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Testosterone is the male sex hormone and as such, its role in the female body has been vastly underestimated. Yes, the female body — because women too produce testosterone. But this ultimately means that low testosterone can also affect women. The mechanisms, however, are different.
While the view of testosterone as a male-only hormone dominates, keep in mind that testosterone has countless benefits for women as well. And while our minds instantly wander to an image of a strong man flexing his biceps, testosterone is much more than that — for both genders.
Because of testosterone production in the ovaries, adrenal gland, and peripheral tissues, women too can develop low testosterone levels and potentially experience low T symptoms. But while the role of testosterone is somewhat similar, production and levels vary significantly between men and women.
Benefits of Testosterone for Women: How It Works
In men, testosterone is primarily produced by the testicles, while a small percentage is produced by the adrenal gland. In women, testosterone offers many benefits but the ovaries only produce some testosterone despite being the female equivalent to the testicles, with testicles and ovaries both referred to as the gonads. However, testosterone production in women happens on a much smaller scale.
Nonetheless, the ovaries are only responsible for about a quarter of testosterone in the female body, leaving the adrenal gland to produce another quarter and peripheral tissues to add about half of testosterone.
Women need testosterone because it contributes to functions similar to those of men. In many ways, it fills countless non-gender-specific tasks that are relevant for men and women alike. Some of these critical benefits of testosterone for women and men include:
- supporting bone health,
- enhancing mood and energy,
- promoting the growth of muscle mass,
- and improving cognition.
Interestingly, testosterone has also been shown to affect sexual function in females, even though it’s publicly largely associated with sexual health in males, primarily focusing on the ability to have an erection. But the truth is, testosterone can enhance female reproductive health and promote sex drive in women as well.
In addition, researchers also indicated that testosterone can contribute to musculoskeletal health but is further important for women due to possible positive effects on vascular function.
Because testosterone fills many crucial roles in the female body and enhances well-being, there are countless benefits to testosterone for women. In fact, testosterone has been found to promote urogenital health, in addition to alleviating psychological symptoms and improving mental health.
Women are, therefore, not spared from possible symptoms of low testosterone, which is why females can sometimes also be good candidates for supplemental testosterone therapy. As a result, women report feeling more motivated and energetic and notice enhancements in their cognitive abilities and focus.
But research has also shown that testosterone therapy can reduce your chances of getting breast cancer — a particularly important discovery in light of breast cancer being the most common form of cancer in American women.
The Female Sex Hormones: Estrogen & Progesterone
While testosterone has many benefits for women, it’s not the only important hormone in the female body. In fact, women are extremely vulnerable to hormonal fluctuations, which can develop as a result of a wide range of endocrine disorders. Two particularly important hormones are the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Estrogen and progesterone are predominantly produced by the ovaries — a woman’s main regulator of the female hormone system. Nevertheless, some estrogen and progesterone can also be released by the adrenal gland, with increased output during pregnancy.
One of the female sex hormones, estrogen, which is commonly referred to as estradiol, is a steroid hormone responsible for fertility and the development of female-specific traits. But estrogen’s function goes beyond the female reproductive system as it’s also critical for cardiovascular health and bone density.
On the other hand, progesterone is particularly important within the context of menstruation and enhances pregnancy preparedness, promoting pregnancy parameters like the thickness of the uterine lining in order to secure the health of the unborn child.
Progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone all have profound benefits for women but play different roles in a highly interconnected system.
Low Testosterone in Women: Is It Common?
Is low testosterone really a thing for women? With the female body producing and needing a lot less testosterone than men, is it even possible to develop testosterone deficiency?
The short answer is yes. Much like men, women can develop low testosterone, albeit there are some differences. But because testosterone is responsible for many functions, low testosterone in women can impact their bone health, sex drive, mood, hair and sleep quality, as well as the amount of muscle mass they have.
Other symptoms of low testosterone are specific to women and include vaginal dryness, changes in your menstrual cycle, and even infertility.
Similarly to men, low testosterone in women most commonly occurs as you grow older and as menopause progresses and brings significant changes.
But low testosterone can also be the result of other medical disorders, like Turner Syndrome, or adrenal and ovarian insufficiencies. Radiation, chemotherapy, and poor nutrition can also lead to women developing low testosterone.
Testosterone for Menopause
Testosterone is important for all women but plays an especially profound role in menopausal and post-menopausal women as several studies suggest that testosterone therapy can enhance a woman’s general well-being and promote sexual health. Testosterone therapy in postmenopausal women increased sex drive, satisfaction, and even how she viewed herself.
As menopause marks a time of change for the female body, testosterone levels during and after menopause decline. In fact, menopause may cut your testosterone production in half, making you more susceptible to low testosterone symptoms.
Testosterone Can Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer
Now that we have established that low testosterone can occur in women, we can’t stress enough how important it is to maintain a healthy hormone balance. Testosterone has many benefits for women and men, and as such, remains a critical contributor to your health.
With October marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s not forget the protective effect testosterone can have on breast health. A long-term study confirmed previous findings about a reduction in the occurrence of breast cancer in women before and after menopause — marking yet another example of testosterone’s versatile functions.
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