Testosterone Helps Female Weight Loss

Testosterone Helps Female Weight Loss

Testosterone is steroidal hormone produced by both men and women, although women produce about one-tenth the amount that men do. Testosterone is the hormone responsible for increased muscle mass, bone density, and body hair. Low testosterone levels in either men or women, can have negative effects on health such as depression, low sex drive, and obesity.

Weight Gain As a Result of Low Testosterone Levels

Women produce testosterone in their ovaries and adrenal glands with levels peaking in their twenties and declining afterward.

When testosterone levels decrease, both men and women are subject to weight gain and the health risks that accompany that gain. Women gain weight easier than men because of high estrogen levels. As women grow older, the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone begin to fluctuate, and estrogen becomes dominant. Weight gain can result when this happens.

Additional causes for low testosterone levels can be taking birth control pills or antidepressants, drinking soy milk, a vegetarian diet, and psychological factors.

Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women

Symptoms of lowered testosterone are frequently attributed to aging, but if the symptoms are persistent, an appointment with a doctor could be in order. These symptoms include fatigue and exhaustion and disrupted sleep, weight gain accompanied by difficulty losing weight, reduced sex drive and painful intercourse as a result of vaginal dryness.

Additional symptoms are mood swings, depression or general low mood, difficulty concentrating, and hair loss.

The percentage of women experiencing sexual dysfunction between the ages of 18 and 59 is about 50 percent, with much of this dysfunction the result of low testosterone. One of the surest signs of low testosterone levels in females is HSDD (hypoactive sexual desire disorder). HSDD is defined as little or no sexual thoughts or fantasies and little or no desire for sexual activity to the point that a person experiences distress.

Treatments for Low Testosterone

There are a few options for treating low testerone levels: the pharmaceutical approach, the supplement approach, and the lifestyle approach.

Doctors, primarily gynecologists, can write precriptions for women to get testosterone creams. Injections are another option although they require the patient to visit the doctors office once every two to six weeks.

While there are supplements available to men in the United States, women are not as fortunate. However, women do have the option of using DHEA, a substance secreted by the adrenals that is a precursor to estrogen and testosterone. The supplement can be purchased over the counter and is known to raise testosterone levels rapidly.

Lifestyle changes can have an effect, as well. If birth control pills are problematic, a change to a different type of birth control might be called for. Consultation with your doctor to find out if any of your prescriptions are having an effect might be useful.

Finally, exercise is known to raise testosterone levels, most specifically weight training.