Testosterone: the unexpected female hormone

Testosterone is an amazing hormone, and contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t just occur in men. 

Women have been made scared of testosterone because they associate it with becoming ‘manly’ with a deep voice, a hairy face, and muscles. But once again there is a lot of fear and misconceptions around testosterone because of non-bioidentical forms of testosterone being prescribed. These can cause side effects that just aren’t seen with bioidentical testosterone.

Testosterone in women

It’s the preconceived notions about testosterone that create fear, but bioidentical testosterone taken in just the right dose works intricately with the other sex hormones in the female body to create a strong and powerful infrastructure. 

Women produce only a fraction of the amount of testosterone that men do, but they need testosterone. Testosterone influences female health just as much as oestrogen and progesterone. Bioidentical hormone cream in just the dose you need can revitalise you and make you feel more like yourself.

What does testosterone do for women?

In women, testosterone is produced by the adrenals and ovaries, and it helps maintain bone density, muscle mass, and helps mood and sex. But testosterone can drop due to ageing, being overweight, or due to exposure to chemicals found in plastics, water bottles, and reheated food in plastic containers such as ready meals.

Here are some of the problems we can run into if we don’t have enough testosterone:

• Low libido

• Not wanting sex

• Not fantasising about sex

• Lack of sexual responsiveness

The ability to orgasm is all in part driven by testosterone. In fact, the reason why many women lose their sex drive when they take the contraceptive pill is that it suppresses testosterone levels. A low testosterone level means less sensitivity in the vagina and clitoris, which can reduce sexual pleasure. 

As we age, our testosterone levels also gradually go down. 

Low testosterone and fatigue

Fatigue is one of the top reasons why women see doctors, and it can be due to a hormonal cause. 

An underactive thyroid, high-stress hormone (cortisol) levels and blood sugar roller coasters from eating the wrong things from your body are all common hormonal causes of fatigue. Constant high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, can create a hormone pattern that reduces testosterone production. Low testosterone can lead to adrenal fatigue, which often worsens insomnia, creating a vicious cycle.

Low testosterone and depression

Testosterone helps us to feel driven and confident. Testosterone increases dopamine release, which is the feel-good neurotransmitter and is also connected to the function of serotonin, our happy neurotransmitter. 

Studies have shown that testosterone may improve fatigue and depressive symptoms in women.

Cellulite 

Does your skin have an ‘orange peel’ appearance that doesn’t seem to budge with diet and exercise? 

When testosterone decreases, muscles shrink and less oxygen is delivered to the surrounding tissues. A ‘scarring’ occurs in the connective tissue, leading to dimpling of the skin, known as cellulite. Restoring testosterone can reduce cellulite.

Poor exercise tolerance 

A good testosterone level boosts the motivation to exercise and the results — testosterone helps maintain a great ratio of muscle to fat, which then keeps our metabolic rate higher. 

Testosterone increases blood flow to the muscles, increases the uptake of the amino acid building blocks to restore tissue, and even helps clear out lactic acid, which is responsible for the pain in muscles experienced after overexertion.

Dry eyes 

Testosterone deficiency may not be the only cause of dry eyes, but dry eyes become more prevalent as testosterone drops with ageing. Restoring natural testosterone levels can improve dry eyes.

Osteoporosis 

When our hormones decline, we can start to lose bone mass — but osteoporosis can also affect younger women in their 20s 30s or 40s. If we’re very slim and have a low body mass index, we’re at risk of thinning bones or osteoporosis. 

Testosterone is a powerful bone-building hormone that may be able to help with this.

Joint pains 

Do your joints feel stiff first thing in the morning? Testosterone may help reduce deterioration of the joints and decrease inflammation. 

If you don’t feel yourself and have symptoms of low testosterone, get in touch today to get assessed.

Our natural bioidentical libido cream; developed by expert doctors might be just the solution you are looking for.