For women, testosterone levels change throughout their lives, menstrual cycles, and different parts of the day. This can affect women in various ways and having a low amount of it can have some negative effects on the body.
Here is what you need to need to know about testosterone:
What is testosterone?
Testosterone is a hormone that affects women’s fertility, sex drive, red blood cell production, and muscle mass and fat distribution. According to Medical News Today, most people think of testosterone as a male sex hormone, but it is also produced in the female adrenal glands and ovaries. If a woman produces too little of the hormone it can affect them negatively.
What are the symptoms of low testosterone?
Medical News Today lists these as the most common symptoms of low testosterone:
- sluggishness
- muscle weakness
- fatigue
- sleep disturbances
- reduced sex drive
- decreased sexual satisfaction
- weight gain
- fertility issues
- irregular menstrual cycles
- vaginal dryness
- loss of bone density
What causes low testosterone?
The two main causes for low testosterone are natural diminishing levels of the hormone because of menopause and aging or problems with the ovaries or the pituitary or adrenal glands.
How is it treated?
If testosterone levels are low and it is affecting the body negatively, there are some things that can help:
- Estrogen replacement drugs
- Injections or pellets
- Sex therapy
- Managing stress
- Getting enough sleep
- Eat a healthy diet
- taking over-the-counter dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplements
Medical News Today does state that many doctors advise women not to take testosterone and practice the natural remedies first. There are some harmful side-effects of getting it injected or taking it as a supplement. These can include:
Sources: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322663#treatment
