What is the normal level of testosterone in women
Despite the fact that the hormone testosterone is the main male sex hormone, it is also necessary in the female body. Its excess or deficiency seriously affects the health of women, so you need to monitor not only behind estrogen levels but also for testosterone.
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Testosterone in women - why is it needed
The effect of testosterone on the female body is quite extensive. So, its strong influence on the state of muscle mass in women has been proven, what kind of muscle mass it will be - flabby or toned - depends just on this hormone. If there is not enough testosterone in the body, then the woman has a decrease in muscle mass, a slowdown in metabolism and weight gain. But with a normal amount of testosterone when playing sports, a woman will acquire a beautiful figure and muscle tone. Since in menopause testosterone in the female body is declining, many ladies begin to suffer from obesity, the amount of fat increases especially in the chest and abdomen, so it is so important during this period to carefully monitor the level of hormones.
Testosterone also affects the state of bone tissue, so, with hormone deficiency in women, much more often osteoporosis is diagnosed... Estrogen also has an effect on bones, but to a much lesser extent than testosterone. Under its influence, bones become stronger and more resistant to damage. Therefore, during menopause, when the level of testosterone in the body decreases, the likelihood of getting a fracture is much higher. For this reason, men less often than women suffer from diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
A woman can also feel in a good mood, in good shape and not know what fatigue is with a normal amount of testosterone. There have already been no studies, the results of which prove the invaluable help of testosterone in the fight against chronic fatigue and overwork. Therefore, it happens that even taking expensive and high-quality multivitamins does not help get rid of weakness and weakness, because the problem may lie elsewhere. If you regularly fall into depression, or live in it - check the level of this hormone.
Testosterone is responsible for the level sexual attraction, he, one might say, gives the appropriate commands to the brain. With a normal amount of hormone in a woman, everything is in order with libido... It is able to raise the mood of the weaker sex and bestow a sense of satisfaction with life. Regardless of gender, under the influence of testosterone, a good memory is formed, it is possible to concentrate attention and learn new skills.
Even from the above, it is clear that the presence of a normal testosterone level is very important for the female body, because health depends on it.
The rate of testosterone in women
The norm of testosterone for a woman is determined not only by age, but also by her condition. For example, in a healthy female individual over the age of ten, the norm is 0.45-3.75 nmol / L. In the perinatal period, during ovulation, the level of the hormone deviates several times, but this is considered normal, while a hormonal jump in a different period will lead to negative consequences. The rate of total testosterone for women is set in the range of 0.24-2.7 nmol / l.
Low testosterone in women
Do you think that only excess testosterone is bad for your health? After all, from this the lady becomes masculine. Not so, the low level of the main male hormone does not bode well either. First of all, a decrease in testosterone in the body of women speaks of aging, as it is often diagnosed during the onset of menopause. Testosterone has a rejuvenating effect on the body, thanks to it the skin is dense and elastic, the woman becomes stress-resistant and full of strength. However, when going for tests to determine the level of testosterone, you should remember that the hormone constantly fluctuates depending on the cycle. Its level is also influenced by other factors, such as stress experienced, fatigue, sexual arousal, etc.
The insidiousness of testosterone is that it falls gradually and to a critically low level can move for months, or even years, which complicates the process of identifying pathology. However, it is still possible to single out the symptoms for which it is possible to really identify a low testosterone level.
- First of all, pay attention to your tummy, neck and arms. If you start to get fat where it was not, this is one of the signs of decreasing testosterone.
- Changes are also noted on the skin. The less testosterone in the body, the more often you need to use moisturizers in order to prevent the skin from drying out and give elasticity. The skin is noticeably thinner.
- The hair also begins to look bad - it becomes brittle, dry, thin, and begins to fall out profusely. Testosterone is responsible for the thickness of the hair and their attractive appearance, so if there are problems with its amount in the body, this affects the curls.
- Low levels of testosterone hormones inevitably lead to decreased libido. You rarely want sex, or you don't want to at all. If intimate life happens, then there is no pleasure from it, on the contrary, sex itself can become a cause of irritation and fatigue.
- Rapid fatigue, chronic fatigue, even after a long rest there is no surge of energy, there is no more feeling of a "strong woman" - this also indicates a decrease in testosterone.
- Frequent stress, nervous excitability, a state of depression and constant irritation, favorite activities are no longer pleasing, favorite work is already hated and everything in the same spirit symbolizes problems with the hormonal background in the same way.
These are not all signs. So, for example, fragility and fragility of bones, including weak nails, the presence of osteoporosis are also symptoms of problems with testosterone. If you have noted two or three items or more, it is better not to delay the visit to the gynecologist and endocrinologist. Remember, treating an illness in the beginning is much easier than treating an advanced one.
By the way, a small amount of testosterone in the body does not always mean that it began to be formed in smaller quantities. It is likely that it is synthesized into the female hormone estrogen. Zinc helps to slow down this process. Therefore, first of all, try to saturate your daily diet with foods that are rich in this element. And these are seeds, onions, nuts, poultry and seafood. Various vegetable oils, namely corn and olive, perform well the function of increasing testosterone. It is not necessary to drink them clean, just fill your dishes with plenty of them. As a last resort, you can use regular sunflower oil. Fatty fish and poultry meat are useful.
Increased testosterone in women
If testosterone makes a man sexy and attractive, then an excess of this hormone not only does not decorate a woman, but also fixes health problems. This also becomes the cause of female infertility. It is very difficult to treat excess, but it is still possible, the main thing is to diagnose the disease in time and start therapy. It is simply impossible not to pay attention to the excess of testosterone, since under its hyperinfluence, hair grows in places where women should not have this - face and hands - but on the head, on the contrary, curls can become very thin and fall out profusely. The figure begins to resemble a man's: the hips become narrower, the shoulders wider, the muscles are angular and strong, the voice begins to coarse.
In addition to external signs, internal changes are also noted, the excess of testosterone is especially strongly reflected on menstruation and ovulation, so if you notice a violation of the cycle, be sure to contact your gynecologist and endocrinologist to get tested for the level of hormones. During pregnancy, an increase in testosterone is a natural process, since it contributes to the normal bearing of a baby, but still its level must be strictly controlled, since it can also cause a frozen pregnancy or miscarriage. An excess amount of testosterone in women provokes the development of diabetes mellitus.
For what reason can the level of testosterone be overestimated in a woman's body? There are many reasons for this, including:
- Hereditary factor. Yes, it often happens that the body from birth is predisposed to such a pathology. However, this point has not yet been fully studied, but a pattern has been revealed that the disease is mainly transmitted through a generation, i.e. to the granddaughter from the grandmother.
- Taking certain medications can cause an increase in testosterone levels and, in general, a general hormonal disruption. Therefore, be careful when taking medication and never self-medicate with medication.
- Low-calorie diets, fasting and poor-quality nutrition can also lead to high testosterone levels.
- Tanning abuse.
- Diseases of internal organs such as the adrenal glands, thyroid gland, ovaries, pituitary gland, etc., i.e. organs that are responsible for the production of hormones can provoke hormonal disruption.
Unfortunately, testosterone is a very stable hormone, so it is very difficult to lower it, since even taking special medications does not always give positive results. For self-correction of testosterone levels without harm to the body, you can adjust your own diet. Interestingly, there are no real restrictions on such a diet to lower testosterone levels, there are just tips.
For example, you need to eat meat and fried vegetables every day, especially potatoes and sweets are just needed in the daily diet. You need to eat regularly and not allow the feeling of hunger, since the feeling of hunger automatically pushes the level of testosterone up.
Sugar inhibits the growth of the hormone in the female body, as it stimulates the production of insulin, which in turn is the antipode for testosterone. In addition, in addition to suppressing testosterone synthesis, it converts it into female estrogen, which makes a woman beautiful, sexy and attractive. However, in no case should we forget about the measure, since this does not mean at all that the basic diet should consist of chocolates and rolls. It is ideal to get sugar from fruits and vegetables. In any case, you cannot completely give up sweets if you do not want an excess of testosterone. Favorably in this regard, dates act on the female body, and the daily rate of nutrients is only ten things.
Simple oats perfectly improve the hormonal background; it has been used to treat women for a very long time and successfully. In order to lower testosterone and bring the body back to normal, you need to eat oatmeal boiled in milk, seasoned with butter and plentifully watered with honey every day. In this case, it is very good if the porridge is eaten with white bread.
Along with oats, mint can achieve good results, as it also inhibits testosterone synthesis. In order to prevent the growth of the male hormone, it is enough to drink just a couple of cups of mint a day.