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Low Testosterone In Women: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Menopause Without the Usual Symptoms

While the causes and effects of low testosterone aren’t completely known, your healthcare provider can run tests to help figure out what’s causing your symptoms. To make a real difference in women’s lives, several things need to happen. We still don’t fully understand why some women develop excess androgens while others don’t, or why symptoms vary so much between individuals. Research in women’s health has long been underfunded and androgen-related conditions are no exception.

Erectile dysfunction affects half of men in their lifetime, according to Dr Foster, but that doesn’t necessarily mean low T. “Men with TD often describe feeling flat or less motivated, more anxious and more fatigued,” adds Imperial College’s Dr El-Osta. “We’re now seeing growing evidence also linking TD with depression, metabolic syndrome and reduced lifespan if left untreated. “Testosterone deficiency remains one of the least discussed and most under-recognised and under-treated conditions affecting men’s health,” Dr El-Osta explains. Fewer people may experience these symptoms during menopause, but it’s important to try to track them if you think they could be related to menopause.

When a patient of mine decides to stop taking testosterone, it is rarely because of side effects and almost always because it simply isn’t working for her. Unlike with estrogen, for which blood levels are rarely required, testosterone therapy requires being tested to make sure yours is in the right range. This is a hormonal disorder that typically causes high testosterone insomnia testosterone, often resulting in facial hair, weight gain, and mood swings. However, some women with PCOS may have low testosterone levels due to abnormalities in the condition. Testosterone is a sex hormone primarily produced in the testicles (in men) and ovaries (in women), although smaller amounts are also produced in the adrenal glands. If you’re still reading this, then congratulations for taking the first step in optimizing your hormones so you can feel your best. Understanding and exploring these treatment options can empower you to address the challenges of low testosterone levels effectively.

By the time a female reaches menopause, testosterone decreases by 50% of its initial levels. So, during menopause, which typically appears between the ages of 45-50, the testosterone level begins to decline at a faster rate than ever before. Hence, as a result of testosterone reduction with age, a woman may begin to experience low sex drive, mood swings, and other symptoms, like depression, fatigue, and more. When a female reaches 30 years, testosterone levels start to decline by 1% each year.

And yet, hormonal health is still too often treated as an afterthought. Many women describe years of feeling dismissed by doctors, told to “come back if you want to get pregnant”, or offered little more than the contraceptive pill. On average, women with PCOS wait over two years and consult several different healthcare professionals before receiving a diagnosis. You see, while men have more of it, testosterone is not a “male hormone”—it is a human hormone that is just as important in women as it is in men.

“Symptoms can include reduced libido, diminished sexual responsiveness, and alterations in mood and energy levels,” says Elise. It is responsible for developing male reproductive tissues like the prostate and testicles and contributes to muscle and bone mass. If you know your total testosterone reading from a previous blood test input the results to the left above to see if your testosterone levels are normal. It’s particularly important to get diagnosed because low T symptoms are often confused with the symptoms of other conditions. These conditions include stress, depression, menopause, and others. Having said that, these conditions may also contribute to the side effects you may be facing.

In fact, failing relationships is the reason why men eventually seek professional help 80 per cent of the time. Dr Austen El-Osta, of Imperial College London, is one of the study’s lead researchers, which was a collaboration with the men’s healthcare platform Manual. Connect with your doctor or a menopause specialist about hormone tests and for more guidance.

You could then take this information to a menopause specialist or your doctor, who can provide more information. You can take an at-home hormone test or speak with your doctor about a hormone level test. Globally, the age range for reaching menopause is between 45 and 55. You’ve reached menopause when you haven’t had a period for one year.