The Role of Testosterone: Getting to Know Our Hormones

Testosterone. Wait, what?? I thought we were talking about hormones for #womenshealthwednesday. Isn’t testosterone a MALE hormone? What does that have to do with women?

Actually, everyone has testosterone. Yes, for males it plays an important role in male reproductive development and is much more prevalent in their system. For women, testosterone is actually produced in small amounts by the ovaries, adrenal glands, fat cells, and skin cells and it works directly with estrogen for the following:

• Growth, maintenance, and repair of female reproductive tissues

• Healthy bone mass

• Human behaviors (mood, energy levels, and sex drive)

• Promotes cognitive function

The majority of testosterone produced in a woman’s body gets converted into estrogen or other female sex hormones. Unfortunately, having too much or too little of this hormone for women can cause a variety of symptoms.

Too much testosterone in women is often associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and can lead to the following symptoms:

• Missed or irregular periods

• Infertility

• Excess hair growth (face, back, chest, stomach, thumbs, and toes), or frontal balding

• Ovarian cysts

• Skin problems (acne, oily skin, scalp eczema)

• Miscarriage

• Insulin resistance

• Diabetes

• High cholesterol

• High blood pressure

• Heart disease

Too little testosterone in women can contribute to the following:

• Fatigue

• Increased risk for bone loss

• Osteoporosis/bone fractures

• Decreased libido

What’s normal with women’s testosterone?

As mentioned earlier, the ovaries produce small amounts of testosterone for women that is necessary to assist estrogen in many body functions. So, testosterone naturally increases slightly during puberty for women, and is followed by a slight drop during young adulthood. Following menopause, there is another natural slight drop in testosterone. Males experience a much more dramatic change in their testosterone levels throughout their lifespan.

Since one of the places that testosterone is produced in women is fat cells, maintaining a healthy body composition can aid in keeping a normal balance for all of our important hormones. Making consistent healthy choices in our diet and keeping a healthy exercise routine help to attain good balance of our muscle mass and body fat composition. Making these healthy shifts in our diet/activity is one way we can take control to help regulate our hormones.

If you are looking for help in getting your health back in control, we are always happy to provide education and support along the way. Reach out to us for a fitness or nutrition consultation today!

Written by: Renee Hancock, Pelvic Floor Specialist, Physical Therapist