Increased testosterone in women, the symptoms are obvious: low voice, domineering, rude character. What are the causes and consequences of this condition, and how can testosterone be brought back to normal.
... At the very beginning of the last century, Frida Kahlo was born in the suburbs of Mexico City. She was destined to become a legend. A talented artist, patriot, activist of the Communist Party, she inspires admirers even now.
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Let's take a closer look at Frida. What we see right away is that the symptoms of increased testosterone in women are obvious: a low voice, an imperious, rude character and Frida Kahlo’s “calling card” - a mustache and fused eyebrows. However, this did not stop the artist from breaking hearts, charming men and winning the love of art connoisseurs for several generations with her talent.
Hello, my darlings! Svetlana Morozova is with you. Agree, a woman can immediately see when the “male” hormone testosterone is higher than normal. This affects not only appearance, but also women’s health in general. Therefore, today we will look at how to recognize an excess of this hormone.
Why does the female body need male hormone?
- Without this hormone, ovulation does not occur; it stimulates the maturation of the follicle.
- It also has an effect on the condition of the skin, affecting the production of sebum, and strengthens bone tissue.
- Women even have to think about how to increase the level of testosterone in the blood, since without it, muscle volume decreases, the body becomes loose, and excess fat appears in it.
- With the development of osteoporosis, hormonal treatment is carried out, during which they increase not only the level of estrogen, which prevents bone fractures, but also testosterone, which is responsible for skeletal strength.
- During menopause, women not only increase their risk of developing osteoporosis, but their mood also becomes unstable. This indicates a deficiency of the male hormone; it improves mood, like serotonin.
- Increased testosterone in women makes them more attractive in the eyes of the opposite sex. It affects a certain area of the brain, increases sexual desire, prevents women from relaxing and stimulates vigorous activity.
Symptoms of insufficient production of the male hormone are absent-mindedness, inability to concentrate, frequent depression, general weakness, negative changes in appearance - loose skin and excess adipose tissue.
Drug treatment for high testosterone
The most effective pharmaceutical drugs for reducing testosterone in the body are currently considered:
- Diana 35;
- cyproterone;
- digitalis;
- dexamethasone;
- Digostin;
- diethylstilbestrol.
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Consequences of excess testosterone in women
Why some women have excess testosterone in their blood - the reasons have not been fully studied. The consequences of increased testosterone in women are not positive for the body.
They also negatively affect appearance and general condition, as does its deficiency.
- The appearance becomes more “masculine”, there is no pronounced waist and hips, and the shoulders widen.
- The menstrual cycle is disrupted or stops altogether, and the oiliness of the skin increases. Hair loss may begin, and your mood is constantly changing.
Hormone functions
This substance is present in the female body in small quantities when compared with the amount of estrogen or progesterone. However, the element performs very important functions. This substance belongs to the androgen category.
In the female body, testosterone is synthesized in small amounts by the adrenal glands and ovaries. The substance performs various functions:
- Takes part in the development of bones, ensuring their growth and strengthening.
- Provides muscle formation. Thanks to the presence of the hormone, the figure acquires femininity - the hips and mammary glands enlarge.
- Ensures normal development of the nervous system and brain. Thanks to the presence of the substance, memory is formed, a special way of thinking develops, and character traits appear that are unique to women.
- Provides the formation of estradiol. This term refers to estrogen, which is of great importance during the reproductive period. It is this substance that is responsible for a woman’s ability to conceive a child and ensures her sexual desire.
In addition, due to the presence of testosterone in the female body, pituitary hormones are synthesized. They are responsible for the normal functioning of the ovaries and the formation of follicles.
Pathology and norm
The reasons for the increase or decrease in the amount of testosterone are not fully understood, but most often it is affected by:
- hereditary factor;
- diseases of the endocrine system;
- disorders of the adrenal glands;
- change in diet;
- taking certain medications - in particular, hormonal drugs;
- biological additives;
- stressful condition.
Normally, a woman’s blood should contain 0.45 – 0.75 nmol/l of this hormone. It is impossible to calculate the absolute norm - as it has already turned out, it largely depends on age.
A decrease or increase in the indicator leads to health complications:
- Infertility, dysfunction of the pituitary gland, tumors of the reproductive system;
- Polycystic ovary syndrome is not a complete list of diseases caused by impaired testosterone production.
It is impossible to correct the hormone level if the indicator significantly deviates from the norm on your own - you need competent treatment with hormonal drugs, which sometimes have to be taken for a long time, constantly monitoring what is happening in the body with the help of special blood tests.
Drugs that increase testosterone should only be prescribed by a doctor. A slight deviation can be normalized by changing the diet by introducing foods that increase testosterone, or almost completely eliminating them.
Nothing happens without a reason
Dear ladies! Most often, each of you harms yourself. Excess or deficiency of substances in the body due to genetic abnormalities occurs very rarely. In all other cases, we ourselves are responsible for our illnesses.
Increased levels of male hormones can occur for a number of reasons:
- Poor nutrition and lifestyle. This includes:
- vegetarian diets excluding animal products;
- excessive physical activity (all this carrying logs, hobbies in men's sports, attempts to grow “cubes” on the stomach and muscles like Schwarzenegger).
- Regular use of certain medications:
- passion for hormonal drugs for muscle building;
- suppression of the menstrual cycle by taking appropriate hormones (this is often done by athletes in order to participate in regular competitions);
- long-term use of steroids.
Any imbalance in the body is dangerous to health and leads to dangerous consequences, and this is especially true for hormonal changes. To understand what exactly happened to you, you need to turn to specialists. Self-medication should be completely excluded. No matter what wonderful remedies are offered on forums on the Internet, in such a matter it is better to rely on a doctor.
Several ways to increase male hormones on your own
The diet is adjusted as follows.
- The daily menu increases the amount of meat products - meat, fish, poultry; you need to cook vegetables for a side dish, and fruit for dessert.
- It is advisable to exclude baked goods and pasta.
- Coffee, alcohol and smoking block the production of testosterone - as well as the overall functionality of the hormonal system. Bad habits must be abandoned.
- You should not allow yourself to become overtired - you need to sleep at least 8 hours a day.
- You definitely need to breathe fresh air, lead an active lifestyle, and play sports.
- Doctors do not advise women to drink protein shakes unless they are involved in strength sports.
This dietary supplement greatly affects the level of the hormone, and its excess is extremely harmful for women. If you need a protein shake, it is better to make it yourself without including chemical additives in the recipe.
Protein shakes at home:
- Grind 80 g of fresh medium-fat cottage cheese until pureed, pour a glass of milk, mix with a spoonful of honey, banana puree and 2 tablespoons of oatmeal. Blend until smooth in a blender;
- Cottage cheese in an amount of 200 g is mixed with any juice with pulp - to your taste. Add ripe persimmons and half a glass of kefir to the curd and juice puree. Beat everything in a blender. If desired, persimmons can be replaced with banana;
- This cocktail not only increases testosterone, but also improves your mood. It is necessary to make a milkshake from milk - 500 ml, cream 15% fat - 100 ml, and a portion of ice cream. For taste, add half a teaspoon of cinnamon and vanilla to taste. Separately, beat 1 large or two ripe bananas with a tablespoon of fresh honey and also beat into the drink.
Homemade protein shakes are as effective as protein supplements.
During pregnancy
Immediately after conception, hormone parameters increase several times. This process is completely normal. The volume of the substance is due to the fact that the placenta is involved in the process of testosterone synthesis.
The excess of the hormone is due to the fact that the fetus begins to synthesize it. The amount of the substance increases especially strongly if a woman is expecting a boy.
By the third trimester, the amount of the hormone reaches its maximum. If its level increases 3-4 times, this is absolutely normal. Sometimes an increase in the parameter can be observed during ovulation.
Recipes for foods that increase testosterone
Salad
Ingredients:
- 100 g each – any cabbage, celery root, apples;
- apple cider vinegar - half a tablespoon;
- olive oil – table boat;
- white wine - a tablespoon;
- salt - to taste.
Preparation:
- The apple and celery root are grated, the cabbage is chopped finely and kneaded with your hands so that it gives juice.
- You can make an assortment of several types of cabbage, but it is better to give preference to Brussels sprouts.
- Then everything is seasoned with liquid ingredients and the salad is ready;
- A decoction of a mixture of rose hips and rowan berries increases testosterone.
- At night, 3 tablespoons of each plant material are poured into a liter thermos and filled with boiling water.
- You need to drink everything throughout the day, in small portions. Do not add sugar or honey.
Methods to increase hormones
A decrease in the level of the hormone in the body is not as dangerous as exceeding the norm. Therefore, medications in this situation are prescribed extremely rarely. A decrease in testosterone is often due to the active synthesis of estrogen. To slow down the transformation of androgen into estrogens, you should increase the level of zinc in the body. To do this, you need to use appropriate vitamin complexes.
Women with signs of hormone deficiency should eat seeds, seafood, and nuts. Also, the diet must contain oils - olive, sunflower, corn. It is very important to lead an active lifestyle and exercise.
Testosterone is an important hormone that must be present in the female body. If its content deviates from the norm, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will conduct a detailed examination and select the optimal therapy.
A drop in testosterone levels as one of the causes of osteoporosis
Today there is no doubt that the development of bone diseases is influenced by disruptions in the endocrine system. In particular, insufficient estrogen during menopause directly affects bone mineral density . Bone loss after 45-50 years in a woman reaches 3% per year. But a drop in testosterone levels is also dangerous, especially considering that women initially have very little of it.
For a long time, it was believed that bone health in women depended solely on the presence of estrogen, since it maintained the necessary skeletal density. However, several years ago, European scientists found that testosterone is also involved in the process of osteogenesis. A decrease in the amount of androgen in the blood is one of the leading causes of osteoporosis.
It also turns out that androgen stimulates osteoblasts to build new bone cells. Why is this happening? The fact is that testosterone has an anabolic effect. By the way, this is precisely the property that athletes use to increase muscle mass. Note that the male hormone strengthens muscles that help a person maintain mobility.
As mentioned above, testosterone is also necessary as a raw material for the production of estrogen in the female body. Therefore, both men and women should try to prevent testosterone levels from falling to critical levels.
Modern research
So, today many scientists have come to the conclusion that testosterone has no less effect on osteogenesis than estrogen. It is assumed that bone mass growth reaches its peak at age 30 precisely because the production of these two hormones reaches its maximum value at this time.
German researchers conducted a series of experiments on rodents to determine the causes of osteoporosis. To do this, they compared the effects of estrogen and testosterone on the bone tissue of animals. It turned out that both substances have a significant effect on the skeleton. In particular, the strength of cancellous bone increased.
Russian researchers from the Penza Institute for Advanced Medical Studies, who examined more than a thousand patients with osteoporosis, most of whom were women of menopausal age, came to similar conclusions. The patients took the drug "Osteomed", containing drone brood - a source of entomological hormones: estradiol, prolactin, progesterone and testosterone. As a result, after 1-3 months of taking the drug, the severity of the pain syndrome decreased three times.
In this regard, it is worth citing research data from Swedish doctors. A scientific group led by Myrta Picver (Skein Hospital at Lund University) found that androgen is vital for joints. For almost half a century, scientists have been observing local residents; in total, more than 30 thousand people were examined.
These scientists concluded that a lack of testosterone in youth threatens a number of musculoskeletal diseases in old age. Especially often, such people suffered from joints. According to Myrta Pikwer's group, androgen stimulates the production of chondrogenic cells, which are necessary for the formation of collagen and elastin. In addition, testosterone is necessary for the restoration of cartilage tissue.
Drugs to normalize hormone levels
Medicines are indicated for most cases of hormonal imbalance. The exception is tumor processes that require surgery. The main group of drugs is contraceptive pills with an antiandrogenic effect. These include: Diana 35, Yarina, Angeleta, Model anti.
Typically, at least 6 cycles of use are recommended, then the result is assessed. If ineffective, Androcur is prescribed. The general course of taking tablets continues (if necessary) for more than one year.
If the cause of excess testosterone is increased activity of the adrenal cortex, then Dexamethasone is used to suppress the formation of the hormone. It can be prescribed for adrenogenital syndrome during preparation for pregnancy, as well as in the first months of pregnancy to prevent miscarriage.
In case of mild insufficiency of thyroid function, vitamins with iodine are used, and if there is obvious hypothyroidism (little thyroxine is produced), then the use of Eutirox is indicated. When the cause of hormonal imbalance is an increased level of pituitary prolactin, Parlodel or Dostinex is indicated.
If the hormone level has increased due to obesity and insulin resistance, then the doctor may prescribe Metformin, calorie restriction, increased physical activity, and fasting days. It is important to normalize weight, since if it is in excess, it is difficult to restore the balance of male and female steroids.
Food
To increase the production of the hormone in the blood, you need to eat less white bread, rich pastries and a lot of spices. It is worth saturating your food with healthy foods that will help restore hormonal balance.
- nuts contain vitamins and minerals that are necessary for the synthesis of testosterone;
- Seafoods are rich in zinc and omega-3, omega-6 acids. It is zinc that is the basis for the hormone, therefore, coupled with the necessary microelements, testosterone production occurs at an accelerated pace;
- cereals (wheat) are also rich in zinc and other vitamins;
- legumes, whether fresh, frozen or canned, contain the right combination of protein and fiber to normalize metabolic processes;
- sweet fruits, which are a storehouse of vitamins and nutrients (bananas, pineapples, melons), should be included more often in the diet.
Methods for lowering testosterone
Elevated testosterone levels are much more dangerous, therefore, on the recommendation of a doctor, treatment of hormonal imbalance with medications should be started immediately:
- Additionally, it is necessary to eliminate bad habits (cigarettes, alcohol). Systematic exercise with increased loads is recommended, at least 3 times a week.
- Normalization of sexual life and psychological state by creating comfortable conditions at home and at work.
- You should change your diet and introduce foods that help achieve hormonal balance.