Do naturally high testosterone levels equal stronger female athletic performance? Not necessarily

Testosterone levels by age chart: Female

In premenopausal women with hyperthecosis, ovaries may demonstrate an absence of small follicles on ultrasound in addition to enlarged ovaries. Many people consider testosterone a “male” sex hormone, but females produce small amounts in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Higher testosterone levels can increase the risk of acne, body hair, and other features.

As a result, you may find yourself struggling to lose weight, even with a balanced diet and regular exercise. Testosterone is crucial for maintaining bone health, and women with low testosterone levels may be at a higher risk of developing bone density concerns. By balancing testosterone levels, women can maintain energy levels throughout the day, making it easier to accomplish daily tasks and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Higher levels of testosterone can help improve exercise performance and reduce fatigue. Low levels of testosterone in women can lead to fatigue, depression, and even a decrease in libido. For men, testosterone is known for its ability to support muscle growth, bone formation, and sex drive. Women can thank this hormone for their libido, their gym performance, and their musculoskeletal health.

Thrivelab is a telehealth-based provider of evidence-based hormone and testosterone balancing programs as well as natural bioidentical products to alleviate age-related symptoms and restore youthful vitality. Unfortunately, testosterone is made from pregnenolone, which is also the precursor to estrogen and progesterone. If your body is using more pregnenolone to create excess testosterone, there’s a chance your progesterone levels may be low. It’s important to note that having acne doesn’t automatically mean you have high testosterone levels, but it is something to keep an eye out for. Testosterone therapy is approved for the treatment of delayed male puberty and abnormally low production of testosterone secondary to malfunction of the testes, pituitary or hypothalamus.

However, researchers also noted no significant change in the ratio between free testosterone, total testosterone, and cortisol, a type of stress hormone. Another small study in young males showed that masturbation paired with visual stimulus led to increased concentrations of free testosterone. My testosterone level are much higher than the norm for a woman, double the average. If you’re concerned about high testosterone, there are a few things you can do to support healthy levels. In women, high testosterone can disrupt the menstrual cycle and lead to irregular ovulation, making it more difficult to conceive. Needless to say,testosterone is critical for both sexes when it comes to fertility. When the gland doesn’t function correctly, it can cause deficiencies in these hormones, leading to testosterone imbalance in women.

External examination of the genitalia may be helpful to rule out clitoromegaly, but an internal vaginal examination is rarely indicated. Although there is variability, for adolescents aged 13–16 years, clitoromegaly is diagnosed when the crosswise width of the glans is greater than 8 mm and the length of the hood is greater than 27.4 mm 9. Larger widths may be concerning for virilization and should prompt laboratory androgen assessment. Pelvic ultrasonography is not routinely indicated unless serum androgen levels or the degree of virilization is concerning for an ovarian tumor Figure 1. The finding of polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasonography has a prevalence in adolescent girls of 30–40% and alone is not predictive of the presence or future development of PCOS 10.

Synthetic testosterone is the main drug of masculinizing hormone therapy. However, when you hear people use the term “anabolic steroids” they are generally referring to synthetic (made in a lab) variations of testosterone that are injected into your body. Testosterone is the main androgen, meaning it stimulates the development of male characteristics. However, there are a number of factors that can cause women to overproduce testosterone.

However, even in patients who have not used other medications, hormonal therapy, such as a combination OCP, can be considered an acceptable first-line treatment for patients who desire this method. Menopause, which occurs as a woman ages, can lead to a lower amount of testosterone produced by the ovaries. Menopause is often the reason why women experience a change in their sex drive. Our laboratory-based study allows us to tightly control for external factors that may influence muscle mass and strength, such as diet, sleep, training status and menstrual cycle. Unlike conventional approaches that often rely solely on birth control pills or medications to manage symptoms, functional medicine addresses the root causes of hormonal imbalance. When insulin levels remain chronically elevated, they stimulate the ovaries to produce excess testosterone, creating a cascade of hormonal imbalances. Research shows that acute endurance training and resistance training can actually increase your circulating androgens—including testosterone.

The authors of a 2021 study noted that males with high levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — a substance that works with testosterone — may have a higher chance of acne and hair loss. However, they did not link this effect directly to high testosterone levels. During perimenopause, levels of progesterone and then estrogen decline, while androgens slightly (temporarily) increase. This creates a situation of “relative androgen excess,” where testosterone is relatively high compared to estrogen and progesterone. That’s why androgen excess is the primary driver of weight gain with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), some types of birth control, and perimenopause. Female androgen receptor knockout mice are as strong and muscular as their control counterparts. This suggests testosterone may not be necessary to reach peak muscle mass and strength in females.

Another possible effect of high T in women is excessive hair growth in unwanted areas, known as hirsutism. (Yes, there’s a scientific name for those pesky chin hairs you have to pluck.) Other signs include acne, excessive perspiration, frontal balding, and deepening of the voice. For both men and women, testosterone plays a key role in the development and maintenance of muscle mass, strength, energy levels, and bone density. For women in particular, the maintenance of bone density and muscle mass is important, as both of these tend to deteriorate with age. Then, to deal with excess male hormones, treatment is similar to PCOS treatment — including birth control or androgen receptor blockers, Frederick says. In this condition, women notice unwanted hair growth in their bodies. There is a connection between abnormal hormonal conditions to an individual’s genetics.

They work by blocking the effects of androgens, such as testosterone. Since each of the symptoms of hyperandrogenism has several other causes, your provider may order additional blood tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. Excess ACTH causes your adrenal glands to release excess androgens, which then causes hyperandrogenism. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of persistent hyperandrogenism beyond early puberty in adolescent and adult females. While PCOS is a common cause of hyperandrogenism, hyperandrogenism can have other causes and can affect males.