By Mike Kocsis | 7 minutes read | Last updated: April 14, 2021 Categories: Testosterone Testosterone levels TRT Women's Health
Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
Testosterone is one of the most important hormones in the body. It fuels several crucial functions and without it, the body wouldn’t function properly. That’s why it is so important to address the issue when testosterone levels are too high or too low.
That’s right, even though testosterone is an essential hormone, there is such a thing as too high of testosterone, especially in women. High testosterone in women can cause several health problems and make things more unpleasant for women.
If you want to learn more about this condition and be in a better position to stop it if it is occurring, then read along with our complete guide to understanding high testosterone in women. In this article we’ll cover all the information that you need to know about high testosterone in women.
This will include information about diagnosing high testosterone, identifying the side effects, and pursuing treatment options that will correct the issue and get rid of those pesky side effects.
Testosterone is Not Just For Men
Many people mistakenly believe that testosterone is just a hormone that exists in men. Though it is true that it is more prominent in men and essential for different reasons in men, it is certainly not a hormone that is isolated to just men.
Testosterone is a crucial hormone that affects the bodies of both men and women. For that reason, it’s absolutely essential that everyone include attention to their testosterone levels if they want to live a healthy life and keep their body in good shape.
Anyone that believes testosterone is only present in men is mistaken and this could lead to lesser health for that individual. Education is very important in keeping good health, and with this information about testosterone levels in women and high levels of testosterone, specifically, you will be furthering your education and putting you in the best position possible to ensure good health.
Now that we are at an understanding that testosterone is crucial in the body of both men and women, let’s proceed with the information that you need to identify high levels of testosterone in women and how it can be treated.
Symptoms of High Testosterone in Women
If you hope to fight high testosterone effectively and know what to look out for when it comes to high testosterone in women, then you first need to know the symptoms. The symptoms can be unpleasant, but they can also help to identify the condition that you are dealing with.
The more acquainted you are with the symptoms of high testosterone in women, the more able you will become when it comes to fighting back against high testosterone and pursuing treatments to overcome high testosterone in women.
With this overview of symptoms, you’ll be able to identify high testosterone in women when it occurs, giving you the tools and power to seek treatment and bring to an end the side effects that you may be feeling at the hands of high testosterone in women.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of high testosterone in women:
- Excess body hair
- Excess facial hair
- Loss of hair and balding
- Increased acne
- Enlarged clitoris
- Decrease in breast size
- Voice deepening
- Drastic muscle gain
These symptoms, when isolated, don’t necessarily guarantee that you are suffering from high testosterone. However, if you are experiencing multiple of these symptoms at once, it could certainly be an indicator that you are experiencing testosterone levels that are outside of what is normal and healthy.
If this is the case, you will want to ask a medical professional about your symptoms so that they can help you determine if a testosterone test is in order. If you feel that you have high testosterone for other reasons, you can look to these symptoms as confirmation of your suspicion.
Diagnosis Process of High Testosterone in Women
Another thing that you will want to be familiar with if you are hoping to overcome high testosterone in women is the diagnosis process and what methods can be used to diagnose women with this condition. Not only can this be used to confirm what the problem is, but it can also be used to determine what the best course of action is when it comes to treatment.
The first step in the diagnosis is whether the patient has been experiencing the symptoms that often accompany high testosterone in women. Once you have confirmed that you have indeed experienced these symptoms, you can go to your medical professional of choice and start to do more tests to diagnose your suspicion.
The most surefire way to conduct a thorough and accurate diagnosis as to whether you have high testosterone is a physical examination from a medical professional. When you express concerns to your doctor about possibly having high levels of testosterone in your system, this will likely be the first thing that they do.
The physical examination may sound intimidating but is usually very basic, fast, and easy. The doctor will look for the following physical symptoms of high testosterone as proof that you are experiencing high levels of testosterone in your body:
- Increased or abnormal facial hair
- Increased or severe acne
- Excess body hair
If your doctor has confirmed these physical side effects to be present, then the next step will be a testosterone test. This is only used in the event that the doctor does indeed believe it is possible that you have high testosterone in your system.
One of the most important parts of this process is that the testosterone test is conducted in the morning. This is when testosterone levels in the body are the highest. You can expect your doctor to ensure that the test is taken in the morning, if possible.
Risks of Leaving High Testosterone Untreated
If you have high levels of testosterone, the thought may have crossed your mind to skip out on the treatment and just deal with it. Though it can be scary to deal with medical problems in the correct manner, it’s highly recommended that you don’t neglect your long-term health for the short-term inconvenience.
If you leave your high testosterone levels untreated and don’t decide to address them, your quality of life will be severely impacted. There’s a good reason why so many are eager to find solutions to their symptoms as they are unpleasant. If you don’t want to continue to experience these side effects, you should take every step possible to treat the root issue in the best way possible.
For those that don’t, the side effects can not only worsen but can also expand to include more things. The longer you wait, the more of your hormone imbalance will have on your life.
What Causes High Levels of Testosterone?
Part of conquering high testosterone and overcoming the symptoms that come along with it is understanding what causes high levels of testosterone. With this understanding, you will be far better equipped to deal with the issues that you face and put an end to the unpleasant and sometimes dangerous side effects that accompany high testosterone.
To better your understanding of the issue of high testosterone, here are some of the causes of high testosterone and some background information about each.
Hirsutism
This is a condition having to do with the hormones. It has an effect on the level of your hormones, which can then, in turn, cause you to have the side effects associated with high testosterone.
PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome is another condition that is known to impact hormone levels. Not only are you at risk of the side effects of increased testosterone with this condition, but also others such as infertility, miscarriage, obesity, and others.
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
This condition affects the adrenal glands in the body and thus impacts hormone production. This doesn’t always contribute to high testosterone, but it is sometimes the case. Symptoms can also include infertility, masculine traits, early puberty, and acne.
Lifestyle Choices
If you are using performance enhancing drugs, also known as steroids, especially for sport then you could be at risk of having too much testosterone regardless of if you are a man or woman. You may also cause harm to your natural hormone levels and need professional help by one of our doctors to reduce anabolic steroid harm and move you to an effective testosterone replacement therapy for women plan.
Treatment for High Testosterone in Women
The good news for women suffering from high testosterone and the symptoms that go along with it is that there are high testosterone treatment options. Living with high testosterone is not a necessity. If you are eager to go back to regular testosterone levels, you will be happy to know that there are at least a couple of options that you can use, under the supervision of your doctor, that can help to restore testosterone levels to normal levels.
These treatments include:
- Glucocorticosteroids
- Metformin
- Oral contraceptives
- Spironolactone
- TRT and HRT
If you are interested in balancing your testosterone levels and would like a free consultation please contact us below.
These are all medications that are well-known for helping to address this issue. However, medication is not your only option. In fact, many people avoid medication because of the side effects that they themselves can have. One other route that you can take is to make lifestyle changes such as being more active, eating healthier, and getting more sleep while managing stress.
These simple actions could solve problems that are interfering with the health of your body and its ability to regulate normal levels of testosterone. Before you select and start using any treatment, you should of course consult your doctor or another medical professional.
References, Study Material, Scientifc Resouces
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321292
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11955793/
https://www.theforkclinic.com/post/how-to-balance-testosterone-in-women-part-1-elevated-testosterone
Evidence Based Research
This article has been researched and written based on scientific evidence and fact sheets that have then been crossed checked by our team of doctors and subject matter experts.
References, sources and studies used alongside our own in-house research have been cited below, most of which contain external clickable links to reviewed scientific paper that contain date stamped evidence.
Our team of healthcare experts and GMC registered doctors are licensed to UK GMC standards. We strive to provide you with the latest evidence based, researched articles that are unbiased, honest and provide you with accurate insights, statistics and helpful information on the discussed topic to ensure you gain a better understanding of the subject. You can read more about our Editorial Process by clicking here.
We value your feedback on our articles, if you have a well-researched paper you would like to share with us please contact us.
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About the Author: Mike Kocsis
Mike Kocsis has an MBA with a focus on healthcare administration and is an entrepreneur and medical case manager for Balance My Hormones Ltd which offers medical services in the UK and Europe. Mike has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, much of that working with people who have hormone imbalances. Mike has appeared on podcasts and radio and is an expert speaker on the subject of hormone imbalance. He specialises in Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and has helped thousands of people suffering from hormone imbalances recover and regain control of their lives. You can follow him on LinkedIn and on the Balance My Hormones YouTube Channel.
Last update: April 14th, 2021
