Treatment And More

by Alisha Matthew, Nutritionist
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Testosterone is a male reproductive hormone. It is responsible for developing the reproductive organs and helps maintain their health. It is also present in trace amounts in women, along with estrogen.

Along with the hormone estrogen, testosterone helps the proper growth of the female reproductive organs. It also assists in maintaining the appropriate health of the reproductive tissues and their repair.

But in some cases, there is an increase in the amount of testosterone in the woman’s body. This elevated and imbalanced testosterone may sometimes lead to changes in women’s health and may link to depression and disturbed body weight.

Symptoms Of High Testosterone In Women

  1. Excess Hair On The Body

    As you know that it’s a masculine feature to have a high amount of hair on different body parts such as the face, chest, back, etc. Testosterone hormone is accountable for all the illustrated aspects in males.

    As the number of testosterone increases in women, the hairs of the body increase in a woman. Hair growth is also observed on the chin and upper lips (hirsutism), which men have as a standard feature.

  2. Thinning Hair And Baldness

    Studies have shown the correlation between thinning of hair and of the hormonal effect due to high testosterone. However, its mechanism is barely understood. Thinning of hair and loss occur in the front part of the forehead in a Christmas tree pattern.

  3. Increased Muscle Mass

    The testosterone contributes to giving the proper structure to the woman’s body. An increasing amount of testosterone stimulates the formation of more muscle in the body and thus leads to more muscle deposition.

  4. Decrease Breast Size

    As and when testosterone levels increase in the body, it may suppress the effect of estrogen that is responsible for giving proper growth to the female characters. Thus this may lead to a decrease in the size of breasts in the woman’s body.

  5. Abnormal Menstrual Cycle

    The regular menstrual cycle depends on the controlled regulation of hormones during each stage. When it is an imbalance in the hormonal levels, the regular menstrual cycle is hindered.
    Testosterone affects the normal secretion of other female hormones like progesterone and estrogen, which may lead to menstrual abnormalities.

  6. Enlarged Clitoris

    Clitoris is made up of erectile tissues. These erectile tissues are directly affected by testosterone, and thus it leads to an enlarged clitoris as the testosterone level is high. This condition is also called clitoromegaly.

  7. Changes In Body Shape

    The body shape of a woman is mainly due to the contribution of the estrogen hormone and up to a certain level of testosterone hormone. An increase in the amount of testosterone causes abnormal body structure.

  8. Deepening Of Voice

    A deeper voice is a characteristic of males due to testosterone levels in their bodies. So the keeping of voice is also a result of higher testosterone leading to the expression of making characters.

  9. Low Libido

    Low libido implies a losing interest in sexual activity. You will not be able to take part or fantasize about sex actively.

    Also, the woman fails to get any pleasure in doing a sec and doesn’t like to initiate sexual activity with the partner. Sensations also get lowered when the genitals are touched or rubbed by the partner.

Causes Of High Testosterone In Women

  1. Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

    This disorder directly affects the adrenal gland of the body. These glands are on the top of the kidney, and CAH is a genetic disease of the adrenal gland. The primary cause of it is a genetic mutation in a person.

    In the case of classical congenital paternal hyperplasia, your adrenal gland fails to produce cortisol hormone and androgens. But in response, your body starts making a large amount of the male sex hormone, testosterone.

    It mainly occurs in infants and young children who are hitting adolescents. The higher amount of androgens produced by the body in response to CAH causes the development of masculine characteristics in women. It also leads to infertility in some instances.

  2. Hirsutism

    Hair overgrowth in various parts of women, such as under the arms, chin, chest, etc, is called hirsutism. This overgrowth may be due to an imbalance in the level of hormones in the body of women.

  3. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

    Often referred to as PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome is becoming quite common at a young age in women. It leads to the development of the significant closures of eggs called cysts, and the ovary fails to release eggs at a particular time of the menstrual cycle.

    This menstrual abnormality is often associated with insulin resistance. The body fails to Give an insulin response. As a result, your body produces a high amount of insulin.

    This increased amount of insulin affects the production of testosterone. The ovary produces the maximum amount of this hormone testosterone, and the adrenal gland produces it in aaa few specific amounts, a form of androgen.

    These adrenal glands are present on top of the kidneys. An increase in the amount of testosterone in PCOS results from increasing insulin production and luteinizing hormone produced by the pituitary.

    This signals increased production of testosterone. Women with PCOS generally cause an increase in both bound and free testosterone levels.

  4. Anabolic Steroid Abuse

    Athletes, sportspersons, and bodybuilders use a high percentage of steroids. These steroids induce the formation of more steroidal hormones in the body.

    The formulation of the mass gainer prescribed in the gyms also contains high levels of steroids that may cause high testosterone levels in women taking such powders.

    The thyroid is the metabolic hormone in the body. It is responsible for maintaining the metabolism of the body. When the amount of the thyroid hormone decreases in the body, it leads to hypothyroidism.

    The thyroid hormone also controls the secretion of other hormones in the body, such as sex hormones. So, hypothyroidism leads to a decrease in the amount of sex hormone-binding globulin.

    This hormone is probably the most necessary to maintain the sex hormone in the body. If the SHBG level falls, it may increase the amount of testosterone in the body.

Diagnosing High Testosterone In Women

Diagnosis of high testosterone in women is carried out by measuring the testosterone level in the blood. If the testosterone level in the blood deviates from normal to a higher level, it may be a condition of high testosterone in women.

Levels of the other hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, also fluctuate as the testosterone level increases. So, the tests may be performed as a supportive test in diagnosing high testosterone.

Generally, the doctor advises performing a testosterone test in the morning as the amount of testosterone tends to be the highest during the early hours of the day. The amount of the hormone changes throughout the day, and it is at its highest at 8 am of day.

  1. Physical Test

    Diagnosis may also be made in the presence of several symptoms in a woman’s body. Symptoms may be physically visible symptoms or metabolic symptoms.

    Physically visible symptoms such as excess hair on the body, baldness, changes in body shape, deepening of the voice, oily face, and excessive acne on the front may appear.

    At the same time, you may also examine other metabolic symptoms such as hypothyroidism, abnormal menstrual cycle, etc. may also be examined to diagnose high testosterone.

  2. Ultrasound

    PCOS is the primary cause of higher testosterone levels in the woman’s body. Thus testing for the presence of PCOS may be a necessary diagnosis. Normal levels of testosterone in a woman’s body. An ultrasound test may detect Polycystic ovary syndrome.

Treatment Options For High Testosterone In Women

Treatment for high testosterone in women reduces the causes and symptoms of the conditions. You may achieve it through medications or lifestyle changes.

Medications

  • Estrogen Supplements
    Estrogen and progesterone are the female hormones required for the normal reproductive health of the female. As you increase the amount of estrogen and progesterone in the body, it helps to reduce testosterone levels.

  • Anti-Androgen Drugs
    Spironolactone is one of the drugs that reduce the production of androgen in the body of females. So, the doctor may use it as a treatment for high testosterone levels.

  • Oral Contraceptives
    Oral contraceptives block the production of androgens, including testosterone, in the female body, and thus they may be prescribed by a doctor to control testosterone levels in your body. This may include gestodene, norgestimate, desogestrel, etc.

  • Anti-Inflammatory
    Anti-inflammatory drugs reduce inflammation the body such as glucocorticoids.

  • Diabetes Treatment
    Treatment of diabetes using antidiabetic drugs that your doctor prescribes. It may include metformin, gluconate, etc.

  • Hair Removal Treatments
    Hair removal treatments such as laser light treatment and electrolysis may be performed to remove excessive hair growth over the body.

Lifestyle Improvement

Lifestyle alterations may significantly help to bring testosterone levels to as expected. Focus on improving your eating habits that will be beneficial in the long run to maintain good health and healthy life.

  • Lose Weight
    Avoid junk foods and make it a habit to exercise daily. You may attain the ideal weight and overcome PCOS polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms and problems. This reduction of PCOS will help to overcome testosterone problems also.

Conclusion

Elevated testosterone levels in a woman lead to numerous symptoms and some defects that may interfere with leading a happy life.

Women who suffer from or notice the symptoms related to elevated testosterone levels may consult the doctor and start the treatment immediately.

The most prominent treatment is to improve your lifestyle to overcome metabolic disorders and PCOS-like symptoms to reduce the testosterone levels in your body.

In case of infertility, you may require to take proper medications and adopt a wholesome routine to improve your reproductive health.