Testosterone is usually thought of as male territory but women produce a little (about 10% of the male level) too.
Here we’re going to look at how recent research has shown that women who have low energy and a low libido may benefit from testosterone therapy.
What does testosterone do for women?
Experts are looking at the role of testosterone in a woman’s libido, sexual response and orgasm.
Like testosterone in men, levels in women reduce over a lifetime and at age 40 it has halved from its young adult amount. And because women start at a lower level than men, small losses can be significant for some people.
The role of testosterone in women is similar to that in men and produces increased muscle, boosts energy, mood, confidence, libido and competitiveness.
However the physical effects are also apparent when too much is taken. It can cause ‘masculisation’ – male pattern hair loss, thickening of body hair, thickening and increased oiliness of the skin leading to acne on the face and neck, deepening of the voice and clitoral enlargement.
Causes of low testosterone levels in women.
The causes of low levels in women (other than age) are unclear, and also why some women notice a difference and others apparently don’t.
Some evidence points to the contraceptive pill or the contraceptive injection which can depress testosterone production and it may not return to normal when the method of contraception is stopped or changed.
Symptoms of a low testosterone level in women include:
- Lower sex drive than you’re used to
- Weaker orgasms
- Less energy
- Decreased strength or endurance
- Lost your ‘sparkle’
- Feel mildly depressed
- Can’t play sport as well as you used to
- Find it’s harder to concentrate.
But there are many other reasons for any or all of the above symptoms, such as work stress, having a young family, family/parental stressors or having an underactive thyroid. So it’s really important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor so that you can explore all the possibilities.
If you both feel that you have low testosterone levels then ask to be referred to a sympathetic specialist.
There are few treatments specifically licensed for women’s low testosterone levels. A recent advance is Intrinsa, a patch worn on the skin and changed twice a week. It is suitable for some women but not for others.
We’ve looked at low testosterone levels in women and how vital it is to have the correct diagnosis for symptoms that can have other causes. Women who have tried testosterone therapy say that it has improved their quality of life.