High Testosterone In Women: Causes, Symptoms & How To Treat In 2024

Plenty of men fear one day waking up with low testosterone (also called low T). For women, it’s the opposite. Healthy hormone levels in perfect balance mean that nothing is being overproduced or underproduced. An excess of the male hormone testosterone brings with it a host of secondary problems. 

Can you reduce female testosterone naturally at home? Here’s everything that you need to know about abnormal testosterone levels in women and how you can overcome high testosterone yourself, either on your own or with the help of your physician.

Contrary to popular belief, postmenopausal women are not necessarily more likely^[5] to experience high levels of male hormones purely through the end of their menstrual cycle. However, excessive testosterone in postmenopausal women has been linked^[6] to breast cancer and even insulin resistance.

High Testosterone In Women Symptoms

Identifying symptoms of high testosterone in women is not always easy to self-diagnose. Body hair growth is one commonly cited symptom, but what else will high testosterone levels in women do? If you fear that you suffer from high testosterone, be on the look-out for these common indicators of hormone imbalance:

• Too much testosterone may impact the female reproductive tissue, causing your period to lapse or become irregular
• Excess hair growth may develop follicles in places where you had no body hair or facial hair before; increased body hair is one of the hallmark signs of high testosterone  in women
• At the other end of the spectrum may be balding for some women, ironically enough
• Elevated testosterone may cause changes in the female genitalia
• Male sex hormones in excess might also cause your voice to deepen
• This hormonal disorder may also cause you to sweat excessively
• Weight gain in the form of an increase in muscle mass may throw your healthy weight out of whack
• Mood changes are not uncommon in many women with testosterone outside of the accepted normal range

Excess body hair and smaller breasts are far from the extent of it. The emotional toll that testosterone imbalance causes might end up overshadowing things like unwanted hair – disruptions in the reproductive cycle will usually be much more of a problem for most.

How Can A Woman Lower Testosterone Levels Naturally?

Beyond cosmetic fixes like shaving or depilatories for male pattern hair growth, there are plenty of natural remedies that you can employ to achieve low testosterone levels, improve bodily functions, and regulate mood swings.

To ease the pain of this underlying medical condition, you can try these tips for high testosterone levels:

• Oral contraceptives
• Antiandrogens, and sex therapy
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Omega-3 supplements^[7]

Those struggling with polycystic ovary syndrome, and other serious issues of the adrenal glands should, of course, receive a blood test and adhere to the medical treatments prescribed to improve PCOS symptoms and actually to address the underlying disorder. 

What Is An Androgen?

Androgens, like testosterone, are produced in the ovaries, fat cells, adrenal glands, and skin cells. They’re usually regarded as being male hormones exclusively, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Without small amounts of free testosterone in the female body, for example, a woman wouldn’t be able to carry a male fetus.

Ordinarily, women will have anywhere from one-tenth to one-twentieth of the same androgens present in the male system, testosterone included. A physical examination and blood tests may be able to detect higher levels than usual of the male sex hormone by testing the blood sample for higher-than-average testosterone levels in women.

What About Androgen Deficiency?

The male sex hormone is just as important as the female sex hormone. Low levels of testosterone have been linked^[8] to heart disease, among other long-term issues.

Cardiovascular disease isn’t the only thing the testosterone-deficient needs to worry about. While testosterone imbalances in the female body are generally regarded as dysfunctional, testosterone plays a role in personal mood and well-being, just like in men. 

Low testosterone, also known as androgen deficiency, may wreak its brand of havoc on your body. Some signs of androgen deficiency may include:

• Lethargy, fatigue, and tiredness
• Loss of muscle mass and bone mass
• Weakness
• A lack of libido and sex drive
• Low morale and a lack of motivation
• Lower levels of self-perceived well-being
• Poor mood, depression, and irritability

Balance is key, and you should seek professional medical advice if you’re experiencing a hormonal imbalance of any type. You can balance hormone levels through several strategies and supplements.

If you’re on the other side of the coin, however, and are experiencing high testosterone symptoms, there are more than a few ways that you can treat high testosterone naturally at home.

Testosterone And Its Impact On Women’s Health

Who would have thought that the male sex hormone plays such a vital role in female health?

Whether the source of your high testosterone is stress or something more serious like polycystic ovary syndrome, it’s not difficult to find balance once again. Talk to your doctor to see if any of the solutions above are right for you.

---