Testosterone Test for Women: Why You Should Check Your Levels

Men have higher testosterone levels than women (300 – 1,000 nanograms per deciliter compared to 15 – 70 nanograms per deciliter), but that doesn’t mean that a testosterone test for women isn’t necessary. 

Many testosterone tests are geared toward men without even considering women’s health. However, like estrogen, testosterone levels affect the health and well-being of both men and women.

Let’s explore how testosterone impacts a woman’s body, the symptoms and causes of low testosterone in women, what testosterone testing involves, and how to treat low testosterone levels:

How Does Testosterone Impact a Woman’s Body?

Your ovaries and adrenal glands produce testosterone and help regulate your menstrual cycle. It also contributes to the development and maturation of your ovarian follicles, which is important for fertility. However, testosterone’s role in women’s health goes way beyond their ability to menstruate and have children. It’s vital for many of your body’s other functions, too, including:

• Libido: Higher testosterone levels can increase your sexual desire, while adequate levels are important for maintaining an interest in sexual activity. 
• Muscular strength and mass: Higher testosterone levels make building and maintaining build mass easier than lower levels.
• Bone density: Low levels of testosterone can negatively impact bone mass, leading to bone fractures or osteoporosis
• Disposition: Low levels of testosterone can negatively impact your mood
• Energy levels: Low levels of testosterone can make you feel fatigued or tired more often
• Hormone balance: Testosterone teams up with hormones like estrogen and progesterone to maintain a hormonal balance in your body. When you’re off-balance, one or all of everything above can be affected. 

What Does Low Testosterone In Women Look Like?

Like men, women’s testosterone levels begin to decline in their 30s. Unlike men, who lose about 1% of their testosterone per year, women’s levels are commonly lowered by half by the time they’re 40. Thus, women may begin to experience changes in everything that testosterone levels affect, which, as you probably noticed, is quite a lot. 

What Are the Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women?

Numerous symptoms can point to low testosterone levels in women. While these levels naturally decline with age, sudden drops can make these symptoms more apparent, including:

• Reduced libido or a general disinterest in sex and sexual activities
• Vaginal dryness, which can cause discomfort during sex
• Muscle pain, weakness, or a decrease in your overall strength
• Decreased bone density, which makes you more susceptible to fractures
• Mood shifts, particularly depression, irritability, or a case of the blahs
• Low energy or fatigue
• Increased body fat in your hips or abdomen, or a general shift in weight distribution
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering something 

What Causes Low Testosterone in Women?

The causes of low testosterone in women are as numerous as the symptoms themselves. Besides ages, here are some of the most common reasons why you may be experiencing reduced testosterone levels if you:

1. Are experiencing a chronic illness or stress: Anytime you’re experiencing prolonged emotional or physical stress, it will take a toll on your body. This type of stress disrupts your endocrine system, which is responsible for producing and releasing hormones — including testosterone.
2. Have an adrenal gland disorder: As mentioned before, testosterone forms in your adrenal glands. Your testosterone levels may be affected if you have adrenal tumors or adrenal insufficiency. 
3. Are on certain medications: Lower testosterone is a side effect of some forms of contraception, hormonal therapies, and other medications.
4. Had your ovaries removed: If your ovaries are surgically removed, this will likely cause a sudden drop in your testosterone levels. 
5. Are experiencing ovarian dysfunction: If you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or experience ovarian failure, your testosterone product may get disrupted. 
6. Have a genetic disorder: Certain genetic conditions, like Turner syndrome or androgen insensitivity syndrome, can impact testosterone production. 
7. Are experiencing hormonal imbalances: If other hormones are off balance, your testosterone levels may be thrown off, too. Remember, your hormones act as a team. If one of them isn’t functioning correctly, it can directly impact the others. 

Sometimes, exercising regularly, eating healthier foods, and reducing your alcohol and smoking intake can increase testosterone levels. If you’re experiencing excess stress, minimizing or eliminating those stresses can also positively impact your testosterone. Whether these modifications work or if you need to take a different approach, you should first take a testosterone test and determine your levels. 

Requesting a Testosterone Test

We first have to talk about the elephant in the room: there’s an inherent bias in medicine regarding women’s health. Some physicians may assume your symptoms are caused by menopause, stress, or a number of other things and dismiss the notion that you need a testosterone test. In these cases, you have to advocate for your health and insist that you need the test to be properly diagnosed. It’s unfortunate, but it’s true. 

What Does a Testosterone Test for Women Involve?

Testing for testosterone involves taking a blood sample from a vein in your arm. Typically, this is done earlier in the day when your levels tend to be higher. 

Different labs have different ranges for what’s considered “normal.” When analyzing the results, your physician will account for your age, health, and other variables. If your testosterone levels are above average, it could indicate that you have PCOS or cancer of the adrenal glands or ovaries. If they’re low, it’s likely because of one or more of the many causes we mentioned earlier. 

Treating Low Testosterone at Boston Direct Health

The FDA has yet to approve testosterone treatments, and there isn’t enough research about women with low testosterone levels out there for a standard treatment to be determined. Typically, physicians treat low testosterone in women the same way they treat it in men. 

At Boston Direct Health, we specialize in functional medicine, a systems-biology-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of your symptoms. We do this by taking a holistic approach to understanding who you are, knowing that every person is unique and should have a health plan tailored to their needs. Simply put, the better we know who you are and your health needs, the better when we can treat you. 

Are you ready to take control of your health? Send us a message today!