Both men and women naturally produce testosterone in their bodies. However, women produce it in much lesser amounts than men.
Throughout a woman’s life, her testosterone levels can drastically change at various points, including during her menstrual cycle or pregnancy. Even in a span of a day, she may experience different testosterone levels too.
Functions of testosterone in a woman’s body
Testosterone is a type of hormone that takes on a variety of roles in a woman’s body. It is key to different bodily processes, such as:
Sex drive
Testosterone drives a woman’s sexual desire or libido. If she has normal testosterone levels in the body, she should be able to have a good sex drive and enjoy pleasurable sex. However, if her testosterone levels are low, she may lose interest in sex, and live an inactive and dull sex life for a long time.
Fat distribution
Testosterone facilitates the distribution of fat in the body. With normal testosterone levels, a woman can be in good and healthy shape, maintain her weight better, and avoid obesity.
Muscle mass and strength
Testosterone helps in the growth and development of strong and healthy muscles. If a woman lacks testosterone, she may not be able to build muscles that are sturdy and tough, and she may become more prone to muscle loss and other conditions that impair muscle function.
Fertility
In men, testosterone plays a big role in producing good quality sperm and semen, and ensuring erectile performance is at a high level for higher odds of getting their female partners pregnant. In women, it is also necessary in making her reproductive parts better equipped for pregnancy to occur.
Red blood cell production
Testosterone promotes the production of more new and healthy red blood cells for better blood flow and circulation in the body and good cardiovascular health, lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other heart problems.
Symptoms of low testosterone in women
If a woman’s testosterone levels in the body are low, she may encounter the following signs and symptoms:
Decreased libido
Because one of testosterone’s roles in a woman’s body is boosting libido, having low testosterone results to a decrease in sexual desire.
Muscle weakness
To build strong muscles, a woman should have normal testosterone levels. Otherwise, she is likely to suffer from weak muscles that are more predisposed to wear and tear, injuries, and other problems.
Low energy levels
Testosterone helps in keeping a woman’s energy levels high, so a lack of it leaves her sluggish and unmotivated to do her usual day-to-day tasks.
Weight gain
Low testosterone levels prevent a woman’s body from properly distributing fat to the different parts, so gaining weight is bound to happen.
Causes of low testosterone in women
In women, there are two primary causes of a decrease in testosterone levels in the body. They are the:
1. Decline in hormone production, which comes naturally with menopause and aging.
Similar to men, decrease in testosterone levels in the body and old age come hand in hand.
2. Problems that affect the ovaries or the adrenal glands
In women, testosterone is produced by the ovaries and the adrenal glands, so if a disease or disorder strikes them, testosterone production is affected.
Low testosterone levels in women
Testosterone levels are measured in nanograms per deciliter or ng/dL. In women, these vary according to age. Below are the normal testosterone values in women per age group:
- 0 months to 5 months: 20 ng/dL to 80 ng/dL
- 6 months to 9 years: <7 ng/dL to 20 ng/dL
- 10 years to 11 years: <7 ng/dL to 44 ng/dL
- 12 years to 16 years: <7 ng/dL to 75 ng/dL
- 17 years to 18 years: 20 ng/dL to 75 ng/dL
- 19+ years: 8 ng/dL to 60 ng/dL
An adult woman’s average testosterone level is from 15 ng/dL to 70 ng/dL. If her testosterone levels are below this range, she has low testosterone and is at risk of several side effects that can affect her physical, mental, and reproductive health.
Ways to increase testosterone in women
Women who have low testosterone levels in their bodies are usually prescribed testosterone injections, pills, or pellets by their doctors to boost their testosterone. However, there are a lot of doctors and medical organizations that do not go this route, as it can trigger some negative side effects that can be pretty severe and damaging, such as:
- Acne
- Hair loss
- Growth of facial hair
- Enlargement of clitoris
- Deepening of voice
As an alternative, making healthy lifestyle changes are recommended, such as:
Eating natural testosterone-boosting foods
Including more testosterone-boosting foods in the daily diet is a safe way of increasing testosterone levels in the body. For women, eating more foods that have high levels of zinc, vitamin D, and other essential vitamins and minerals is a must. Some examples of good testosterone-boosting foods are:
- Tuna –This is a healthy fish that is overflowing with vitamin D, which is instrumental to improving testosterone levels. In addition to that, it is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for lowering cholesterol levels in the body, and preventing heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and other diseases.
- Pumpkin seeds –These contain a good amount of zinc, which is a nutrient that aids in the regulation of sex hormones. They are also rich in vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin K, which help in keeping the body in good health and great shape.
Getting enough sleep
While sleeping, the body produces hormones that help in the growth of development of new muscles and protein synthesis. So, to avail of these benefits, getting around 8 hours of sleep every night is recommended. By sleeping more, the body will also be able to function more efficiently, and give you better memory and concentration, higher energy levels, and a more capable immune system.
Exercising regularly
Exercise and working out are essential in staying healthy. They are also important in increasing testosterone levels. To fix low testosterone levels in the body, try weight lifting and high intensity exercise routines. These should also help build strong and healthy muscles and bones, and improve stamina, endurance, and strength.
