Testosterone and Women

The Effects of Testosterone on Women’s Health

What is testosterone and how is it produced in women’s bodies?

Testosterone is a type of androgen hormone found in both men and women. Women and people assigned female at birth also need testosterone, but at a much lower level, as it is produced in relatively small quantities in their bodies [1][2]. Testosterone plays an important role in the growth, maintenance, and repair of reproductive tissues in women’s bodies, and is produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands, and other tissues and cells [2][1]. It also affects women’s menstrual cycle. Too little or too much testosterone can impact overall health and affect the levels of other sex hormones in the body [1]. Low levels of testosterone may cause several symptoms, such as feeling disinterested in sex or being extra tired or weak, while too much testosterone may lead to acne, hair loss, or infertility. Women should talk to their healthcare provider and carefully weigh their options before starting testosterone therapy [1]. Interestingly, testosterone can reduce beta amyloid deposition, improve the brain’s ability to metabolize glucose, improve blood flow, and have a beneficial effect on the central nervous system [3]. Therefore, testosterone is a hormone that plays an essential role in women’s health.

What are the physiological effects of testosterone on women’s health?

Testosterone plays an important role in women’s health. Low testosterone levels can affect sex drive, the production of new blood cells, and other hormone levels in the body [4]. Lower testosterone levels in women may be caused by medications that combat the side effects of menopause, such as oral estrogen [4]. While some post-menopausal patients with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) may experience slight benefits from testosterone therapy, the risks of testosterone therapy generally outweigh the benefits for most women [5]. Moreover, there is very little long-term safety data available on testosterone therapy in women [5]. However, it should be noted that women require a certain amount of testosterone for their health, and female adrenal glands and ovaries naturally produce small amounts of this hormone [4]. Women may experience a decrease in testosterone levels around the time of menopause, which may be due to the ovaries producing fewer hormones [4]. Additionally, testosterone levels decrease naturally as a female ages [4]. Although the physiological effects of testosterone on women’s health are beyond the scope of this text, it is important to recognize that testosterone has a significant impact on overall health in women [4].

How does testosterone affect women’s mental health and well-being?

While testosterone is often associated with men, it also plays a crucial role in women’s mental health and well-being [6]. Low levels of testosterone in women can lead to fatigue, low mood, and decreased motivation, which can have a significant impact on daily life [6]. Although testosterone is known to affect women’s sex drive,an imbalance of testosterone can have damaging effects on their health [7]. Testosterone replacement therapy may be an effective treatment for women experiencing symptoms of low testosterone, including decreased sex drive and other physical symptoms such as loss of muscle strength and bone density [6]. However, the effects of testosterone therapy on mood and well-being in women are still not fully understood. A study will examine the effects of testosterone therapy on mood and well-being as a secondary outcome, indicating that more research is needed to understand the relationship between testosterone and mental health in women [8]. While getting effective treatment for decreased sex drive can improve women’s mental and physical health,it is important to note that testosterone might not be the answer for improving women’s mental and physical health related to decreased sex drive [5]. Further research is needed to fully understand the role of testosterone in women’s mental health and well-being.

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References
1. {{title}}. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19, 2023, from my.clevelandclinic.org
2. Normal Testosterone and Estrogen Levels in Women. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19, 2023, from www.webmd.com
3. A Personal Prospective on Testosterone Therapy in Women—What We Know in 2022. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19, 2023, from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9331845/
4. What happens when a woman has low testosterone?. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19, 2023, from www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322663
5. Attention women: Low sex drive? Testosterone won’t help | Women’s Health | UT Southwestern Medical Center. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19, 2023, from utswmed.org/medblog/libido-testosterone-women/
6. The Role of Testosterone in Women’s Health. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19, 2023, from www.news-medical.net
7. High Testosterone Levels in Women. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19, 2023, from www.healthline.com/health/high-testosterone-in-women
8. Effects of testosterone therapy for women: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19, 2023, from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6329173/