How Common is Naturally High Testosterone in Women?

Ovarian overproduction of androgens: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

If any of these organs — your hypothalamus, pituitary gland or gonads — aren’t working normally, that can cause abnormal testosterone levels. Engaging in regular physical activity can help balance hormone levels. Focus on moderate-intensity exercises like walking, cycling, and yoga to reduce stress and improve overall health. Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, which has been shown to reduce testosterone levels.

On the other hand, anti-androgenic progestins, such as drospirenone, norgestimate, dienogest, and cyproterone, can improve insulin sensitivity and promote weight loss. However, stopping an anti-androgenic progestin can lead to rebound weight gain. In women, too much testosterone can promote insulin resistance and visceral fat.

The first signs typically include better skin, improved mood, and more regular periods. Complete rebalancing may take 6–12 months depending on severity and your individual health factors. Here is some basic information that every woman should know about this mighty hormone, and why it’s not just for the boys. Everlywell offers health and wellness solutions including laboratory testing for wellness monitoring, informational and educational use. With the exception of certain diagnostic test panels, list available here, the tests we offer access to are not intended to diagnose or treat disease. None of our tests are intended to be a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, help, diagnosis, or treatment.

Managing high testosterone can be difficult, but there are ways to promote healthy hormone levels. If the symptoms seem abnormal, your doctor may recommend a testosterone test to measure the level in your blood. The expert may perform this test in the morning when the testosterone is at its highest. Doctors ask you to stop taking any medications before the test to avoid the possible side effects. Because testosterone is key for supporting several basic bodily functions, symptoms can arise if testosterone levels get too low or too high. They revealed that women with genetically higher testosterone levels have a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 37 percent. On the other hand, men had a reduction of type 2 diabetes risk by 14 percent if they had higher testosterone levels.

Verywell Health prefers to use inclusive terminology for sex and gender. For the purposes of this article, “women” refers to people born with the reproductive organs typical for females (such as a vagina, uterus, and ovaries). This definition does not take into account their gender or gender identity. 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.

Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify what’s the best testosterone exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you’re too busy to handle the data entry yourself. For those who prefer assistance, we offer a “Data entry service” to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.

If the condition is caused by an ovarian tumor, surgery to remove the tumor may correct the problem. Most ovarian tumors are not cancerous (benign) and will not come back after they have been removed. Many women with high testosterone levels will have irregular menses or no period at all. However, research reveals that some pre-menopausal women with high testosterone levels may be asymptomatic, meaning they never experience symptoms.

It’s important to seek out a healthcare provider if you think you have high testosterone levels. They can identify the imbalance and find the right mix of treatments for you. High testosterone levels in women may cause a range of symptoms, from excessive facial and body hair to impaired fertility. Most, if not all, symptoms are usually a result of an underlying medical condition. Generally, treatment of the underlying disorder can reduce the symptoms and improve quality of life. It is generally low in women and children, but it can be elevated in certain diseases. A certain level of testosterone is important for development and maturation in both genders.

Where this condition differs from other hormonal imbalances, though, is that it can actually lead to more severe issues like infertility or ovarian cysts. A variety of therapies can be used to treat acne in adolescents Table 1. As with hirsutism, multimodal therapy may be more effective, and response to therapy may take several months. Working with a dermatologist can be beneficial for patients with moderate-to-severe acne or acne refractory to initial medical therapy. Acne treatment algorithms often show topical therapy as a first-line approach. Many patients will have tried multiple over-the-counter topical regimens before coming to their obstetrician–gynecologists.