Testosterone & Estrogen in Women: High vs Low vs. Normal Levels

Understanding testosterone levels in women: Key insights

Female testosterone levels usually begin to rise in girls between 6 and 8. When girls have their first period (menarche), the ovaries produce testosterone cyclically. This means the levels change throughout the month based on one’s menstrual cycle.

And one of the clues that your symptoms really could be hormonally related is if it’s cyclic. If your family feels like hormone hostages and they have to walk on eggshells because they’re not too sure if mom is going to blow in that week before a period. And then if you feel better after your period, and that’s the good week, that week after your period, you’re chopping the broccoli, you’re cleaning out your closets, you’re going to the gym. If you see that change, that’s a really important clue that hormones could be playing a role in what you’re doing. This integrated exercise plan is a relatively new concept in the literature, with limited direct evidence supporting its effectiveness. However, existing research highlights the significant impact of exercise-based interventions on improving quality of life27,39,40,41,42,43. The primary objective was to ensure participants remained engaged in core-strengthening exercises for the entire 5-minute session, even if they needed brief pauses or modified movements.

If you decide to try testosterone for a libido boost, be aware that currently no FDA-approved testosterone preparations are commercially available for use in women in the United States. The commercial testosterone products on the market are intended and FDA-approved for men only. Don’t take supplements before talking with your doctor — these were designed for people who need much higher levels. There aren’t many studies on testosterone treatment in premenopause. And it’s usually off-label use to treat your premature menopause symptoms. They may also measure your free testosterone (“active” testosterone).

Dr. Deb is known as the happy hormone expert, and you will see why in this episode where she explains the interplay of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones, and so much more. For girls, higher testosterone exposure during pregnancy didn’t impact their activity levels but did result in lower muscle strength, which may also have long-term health consequences. Instead, it seems directly tied to higher maternal testosterone levels—a hormone that typically spikes during pregnancy and is even higher in women with PCOS.

This article will provide an overview of testosterone in women and what to do if your level is too high or too low. This disorder causes cysts on your ovaries, which can trigger menstrual problems and infertility. A variety of hormonal changes occur with PCOS, including low estrogen. The most well known cause of androgen excess is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It affects up to 13% of women globally and costs the US alone an estimated US$15 billion (£11 bllion) each year. In December 2023, a group of 48 MPs signed a letter urging the Football Association to change its rules on transgender inclusion in order to “protect women and girls” in football. At the end of 2024, two protests were held over the FA’s policy, urging the governing body to fall in line with other sporting governing bodies in the UK.

Healthcare providers measure testosterone levels with a blood test. Testosterone is a type of androgen hormone (or sex hormone) in your body. Hormones are chemical messengers that tell your body how to work and what to do. Everyone makes testosterone, but males make the most testosterone. The benefits of testosterone for women include stronger bones, improved ovary function (more regular periods), and possibly a clearer mind, better mood, higher sex drive, and more energy. Women and people AFAB with low body fat often do not make enough of the sex hormones.

And we put little drops of blood on a filter paper and then the paper gets mailed into the lab. The message that I would love to give today is that all of those tests have pros and cons. Each one of them has circumstances where they may be better than the other one. And I spend a lot of time teaching other practitioners and talking, you know, lecturing about which test is best.

Female hormone imbalance is relatively common, especially once menopause strikes. At this time, the ovaries no longer produce crucial chemicals that the body needs. These hormones are still required throughout life to maintain strong bones and muscles, support brain and heart functions, and keep an active libido. Elevated testosterone levels in women may also lead to carbohydrate intolerance that increases weight gain, insulin resistance, high LDL and low HDL cholesterol levels, raised triglycerides, and high blood pressure. There are many facets that go into deciding who is an ideal candidate for this treatment. I just knew that progesterone was one of the things in birth control pills that had to do with your uterine lining. I had no idea that the part of our body that had the most progesterone receptors is in our brain.

While this test can provide valuable information about your hormone levels, it does hmb increase testosterone not diagnose specific conditions like PCOS or infertility. Working with your healthcare team is the best way to understand your overall health and address any concerns you may have about your reproductive health. There’s a bit of older short-term research suggesting testosterone therapy can increase female libido in women with low levels of this hormone. Higher testosterone levels in women may indicate a tumor on the ovaries or adrenal glands. If a person with a vulva has high testosterone levels, it can lead to symptoms that affect physical appearance and reproductive health.

But the problem is that those are not really treating the real problem and if we can get your hormones back in balance, you can feel so much better. And so, if you’re not feeling good, that’s a really good time to think about having your hormones tested. I sometimes get asked, like, should every woman get her hormones tested just to know for the baseline?