High Testosterone in Women: Symptoms, Causes, and Natural Solutions

High Testosterone in Women: Symptoms, Causes, and Natural Solutions

This genetic disorder affects the adrenal glands and can cause women to have atypical female genitalia and they usually have high levels of testosterone as a result. Most ovarian sources are benign whereas adrenal tumors can be either benign or malignant. Adrenocortical carcinoma often co-secretes other hormones (cortisol, aldosterone) in addition to excess androgens thereby warranting further assessment.

However, the majority of testosterone produced in the ovaries is converted to the primary female sex hormone, estradiol. Some athletes and bodybuilders misuse synthetic testosterone (anabolic steroids) by taking very high doses of them in an attempt to boost performance or change their physical appearance. Misuse of these drugs can cause several unpleasant symptoms and lead to long-term dangerous health problems, including blood clots, stroke, and potentially does eggs increase testosterone the risk of prostate cancer. Schedule regular check-ups with your healthcare provider to monitor hormone levels and adjust treatments as needed. Whether through lifestyle changes, natural remedies, or medical treatments, there are effective ways to manage and reduce testosterone levels.

Part of this may be due to the difficulty defining «normal» testosterone levels and «normal» behavior. Blood levels of testosterone vary dramatically over time and even during the course of a day. In addition, what may seem like a symptom of testosterone excess (see below) may actually be unrelated to this hormone. The proper balance between testosterone (along with other androgens) and estrogen is important for the ovaries to work normally. While the specifics are uncertain, it’s possible that androgens also play an important role in normal brain function (including mood, sex drive and cognitive function).

Other possible effects include acne, an enlarged clitoris, increased muscle mass, and deepening of your voice. This test may be appropriate if you’re experiencing symptoms related to hyperandrogenism. Symptoms of high testosterone levels in women include irregular hair growth, acne, irregular menstrual cycles or infertility. This overview of systematic reviews provides evidence that the risks of PCOS in current populations may, in part, reflect extreme and maladaptive manifestations of adaptive traits. These traits, particularly those linked with higher testosterone levels, appear to offer benefits to females in terms of muscularity, athletic performance, strength, and dominance. The findings also provide support for PCOS evidence-based guidelines for physical activity, whereby treatments for PCOS could usefully focus on weight loss, strength training, and resistance training exercises. Hypotheses for the maintenance of common, deleterious diseases can be addressed by several evolutionary factors including mismatches, trade-offs, and extremes of adaptations (9–11).

High testosterone levels in males can cause symptoms such as increased body hair growth, mood changes, high sex drive, acne, and more. Adrenal gland disorders such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing’s syndrome, and adrenal tumors can cause high levels of testosterone in women. This is because the adrenal gland is responsible for producing sex hormones, including testosterone. At this point, and according to Roche and our laboratory personal recommendations, an extraction procedure with diethyl ether was performed prior to the immunoassay. Steroid extraction from the serum sample was done by adding 3 mL of diethyl ether to 200 µL of serum and vortexing for 4 min. The aqueous and ether layers were separated through freezing (−70ºC), which only freezes the aqueous layer.

I can’t believe how much my treatment plan has helped with my perimenopause symptoms. The experts in endocrinology at Cleveland Clinic are here to provide the best care. If hyperandrogenism is affecting your mental health, it’s important to see a psychologist or therapist for help. Hyperandrogenism has various symptoms depending on your sex and if you’ve been through puberty or not. However, oral contraceptives may be unsuitable for people trying to get pregnant. The recommended treatment for high testosterone will depend on its underlying cause.

Serum and salivary testosterone levels in relation to female athletic performance. In women during the reproductive years, the two sources of androgens are the adrenal glands and ovaries (Figure 1). Testosterone is then converted by 5-α reductase to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) both in the granulosa cell of the ovary and in peripheral tissues such as the skin.

And because testosterone is a key hormone in the body—in women and men alike—abnormal testosterone levels can have quite an impact on the health and well-being of a pre-or post-menopausal woman. Further, findings of the study unveiled that higher testosterone levels in women had been tied to a higher risk of developing cancer, including endometrial and breast cancer. In men, high levels of the hormone are linked to higher prostate cancer risk. The team concluded that there is a genetic component to testosterone levels in both sexes, but the effects were very different between men and women. Classical male hypogonadism is when low testosterone levels are due to an underlying medical condition or damage to your testicles, pituitary gland or hypothalamus. In female adults, high levels of testosterone may be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This condition is very common — up to 15% of females of reproductive age have it.