- Signs of Excess Testosterone in Women
- How to identify high testosterone
- How to decrease testosterone in women
Testosterone is a hormone that although it is usually higher in men, it is also found in women in smaller amounts.
The woman may suspect that she has a lot of testosterone in her bloodstream when she has typically male symptoms like hair on her face and a deeper voice. These can appear at any stage of life due to health problems or when the woman is taking some testosterone supplement. If this increase is caused by supplementation, the doctor may reduce your dosage, thereby normalizing the concentration of testosterone in the woman.
Any abnormal increase in testosterone can be related to ovarian changes such as the presence of polycystic ovaries or ovarian cancer, and should be investigated by a gynecologist.
Signs of Excess Testosterone in Women
Some signs that may indicate an increase in testosterone in women are:
- Increased body hair, including growth of hair on the face and chest; Absence of menstruation or irregular menstruation; Oily skin and increased acne; Spontaneous abortions; Hair loss similar to men's baldness; Change in voice, getting more serious; Decreased breast; Increased clitoris; Changes in ovulation, which can result in infertility.
Excessive testosterone production by female ovaries may be a consequence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, ovarian cancer or congenital adrenal hyperplasia, for example.
How to identify high testosterone
To confirm that testosterone is increased in women, in addition to observing the appearance of signs indicating an increase in the amount of testosterone, a blood test that indicates the total amount of the hormone should be performed. Testosterone tests can be:
- 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone, which must be between 20 and 172 ng / dL; Total testosterone, which must be between 0.2 and 1; Free testosterone, which must be between 0.3 and 2.5 pg / dL; SDHEA, which should be between 35 and 430 mcg / dL.
Although the tests are useful to indicate the amount of the hormone in the female body, they can be unspecific and are not always reliable and that is why the doctor does not always request them, indicating treatment only for the symptoms presented. The CA 125 exam is useful to indicate whether an ovarian tumor is present and is leading to an increase in testosterone, for example. Learn all about testosterone.
How to decrease testosterone in women
Treatment to normalize testosterone levels in women may include decreasing or interrupting testosterone supplementation if the woman is following the treatment recommended by the doctor, or it can be done with supplementation of female hormones such as estrogen to balance hormone levels. in the woman.
A good option is to take the birth control pill, as it helps to lower testosterone levels in the blood.
It is also possible to naturally decrease this hormone by drinking green tea daily and adopting whole foods and decreasing the consumption of carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, potatoes and white bread. Exercising regularly and reducing daily stress is also important for regulating female hormones without having to resort to medication.
