LOW TESTOSTERONE IN WOMEN: WHY YOU SHOULD CARE.
Low testosterone (or low T) is a condition that is usually associated with men. However, contrary to popular belief, testosterone is not just a “male” hormone.It is also found in female bodies.
As such, low testosterone can also occur in women too, and is, therefore, a topic of concern. It can affect fertility, libedo, and other bodily processes.
Why is Testosterone Important for Women?
Despite being regarded as the “male hormone” primarily, testosterone is actually an androgen hormone that is also present inside female bodies. Although men have more testosterone, a normal level of testosterone in women is also necessary.
In fact, testosterone plays a vital role in maintaining the proper functioning of a woman’s body. The benefits of testosterone for women include:
- The production of new blood cells
- Enhancement and maintenance of libido
- Maintaining fertility by its positive impact on the follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH)
- Additionally, the testosterone levels within a woman’s body also have a bearing on her muscle mass and fat distribution.
- The female adrenal glands and ovaries produce a small amount of testosterone throughout a woman’s life. This amount varies in accordance with a lot of factors, out of which the most important is her age.
Naturally, the levels of testosterone inside a woman decrease as she ages. For this reason, younger women are less prone to low testosterone in comparison to older women.
You may have heard of high testosterone in women, but low testosterone in females is also a usual occurrence. While the effect of low testosterone in women is still an ongoing subject of research, it is proven to cause a lack of new blood cells, and low levels of other reproductive hormones.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women?
As already mentioned, the research in this area is still limited, which means that one cannot regard the following symptoms as being definitive of low testosterone.
However, they can be indicative of problems with your hormones in general and therefore should be assessed by a doctor as soon as possible.
These include:
- Sluggishness
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Reduced sex drive
- Decreased sexual satisfaction
- Weight gain
- Fertility issues
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Loss of bone density
In addition, the following pre-existing conditions may also be indicative of a low testosterone problem:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Chronic stress
- Thyroid disease
- Transition to menopause
When to See a Doctor for Low Testosterone?
Generally, the best time to see a doctor for low testosterone is when you notice one or more symptoms from the list above. Since low testosterone can affect your reproductive life, and fertility in general, it is advised to consult a doctor if these aspects are your biggest concern.
However, keep in mind that according to experts, checking for low testosterone levels regularly is not recommended. This is mainly since solid connections between the aforementioned symptoms and a low testosterone condition are yet to be established.
If you feel like something is wrong with your hormone levels in general, don’t hesitate before reaching out to an endocrinologist or GP. They will assess you, perform a physical exam, and discuss your symptoms. If they feel like you could possibly have low testosterone, they will order a blood test.
While discussing your condition with your doctor, make sure you discuss your entire health history with them. Your menstrual cycles affect your testosterone levels anyway, so make sure that you discuss them with your doctor as well.
Ways to Boost Testosterone in Women
If you want to treat high testosterone, you will find many resources to help you. However, with low testosterone women, it can be hard to discover the right sort of information.
If you find out that you are suffering from low testosterone - there’s no need to worry. There are ways that you can boost your testosterone levels, and if you implement them in your life regularly, you will be able to maintain a healthy amount of testosterone in your body.
Ways to Boost Testosterone:
Weight lifting
One way to boost testosterone is through regular exercise. Increased physical activity keeps you healthy in general, and ensures that your body is functioning properly.
Luckily, it has also been proven as a natural boost for testosterone levels within a person. Although all sorts of exercise can be helpful in this regard, resistance exercise, such as weight-lifting, is the most effective form of training to boost testosterone. Yes - lifting dumbbells can help you boost your testosterone, so you shouldn’t hesitate before including that in your workout routine.
Stress reduction
Stress is harmful to the body in many ways. Prolonged stress leads to an increase in a hormone called cortisol. When there are elevated amounts of cortisol in your body, your testosterone levels are naturally decreased.
Therefore, stress is an aspect that should be avoided as much as possible. Understandably, at least a little amount of stress is a natural part of life, but you should actively strive for a stress-free life for your well-being.
Watching what you eat
Testosterone is greatly impacted by your food intake. Actually, the diet you consume affects all the hormone levels within your body! Hence, it is important to closely supervise your intake and make sure you are eating healthy. In terms of boosting testosterone, an increased intake of proteins is likely to help you.
In addition, carbs and healthy fats will also result in elevated levels of testosterone and should be incorporated into your diet accordingly.
Final Takeaway
For women, a certain amount of testosterone is necessary to function properly. If you are experiencing any symptoms associated with low testosterone, it is best to get it checked and get started on ways to boost it!
As you must have established already, by taking some very simple steps, you can easily create a lifestyle that maintains your hormone levels. There is generally no medication involved, which means that you can conveniently resort to natural methods.
So - remember to hit the gym, eat right, and most importantly: be happy! All of these factors upkeep not only your testosterone levels but also improve the overall quality of your life. At the end of the day, that is all that matters.
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