Low Testosterone Levels in Women: Symptoms and Treatments

Low testosterone levels in women - symptoms and treatments

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Low Testosterone Levels in Women

Symptoms and Treatments

Although many women tend to regard testosterone as ”the male hormone”, the truth is that it also plays an important role when it comes to female overall health and fertility. Low testosterone levels can wreak havoc on your body. It’s crucial to have just the right amount of this hormone to optimize your health and athletic performance.

Low Testosterone Levels in Women: Symptoms and Treatments

Why is testosterone important for women?

Girls usually think that any amount of testosterone will make them huge, hairy and angry. This can happen only if you abuse testosterone hormonal treatment.

Your body needs testosterone for many vital functions. In women, testosterone is produced in the adrenal glands and ovaries. If your testosterone levels are optimal you’ll notice the following health benefits:

  • Strong bones
  • Normal sex drive
  • High energy level

As you can see, testosterone is actually very important for female health because it teams up with estrogen to keep you strong and healthy. Normal levels of testosterone for women are considered to be between 15 and 70 ng/dL.

Imbalances in testosterone levels and low testosterone levels should be addressed since they can cause a myriad of health problems.

What happens if you have high testosterone levels?

High levels of testosterone in women can cause:

  • Balding
  • Acne
  • Excess body hair
  • Enlarged clitoris
  • Deepening of the voice
  • Irregular menstrual cycle

Some conditions, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia and Polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS) can be the cause. Luckily, your doctor will be able to find the cause and offer treatment to lower your testosterone level.

What Happens If You Have Low Testosterone Levels?

This is much more common than you think and many women are unaware of it. Low testosterone levels can have a profound effect on your body. It can cause  the following:

Fatigue 

Everyone feels exhausted sometimes. There are many factors which influence our energy levels. Lack of sleep, bad food choices and stress can really leave you tired and unmotivated.

However, lack of testosterone can also cause fatigue and lack of motivation. If you noticed that you’re anxious or depressed and that you have frequent mood swings, you should check your hormone levels. Having testosterone deficiency can mess with your emotions.

Women are especially sensitive to hormonal fluctuations and hormones can affect both your mood and your training regime. If you want to learn more about the impact of female hormones on exercising, read this article.

Disturbed Sleep Pattern

Low Testosterone Levels in Women: Disturbed Sleep

If you find yourself tossing and turning in your bed frequently, it could be a consequence of testosterone deficiency. Hormones can have a very profound effect on your sleeping patterns.

You probably already know that women can experience sleep disturbance during PMS due to fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone. Lack of testosterone can contribute to sleep disturbance. In order to get a good night’s sleep, your hormones should be balanced.

Weight Gain

There are many reasons for unintentional weight gain. If you’re actively trying to lose weight and you don’t cheat when it comes to your diet (be honest!), there is probably an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

There are several medical condition which lead to weight gain. You could gain weight from thyroid problems, specifically from hypothyroidism (it comes with other symptoms, such as hair loss and depression). If your thyroid functions optimally, you could be suffering from lack of testosterone.

Loss of Muscle Tone

Testosterone is responsible for muscle development in both men and women. That’s why you see a lot of ripped dudes at your local gym and not so many ripped chicks.

That’s why you should never be afraid to lift heavy if you’re a girl, you simply don’t have enough testosterone to become huge. You’ll just end up with nicer curves and a sexier, toned body.

That being said, you should also pay attention if you’re really trying to build muscle mass but your muscles refuse to grow. The chances are that your testosterone levels are too low. This is especially noticeable in the upper arms.

You often see older ladies with saggy arms, that’s because as you get older your testosterone levels drop naturally. However, if you’re young but you have jiggly arms no matter how much you exercise, you can probably blame it on low testosterone.

Low Libido

This is one of the telltale signs of testosterone deficiency. If you frequently feel like you’re ”not in the mood” low testosterone level may be the culprit.

Of course, the reasons can be psychological. Decreased sex drive can affect your relationship negatively and you should discuss it openly with your partner.

Luckily, this issue can be fixed easily if it stems only from low testosterone levels. There are many natural ways to boost your testosterone levels and we’ll discuss it later in the article.

Abdominal Fat

 

Low Testosterone Levels in Women: Abdominal Fat

Testosterone affects not only the percentage of body fat but also its distribution. If you tend to have more fat around your abdomen and if you can’t get rid of love handles, you should check your testosterone levels.

Abdominal fat is linked to many diseases, primarily cardiovascular diseases. It also increases the chances of getting type 2 diabetes. If you notice that you carry a lot of excess fat around your midsection, check your hormone levels. This issue can be tackled easily with physical activity, dietary changes and restoring testosterone levels.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common health issue and its prevalence increases with age. Women are more prone to osteoporosis compared to men. Osteoporosis happens when your bones deteriorate faster than they can restore themselves.

It leads to weak bones and it’s the leading cause of fractures in older people. In women, osteoporosis is linked to rapid drop of estrogen and it usually starts after menopause. However, low testosterone levels also contribute to fragile bones and loss of bone density.

But, you can do something about it! If you exercise while you’re young you can increase your bone density and prevent osteoporosis. Exercising and eating healthy foods will help you live longer and remain independent as you get older.

Benefits of Optimal Testosterone Levels

 

Low Testosterone Levels in Women: Benefits of Optimal Testosterone in Women

As we mentioned previously, females produce significantly less testosterone compared to males. This basically means that you won’t become She-Hulk unless you use anabolic steroids.

Since women have lower levels of testosterone they are more sensitive to it. If you have low testosterone levels, raising your testosterone levels will be very beneficial to your overall health and wellbeing. 

Improved Mood

Nobody likes to be grumpy and irritable. Low levels of testosterone can make you feel nervous, panicky and lethargic. The optimal testosterone levels combined with exercise can do wonders for depression and anxiety.

This is very important for menopausal women because they experience the most drastic drop in hormone levels. If you want to be an agile and happy senior citizen, take care of your testosterone levels.

Less Body Fat and More Confidence

If your testosterone levels are normal, you’ll lose weight easier. This will boost your self-confidence and you’ll be more motivated to stick to your workout routine.

When you see that you can get amazing results from a healthy diet and regular physical activity your self-esteem will skyrocket and you’ll feel great about yourself.

Sculpted Body

Low Testosterone Levels in Women: Treatments

Girls frequently complain about their progress and they often feel like they’re progressing really slowly. In some cases, a bad diet and incorrect technique/bad workout plan can be blamed.

However, if you’re sure that you’re doing everything right but you still feel jiggly, you could benefit from boosting your testosterone levels naturally.

If you lack testosterone you’ll have a higher body fat percentage and your muscles will be buried under layers of fat. Testosterone promotes muscle growth and body fat loss. Your goal should be to become leaner so that your muscles can be more visible.

Increased sex drive

Low levels of testosterone will lead to low libido, so it’s crucial to reach the optimal levels if you don’t want your sex life to suffer.

Once you restore your T levels, your sex life will significantly improve. Not only will you experience increased sex drive, but you’ll also notice that you enjoy sex much more.

How to boost your testosterone levels naturally

If you want to boost your testosterone levels you can do it just by changing your diet and making some positive lifestyle changes.

Eat more protein

Remember, girls, if you want to build a killer booty, you’re gonna need loads of protein in your diet. Don’t forget to consume enough protein in order to build your muscles.

You can get your daily dose of proteins either from meat and dairy (if you’re an omnivore) or from legumes and nuts (if you’re vegan).

Don’t forget to include complex carbs and healthy fats in your diet, too. A balanced diet can do wonders for your health and athletic performance.

Don’t forget to exercise

You don’t really have to exercise almost every day to see the benefits. For an average gym goer, 3-4 times per week will be enough. To get the optimal results combine cardio with strength training. You can run, walk, swim, lift weights, do yoga, you name it.

Just choose the activities which you really enjoy, that way you’ll be more likely to stick to your fitness plan. Just be consistent, your dream bikini body is just around the corner!

Good fats are your friends

Many people think that all fats are bad, but that’s not true. There are healthy fats which are very important for your body, and especially for your heart and brain. Besides, your body needs healthy fats to produce testosterone.

You can find healthy fats in avocado, fatty fish and nuts. When it comes to oil, opt for olive and coconut oil.

Although there’s a heated debate about the benefits and cons of coconut oil, I’ve already written an article about it and I highly recommend it.

Have sex

Probably one of the most fun ways to boost your testosterone levels. Having sex regularly balances all your hormones, plus it’s a great form of cardio!

Minimize stress

Long-term stress is very bad for your health and immune system. Prolonged stress raises levels of cortisol. When your cortisol levels go up, your testosterone levels go down. Cortisol promotes weight gain and body fat. That’s why you need to minimize stress to maximize your test levels.

You can try meditation, mindfulness, yoga, listening to calming music, whatever works for you. Although our lives can be very hectic, we should always aim to unwind each day. When you’re relaxed you’ll be able to achieve much more plus you won’t damage your health with constant stress.

Avoid alcohol

It’s okay to drink alcohol occasionally, just don’t overdo it. Several scientific studies have shown that alcohol consumption leads to decreased levels of testosterone.

That being said, you can still enjoy a glass or two of your favorite beverage on special occasions. Just don’t exaggerate (hopefully your crazy teenage years have passed).

Take a natural testosterone boosting supplement

It can be difficult to get the right nutrients your body needs to produce free testosterone in your body through diet alone, so consider trying a reputable testosterone booster – don’t worry, there are many natural supplements which are just like taking a multi-vitamin so completely safe and totally natural!

Low Testosterone Levels in Women: Conclusion

As you get older your hormone levels will inevitably drop and you’ll lose muscle mass. It’s wise to regulate the hormones and build muscles while you’re young so that you can be healthier and stronger when you get old.

If you don’t want to use testosterone hormonal replacement therapy (and honestly, I think that you’ll do just fine without it in the majority of cases), you can always rely on natural supplements.

They are safe and very effective when it comes to regulating your testosterone levels.

Last, but not least, your lifestyle has a major impact on your hormones. No amount of supplements can undo the harm done by poor sleep, bad food choices and lack of physical activity. Making smart and healthy choices will be very beneficial to your wellbeing.

Girls, remember that testosterone is your friend and not your enemy. Don’t neglect your hormonal status, as any imbalances can cause a variety of problems. Eat smart, train hard, get enough sleep, have sex regularly and you’ll optimize your testosterone levels.

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