Testosterone is a male sex hormone produced in a woman’s ovaries in small amounts as well. Combined with estrogen, the female sex hormone, testosterone helps with the growth, maintenance, and repair of a woman’s reproductive tissues, bone mass, and human behaviors.
The normal ranges of testosterone levels for females are:
| Age (in years) | Testosterone range (in nanograms per deciliter) |
| 10–11 | < 7–44 |
| 12–16 | < 7–75 |
| 17–18 | 20–75 |
| 19+ | 8–60 |
An imbalance of testosterone can have damaging effects on a woman’s health and sex drive.
Increased testosterone levels can cause symptoms that effect a woman’s physical appearance, such as:
- too much body hair, specifically facial hair
- balding
- acne
- enlarged clitoris
- decreased breast size
- deepening of the voice
- increased muscle mass
- irregular menstrual cycles
- low libido
- mood changes
- high testosterone can also cause infertility and obesity in some extreme cases.
Causes of high increased testosterone in females:
Numerous diseases or disorders can cause hormonal changes in women. The most common causes of high testosterone levels in women are hirsutism, polycystic ovary syndrome, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
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- Hirsutism
- Hirsutism is a condition of unwanted, male-pattern hair growth in women.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age.
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of inherited genetic disorders that affect the adrenal glands
Treatment options:
Treatment depends on the cause, but generally includes medication or lifestyle changes.
Making certain lifestyle changes can affect testosterone levels. Starting an exercise or weight loss program can help because losing weight can improve symptoms.
Resources:
- Hunter MH, et al. (2003). Evaluation and treatment of women with hirsutism.
aafp.org/afp/2003/0615/p2565.html - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: Overview.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/congenital-adrenal-hyperplasia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355205 - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016). Hirsutism: Overview.
mayo.edu/diseases-conditions/hirsutism/symptoms-causes/syc-20354935 - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Symptoms and causes.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/symptoms-causes/dxc-20342150 - Sowers MF, et al. (2001). Testosterone concentrations in women aged 25-50 years: Associations with lifestyle, body composition, and ovarian status. DOI:
10.1093/aje/153.3.256 - Test ID: TTFB – testosterone, total, bioavailable, and free, serum. (n.d.).
mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/83686
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