Testosterone levels in women decline due to aging or disease, which can cause sleep disorders, fatigue, and decreased sexual desire.
Testosterone hormone levels affect fertility, sex drive, red blood cell production, muscle mass and fat distribution. Testosterone is commonly known as the male sex hormone, but women’s adrenal glands and ovaries also produce small amounts of this hormone.
Unlike men, there are currently no standards to determine low testosterone levels in women. This condition can be recognized through a number of symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, sleep disorders, decreased sexual desire, weight gain, fertility problems, irregular menstrual cycles, vaginal dryness, loss of appetite, and loss of appetite. bone density. However, some women with low testosterone levels do not experience these symptoms. Low testosterone in women occurs due to the following reasons.
Hormone levels naturally decrease due to aging of the body. When menopause begins, the ovaries produce less testosterone. Medications and some side effects of menopause can also reduce testosterone levels. Other hormones in women such as estrogen also decrease over time, especially during this period.
Ovarian and adrenal gland problems May reduce testosterone levels. For example, women may have lower hormone levels after oophorectomy or adrenal insufficiency. Because the symptoms related to low testosterone are vague, your doctor may check for other problems such as depression, anxiety, chronic stress, thyroid disease, approaching menopause, etc. before making a diagnosis. guess. If low testosterone is suspected, your doctor may order a blood test.
For women who have not yet reached menopause, your doctor can advise on the best time to test your testosterone levels, as hormone levels fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle.
To treat symptoms caused by low testosterone, your doctor may prescribe oral or injectable hormone replacement therapy. This treatment method in women has the same effect as in men, helping to increase energy levels, reduce fatigue, and increase sexual desire. However, testosterone use in women is still rarely recommended because its effectiveness and long-term safety are uncertain.
DHEA is a form of adrenal androgen hormone, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat genitourinary syndrome of menopause in women. Other therapies to treat low testosterone symptoms in women include sex therapy, stress management, and a healthy lifestyle such as getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet.