The norm of testosterone in the male body. Testosterone levels in men depending on age

Many people believe that testosterone is a male hormone. On the one hand, it is true that testosterone is considered a male hormone. But it is also produced in the female body. In the article we will analyze what functions it performs in female bodies, its norm and what consequences deviations have.

Testosterone plays a big role in women and its main function is related to the sexual sphere. The hormone is responsible for attraction to the opposite sex. But there are a number of other responsibilities of the hormone, without which the female body does not function normally:

Testosterone regulates protein growth and controls synthesis processes.
Provides normal development muscle mass.
Controls the work sebaceous glands.
Simplifies the process of calcium absorption.
Allows ovarian follicles to mature in a timely manner.
Ensures the development of mammary glands.

As you can see, the hormone testosterone in women is responsible for many processes occurring in the female body. Paradoxically, the level of the hormone is also responsible for a woman’s mood.

Testosterone in women is in two states - free and bound (general). Free testosterone is not bound to protein. While the binder is directly transferred by the protein.

When the hormone fluctuates and deviates downward or upward, it immediately affects the woman’s health. A coherent system in the body will not be able to function as it should if testosterone is deviated from the norm. The high level must be reduced, and the low level must be increased.

In order to check its concentration, they send you for tests. Hormone deficiency, as well as increased concentration, forces a woman to see a doctor and get tested. The doctor prescribes the test based on the menstrual cycle.

Testosterone levels in women

Depending on age, time of day, menstrual cycle, the level of the hormone in a woman’s body depends. To determine the concentration general hormone, take into account the amount of testosterone in free and bound state. As doctors note, the peak concentration occurs in the morning, and in the evening its level decreases.

A decrease in testosterone can be associated with the onset of menopause in a woman, but an increase occurs with excessive physical exertion and this is considered normal. Let's look at the normal level of the hormone in women of different ages; for this we use the table:

The total testosterone index is 0.26 – 1.3 Nmol/g. This value should always be normal, the day is not counted monthly cycle, when the concentration can be increased and menopause in women, when the hormone is decreased. A decrease or increase in the hormone is normal for these moments. On all other days, the hormone should be normal; any fluctuation immediately negatively affects the woman’s health.

Decreased testosterone concentration: How it affects health

Women periodically need to undergo hormone tests, since their role is great in normal operation female body. A deficiency of the hormone testosterone may have the following symptoms:

Climax.
Significant weight loss.
Breast oncology.
Cardiovascular diseases.
Osteoporosis.
Uterine fibroids.

In addition, a lack of testosterone affects muscle mass. The female body cannot burn fat, and therefore the possibility of developing renal pathology. As a rule, women, when their hormone levels are low, are always in poor condition, they are accompanied by depression, they get tired quickly, do not experience sexual desire, their skin and hair leave much to be desired.

In this case, it is necessary to increase the concentration of the hormone. After the doctor identifies the cause of the pathology, they may prescribe medications to increase hormone levels. In order to increase concentration, it is also worth using foods - natural juices, butter, bread, meat, vegetables. If you use all the means in combination, you can restore the concentration of the hormone in the blood.

Taking an analysis to determine the level of the hormone after all measures will be a mandatory procedure, since an increase in testosterone can also cause pathology, in which case you will have to use drugs to reduce the amount of the hormone.

Increasing testosterone: What are the dangers?

Signs of increased hormone concentration are accompanied by the following symptoms:

Increased hair on the face and chest.
Predominance of masculine qualities.
Rough voice.
Violation of the menstrual cycle.
Dry skin.
Infertility.
Changing your figure.

Women in this position have increased testosterone, this is the norm and there is no need to reduce its production. Since the female body at this important stage in life may have increased concentration various hormones.

If elevated hormone is not associated with pregnancy, then it is necessary to reduce its content. Various medications and products are also used for this.

In order to reduce testosterone, you need to include the following foods in your diet:

Almond.
Eggs.
Oysters.

In addition, it is worth reducing the concentration with the help of medications prescribed by the doctor after the necessary examination has been carried out. Deficiency or high levels of the hormone negatively affect the female body. Therefore, it is worth taking a hormone test so that, if necessary, you can reduce or increase the hormone.

If a woman is planning a pregnancy, she will definitely have to undergo tests to check hormonal background. This is necessary, as well as for expectant mother, and for the planned child.

How to take testosterone tests correctly

Testosterone is a male sex hormone classified as an androgen. Present in the blood of men and women. Begins to be produced during the period of embryonic development in the male fetus by the testes and adrenal cortex, causing correct formation genital organs male type.

A small amount of the hormone is produced during childhood, and during puberty it occurs sharp increase testosterone secretion. In girls, normal production of the hormone by the cells of the ovaries and adrenal cortex begins only during puberty.

Testosterone in men

The biological effects of testosterone in men consist in the body acquiring masculinity - a set of physiological, psychological and behavioral characteristics that distinguish a man from a woman. These include signs that appear in puberty and persisting throughout subsequent life:

proper development of male genital organs
formation of sperm in the testes - spermatogenesis
hair growth on the face, chest, abdomen, pubis, hair growth on the arms and legs
growth of bones in length and width, increase in bone density
muscle mass gain
changes in the larynx and deepening of voice
activation of sebaceous and sweat glands

In addition, testosterone is male body takes part in the regulation of the metabolism of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, salt and water, in enhancing anabolism (increased formation) of protein in the body, in the formation of sexual desire and potency, and also determines psychological characteristics sexual behavior.

In women

Women produce testosterone in much smaller quantities than men. The effect of the hormone in women:

regulation in combination with female sex hormones of egg maturation and corpus luteum, maintaining pregnancy
sex appeal
sexual desire
formation of mammary glands
regulation of fat and protein metabolism - in women, unlike men, testosterone, on the contrary, leads to increased breakdown of protein in the body
participation in growth skeletal muscles and bones during puberty

Normal testosterone levels in the blood

Normally, the physiological level of the hormone falls. These drops become critical between the ages of 30 and 50 and after 90. The population average does not exceed 25 nmol per liter. When it comes to risk of death, high testosterone is just as bad as low testosterone. For the elderly, the approximate norm would be 15 nmol per liter.

Deviations from the norm - low testosterone in men

According to statistics, approximately 13% of men under 50 years of age have a hidden or obvious deficiency of testosterone in the body. The reasons for decreased testosterone can be divided into:

Risk factors that contribute to a decrease in the hormone in the blood

aging – natural cause decrease in testosterone levels in the body; after 40 years, the hormone content decreases by 1.5% per year
somatic diseases – ischemic disease heart, atherosclerosis, prostatitis. It has been proven that with obesity in men, testosterone production decreases by 2.4 times, with diabetes mellitus - by 2.1 times, with arterial hypertension— 1.8 times
chronic alcoholism, drug use and smoking
permanent stressful situations, insufficient physical activity, unhealthy diet, including fasting and.

Diseases manifested by symptoms of hypogonadism

congenital defect of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase - inability to convert testosterone into biological active form dihydrotestosterone, as a result of which testosterone in the body is normal, but it cannot act on cells, since it is unable to contact receptors on cells. A boy with such a defect is born with hermaphroditism or severe underdevelopment of the penis (micropenis)
genetic diseases with primary hypogonadism (underdevelopment of the testicles) - Shereshevsky-Turner syndrome, Klinefelter, etc.
testicular injuries and tumors
early castration
Panhypopituitarism (pituitary hormone deficiency) resulting from a brain tumor, pituitary adenoma
pituitary adenoma with increased secretion
constant use of glucocorticoid hormones (prednisolone, dexamethasone) and cytostatics (cyclophosphamide) for rheumatological and hematological diseases

Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Men

If a violation of testosterone synthesis is due to genetic reasons, the male fetus experiences underdevelopment of the external genitalia or their formation according to female type. False or true hermaphroditism develops - signs of male and female genitalia at the same time.

In the case of a decrease in testosterone during puberty, young men experience a lack of development of the scrotum and penis, slower growth, formation of a female-type figure (wide hips, narrow shoulders, engorgement of the mammary glands), lack of increase in muscle mass, “breaking” of the voice and secondary sexual characteristics – hair growth of the chest, pubis and armpits. In the development of an adolescent, instead of the natural acquisition of signs of masculinity, infantile traits predominate.

In adulthood, the following symptoms help suggest a decrease in testosterone levels:

depression, mood instability, general depression and lack of desire for life, sleep disturbances
acquisition feminine traits character – tearfulness, touchiness, irritability
decreased physical endurance, general detraining of the body
erectile dysfunction, decreased libido
impaired sperm formation and infertility, decreased seminal fluid volume during ejaculation, eunuchoidity
muscle tissue atrophy
desaturation bone tissue calcium, leading to osteoporosis and frequent fractures
hair loss on arms, legs and chest
reduction of ox growth on the face
obesity of the “pear” type, or female type – deposition of adipose tissue on the hips and buttocks, in the waist area
gynecomastia – enlargement of the mammary glands
sweating, hot flashes, similar female symptoms during menopause

Metabolic consequences of testosterone deficiency:

Two and a half times more common abdominal obesity.
The incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing; its incidence when testosterone levels drop in men over the age of 40 is 50% higher than the population average.
Arterial hypertension.
Increased cholesterol levels and lipid metabolism disorders.

It has not yet been precisely established whether male abdominal obesity or testosterone deficiency is primary. In fact, there is not always a direct relationship between the laboratory-registered level of free hormone in the blood and the clinic. Meanwhile, it is noted that the lower the testosterone profile, the more visceral fat.

Abdominal fat almost always takes on the role of hormonal activity, producing leptin, which is a biological opponent of testosterone, blocking its production. In addition to leptin, estradiol, which belongs to female hormones, counteracting the effects of testosterone.

The most dangerous manifestation activity of fat cells is the production of inflammatory markers and cytokines involved in damage to the inner layer of blood vessels, provoking thrombus formation in them.

Increased testosterone in men

Elevated hormone levels do not always indicate pathology. Some men experience excess testosterone in the blood without any diseases during early puberty.

Causes of pathological increase in testosterone in men:

adrenogenital syndrome (congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex - CDA)
Itsenko-Cushing disease and syndrome caused by pituitary adenoma (gonadotropinoma, corticotropinoma) and tumor of the adrenal cortex (corticosteroma)
prostate cancer
testicular tumors
excessive use of anabolic steroids for the purpose of building muscle mass

Symptoms

In boys and young men, disorders that cause high level hormone, are manifested by early “brittle” voice, premature puberty, penis enlargement with lack of scrotal growth, accelerated bone growth, irregularly rapid growth. Bone growth plates quickly close early, leaving teenagers with short stature. With adrenogenital syndrome, boys from two to three years of age have external signs adult men – hair growth on the face, chest and pubic area, involuntary erection, increased muscle development.

High levels of testosterone in adult men are accompanied by changes in the psychoemotional sphere - increased aggressiveness, frequent changes mood, impulsiveness. Characterized by high physical endurance and strength, increased sexual desire, long-lasting erection, looseness in relationships with the opposite sex, frequent sexual contacts with different partners. Men with high testosterone have a corresponding appearance - developed muscles without a hint of excess fat, excessive hair growth on the limbs, chest and abdomen, at the same time with hair loss on the head and the formation of a bald spot.

Low testosterone in women

Despite the fact that testosterone is a typically “male” hormone, its role is also important in the female body for proper operation musculoskeletal, endocrine and nervous systems. Lack of the hormone causes discomfort and affects appearance women.

Reasons

In most cases, insufficient formation of the hormone in the body is due to for harmless reasons, the elimination of which leads to normalization of the analysis and regression clinical manifestations. These include:

menopause
diet with limited animal fats and carbohydrates, lack of vitamins in food
alcoholism and smoking
obesity, sedentary lifestyle life, lack of physical training
long absence of sexual activity
long-term use

But sometimes androgen deficiency is caused by diseases that require medication:

diseases of the uterus (endometriosis)
surgery to remove the ovaries (surgical menopause)
pituitary adenoma, adrenal insufficiency

Symptoms

These diseases and the condition of a woman’s body, in which a decrease in testosterone levels is observed, is characterized by:

lethargy, apathy, decreased or complete absence sexual desire, unpleasant sensations during sexual intercourse, lack of orgasms, insomnia, absent-mindedness, low mood.
the skin becomes dry, thin and flabby, and the amount of hair throughout the body decreases.
characteristic muscle weakness, fatigue and decreased endurance.
in women with osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity with fat deposits on the shoulders, hips and buttocks - the level of this hormone is most often reduced

Increased testosterone in women

Women are much more likely to experience increased than reduced level testosterone in the blood.

Reasons

pregnancy. In pregnant women, testosterone production increases due to the functioning of the placenta, and its role in the pregnant woman’s body is reduced to regulating metabolic processes. It is considered acceptable to increase the concentration of the hormone in the blood of a pregnant woman up to three to four times, especially if the woman is carrying a boy. But too strong an increase can lead to the threat of miscarriage in the so-called critical periods - 4 - 8 and 14 - 20 weeks of pregnancy.
ovulation
hereditary predisposition

In addition to the above natural conditions of the body, an increase in the concentration of androgens is observed with:

hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex is the most common cause
virilizing ovarian tumor, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
breast cancer
congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex (adrenogenital syndrome)
pituitary adenoma

Symptoms of high testosterone in women

With congenital hyperproduction of testosterone by the adrenal cortex in a female fetus, signs of virilization are observed - the formation of external genitalia according to the male type with the correct structure of the uterus and appendages. A girl is born with an enlarged clitoris, a high perineum and enlarged labia, which can be mistaken for the birth of a male child with a penis and underdeveloped testicles. If treatment congenital syndrome started on time, and then the girl develops normally.

In girls and young women, hyperproduction of testosterone manifests itself clinically at the age of 6–8 years and is characterized by a low voice, a rapid growth spurt, excessive growth hair along the midline of the chest and abdomen, on the limbs and pubis, forming a male-type figure - narrow hips and broad shoulders. By the age of ten, the child’s growth stops due to the rapid closure of growth plates in the bones, and short stature develops.

Constant overshoot normal concentration hormone in the adult female body leads to the acquisition of signs of male appearance.

Hirsutism is characteristic - hair growth on the arms and legs increases, coarse black hair appears on the mammary glands, the growth of a mustache and beard is possible on the face, while the hair on the head is rapidly falling out, and even patches of baldness may appear.
The psycho-emotional sphere suffers - the woman becomes more “tough”, rude, aggressive, and quick-tempered.
Libido increases sharply.
Purulent acne is noted on the skin of the face and décolleté, and muscle mass increases.
Menstrual irregularities – rare scanty menstruation, anovulatory cycles, uterine bleeding, absence of menstruation and inability to become pregnant.
In women with high testosterone levels, it is observed.
It is possible to develop obesity or, conversely, excessive weight loss and anorexia nervosa.

What examination is needed?

If deviations from the norm are suspected, the patient is prescribed a study venous blood on the hormone content in it. If there is indeed an increase or decrease in testosterone, the doctor will order further testing. This is necessary in order to accurately identify the cause this state, and determine whether the disturbance in testosterone levels in the body is natural (menopause, “male” menopause, fasting) or caused by some disease that requires active therapeutic tactics. If the latter is suspected, the following are indicated:

determination of blood concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), somatotropic hormone (GH), prolactin and female sex hormones (estrogens), hormones thyroid gland in order to assess the total in the body.
Ultrasound of the testicles and prostate gland
Ultrasound of the mammary glands, uterus and ovaries
Ultrasound internal organs and adrenal glands
MRI of the brain, pituitary gland, adrenal glands

For early diagnosis adrenogenital syndrome in the maternity hospital, all newborns are screened - examined for five congenital pathologies, one of which is this syndrome. To do this, blood is taken from the child's heel. In case questionable analysis The child’s parents will be invited to a medical and genetic consultation to further clarify the diagnosis. There are often false positive results with this screening.

Preparing for the study

Testosterone is determined in venous blood. The result will be ready within a day. The cost of analysis ranges from 200 to 1000 rubles in different laboratories.

Hormone levels are analyzed on an empty stomach. Two to three days before the study, it is necessary to discontinue any hormonal medications that affect the results, in consultation with the attending physician. For 12 hours you should avoid drinking alcohol and smoking, limit physical activity and playing sports. For women, the study is recommended to be carried out on days 6–7 of the menstrual cycle.

Do deviations from the norm require treatment?

If a patient has an abnormal testosterone test, the doctor must figure out what is the cause, the disease leading to hormonal imbalance.

Low testosterone. There is a misconception among patients that if an examination reveals a deviation in the content of androgens, then they should immediately take testosterone drugs. The time for such experiments has passed. In most cases, you first need to reconsider your lifestyle, eliminate provoking factors, and if there is no effect, be examined further.

At the beginning of treatment, it is necessary to reduce the influence of factors that reduce the production of the sex hormone, and only then focus on increasing it. The problem of increasing testosterone should only be approached comprehensively, then the effectiveness of therapy and prevention of androgen deficiency will become much higher.

In men in the absence of gross pathology endocrine system Testosterone imbalance can be corrected by following these recommendations:

eating foods rich in zinc - liver, oysters, seafood, nuts, poultry
consumption of fats contained in oily fish(salmon, mackerel), avocado, olives
eating mineral-rich foods - legumes, cabbage, turnips, radishes, zucchini, eggplant, celery
taking vitamins C, A, B and E in courses
exclusion of alcohol, especially beer, fizzy and carbonated drinks
limit stressful situations
regular sex life
physical activity and training
fight against excess weight
strength training with weights two to three times a week

To increase testosterone and build muscle, you should not take anabolic steroid, since their constant use inhibits the body’s own production of hormones, which is fraught with the opposite effect and testicular atrophy.

If there is no effect, according to strict indications and medical supervision, it is possible to take the following drugs testosterone:

preparations for oral daily use – andriol. The disadvantage of this form is that the drug must be taken every day, since the hormone is quickly eliminated from the body.
injection drugs for intramuscular and subcutaneous administration once every two to three weeks - testred cypionate, nebido (once every three months)
transdermal (percutaneous) forms - androderm patch (pasted on the skin of the scrotum or the skin of the thigh, back, chest daily and worn for at least 20 hours), androgel (applied to the skin of the abdomen or shoulders once a day). The downside of the drugs is skin irritation at the site of application.

Cancer, high degree of hyperplasia and unspecified nodules in prostate gland and breast cancer are contraindications for the use of these drugs.

Safety criteria for testosterone therapy

Between 2007 and 2013, urology and endocrinology practices experienced a boom in the prescribing of testosterone drugs. But since publications appeared about an increased risk of developing myocardial infarction in patients undergoing such therapy, sales of drugs containing the hormone have fallen by a quarter. In the UK, from that time on, urologists began to adhere to the tactics of primary prescribing drugs only for hospital patients, which they only continued, but did not intensify at the outpatient stage.

In 2015, a group of international experts from 11 countries developed nine resolutions regarding the hormone, which were published in the medical press in 2016. Here are some of them:

There is no age limit for testosterone use.
The insufficient evidence base data on high cardiovascular risks published in 2013.
Using the hormone does not increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Recommendations on maintaining work and rest schedules and maintaining good sleep at least 8 hours a day, proper nutrition with balanced consumption of meat and avoidance of bad habits. Regular sex life, to the best of the body’s ability to engage in physical activity. If these measures have no effect, the doctor prescribes testosterone replacement therapy (Estratest - combination drug, containing estrogens and testosterone, prescribed in postmenopause).

Increased testosterone in young men during puberty it is normal and does not require treatment. At excessive consumption anabolic steroids should be completely discontinued.

If available congenital diseases or tumor process appropriate therapy is carried out - removal of an adrenal tumor, pituitary adenoma or testicular tumor, hormonal therapy (glucocorticoids - dexamethasone for adrenogenital syndrome). Analogs of gonadotropic releasing hormone are prescribed - zoladex, lucrine Depot, diferelin, buserelin, which are also prescribed for prostate cancer. There are dosage forms for subcutaneous and intramuscular injection every day or once a month, as well as nasal spray (buserelin). The course of treatment is at least three months.

In women with high concentration hormone, non-drug therapy methods are required - compliance rational nutrition(without fasting and diets) with restriction fatty varieties meat and carbohydrates, consumption large quantity vegetables and fruits. You should avoid weight training, limit significant physical activity and do yoga. In case of a pronounced excess of the hormone, the doctor prescribes hormonal therapy. Analogues of gonadotropic releasing hormone are indicated for breast cancer, in preparation for in vitro fertilization.

Consequences of hormone deficiency or excess

Testosterone deficiency

in men, indicates the presence of disorders in the body caused by natural or pathological reasons, which leads to the development of impotence, impaired sperm viability and infertility. In men with similar hormonal disorders, it is usually also observed diabetes mellitus, diseases of the heart and blood vessels (heart attacks and strokes).
In women, this condition causes a decrease in the quality of life due to constantly low mood, depression, suicidal attempts and problems of a sexual nature. Also, causative factors can cause osteoporosis and frequent fractures with their prolonged healing.

Excess hormone

in men may indicate prostate cancer, and cancer can be both a cause and a consequence increased level testosterone in the body. Due to the high concentration of the hormone in the blood, the pituitary gland begins to produce less regulatory hormones, which causes testicular atrophy with erectile dysfunction and infertility. Increased risk of heart disease vascular diseases, hypertension, bleeding disorders and increased thrombosis, liver diseases.
Women who have very high levels of testosterone should be examined more thoroughly, as it may indicate diseases of the ovaries, adrenal glands, breast cancer, and also increases the risk of developing obesity and diabetes.

Every woman with infertility must be examined for testosterone levels in the blood, because its excess in the body indicates disruption of the endocrine system, which prevents normal conception and gestation.

Often such patients, due to the impossibility independent pregnancy IVF is required. During pregnancy, in case of hormonal imbalance there is a high risk of spontaneous interruption.

Principles of treatment for low testosterone in men

At replacement therapy hormone levels must correspond to physiological limits, the upper threshold of which will be 25 and the lower threshold 12 nmol per liter. If we make an age sample, then in

30-49 years old the maximum will be 23 nmol per liter,
50-79 - 17 nmol per liter,
and over 80 - 15 nmol per liter.

The average therapeutic corridor is between 15 and 23 nmol per liter.

Injectable drugs work in such a way that the patient a third of the time has very high levels of the hormone, a third - low, and only a third - normal physiological levels. During periods of high testosterone levels, cardiovascular risks are high and reproductive health suffers.
Transdermal (cutaneous) forms, regardless of the dose, produce fluctuations in the physiological corridor during the day, so they have a higher level of safety and are preferable. Short-acting forms allow treatment to be discontinued in a timely manner if undesirable effects occur.

Testosterone preparations in the Russian Federation

Andriol - tablets that must be taken with fatty foods to increase bioavailability. 80-160 mg of the drug after 4 hours gives a testosterone concentration of 40 nmol per liter.
Omnadren (Sustanon) - injections that increase the hormone up to 70 nmol per liter, which puts it in the category of rather indelicate and potentially harmful drugs.
Nebido is a milder injectable form with better tolerability, giving a testosterone level of 17 after a week, and 45 nmol per liter after 2 weeks.
Androgel is a cutaneous option without supraphysiological peaks. 5 mg increases testosterone to a physiological level. After discontinuation of the drug, testosterone begins to decrease a day after the last use, returning to the original level on days 3-4.

Prospects for drugs as male contraceptives

Fighting for gender equality, society persistently demands new contraceptive options for men from pharmaceuticals. It is known that high doses testosterone can suppress male fertility. However, extremely high dosages give reverse effect. To date, clinically significant progress has not been achieved in this area, however, research is underway on combinations of testosterone with progestins. Today it has been proven that transdermal forms of testosterone do not work, but promising direction is testosterone undecanoate injectable.

Testosterone resistance theory

With the same level of testosterone, the response of target organs to it may be different in different men. This is due to the genetic characteristics of the androgen receptor gene. It is thanks to it that two men with the same hormone production can have different metabolism, sexuality and cardiovascular risks. This gene is located on the X chromosome and comes to the boy from his mother. Roughly speaking, it consists of several repeating triplets of amino acids (cytosine, adenine, guasine).

The more times this triplet is repeated, the worse the receptor binds to testosterone. This receptor not only participates in the differentiation of the baby’s sex, but also determines its future: the development of prostate cancer or hyperplasia, fertility and susceptibility to diabetes and osteoporosis. An important point is the function of the endothelium of the vascular bed determined by the gene (the higher the sensitivity to testosterone, the better the endothelial function) and the tendency to pathologies of the heart and blood vessels determined by it: the risks of heart attack, thrombosis. They are trying to link anxiety, a tendency to depression, and even genius with the characteristics of the androgen receptor.

Testosterone is a hormone known as an androgen. It is often considered a "male" hormone. However, women also have testosterone in their bodies.

Excess testosterone, as well as its deficiency, can affect general condition woman's health. Testosterone in a woman’s body performs the following functions:

production of new blood cells
increased libido
influence on follicle-stimulating hormones, which in turn affect fertility

According to the Department of Health and social services in Victoria, Australia, testosterone production in women is often age dependent. By the age of 40, androgen levels in women decrease by half.

There is a lot of research being done on low testosterone levels in women and treatments for conditions associated with low levels; New treatments are being studied that may help women suffering from low testosterone.

What are the symptoms of low testosterone in women?

Some of the symptoms associated with low testosterone in women include:

decreased sexual desire
decreased sexual satisfaction
depression
lethargy
muscle weakness

Diagnostics

Often, the symptoms of low testosterone in women are underestimated or misdiagnosed. Some of the conditions that are misdiagnosed instead of low testosterone include: stress, depression, and side effects of menopausal changes in women.

Doctors may use a blood test to monitor a woman's testosterone levels. Numbers that determine how high or low level A woman's testosterone levels may vary depending on the laboratory performing the test. According to Boston University School of Medicine in 2002, if general level a woman's testosterone level is less than 25 ng/dL in women under 50 years of age, this low level. For women age 50 and older, a level of less than 20 ng/dL is considered low.

Doctors may have difficulty detecting low testosterone levels in women because their hormone levels fluctuate daily. If a woman is still having her menstrual period, she should ideally have her blood testosterone tested 8 to 20 days after her menstrual cycle begins.

Causes of low testosterone in women

In a woman's body, testosterone is produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands and peripheral tissues.

Because the ovaries are the main producer of testosterone, the decrease in hormones produced by the ovaries associated with menopause means that some women may experience low testosterone levels before and after menopause. Traditionally, decreased libido has been associated with postmenopausal drops in estrogen levels. However, researchers are finding more and more links between decreased testosterone production and decreased libido.

For many women, the ovaries continue to produce hormones such as testosterone. So doctors speculate that some women with low testosterone may have something in their genes that affects their ability to produce the compounds DHEA and DHEA-S, which are precursors to testosterone. Some women may also be deficient in the enzymes that convert DHEA and DHEA-S into testosterone.

Other possible reasons low testosterone in women include:

adrenal insufficiency
surgical removal of the ovaries, resulting in a decrease in hormone production
hypopituitarism
oral estrogen therapy, since estrogen can reduce testosterone production
early menopause

What are the treatments for low testosterone in women?

The issue of treating low testosterone in women has largely not been studied by medical experts. While doctors are aware of the effects of excess testosterone in women, the symptoms of low testosterone are not as well known. As a result, doctors do not always have the same treatment regimen for low testosterone.

Doctors may prescribe a drug called Estratest for postmenopausal women. This drug contains both estrogen and testosterone, but the hormones in it are synthetic and may not be as effective in treating low testosterone.

Doctors can also administer testosterone injections, and medical researchers are currently studying the effects of testosterone pellets and pellets implanted into the skin. Some women may also be prescribed testosterone gels, which are available from pharmacies. However, these gels are traditionally produced for men and contain much higher levels of testosterone.

Not medicinal option to raise testosterone levels is a DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) supplement, since DHEA is a precursor to testosterone. Consult your doctor before using DHEA to treat low testosterone.

Too much testosterone in your body can also cause side effects. Side effects excess testosterone in women include:

facial hair
accumulation of fluid in the body
men's physical characteristics including baldness and deep voice

RESULT

Pregnant women should not take androgens. Women who breastfeed should also not take testosterone medications, as they can be passed to the baby through the milk.

You should always consult your healthcare professional before using any testosterone-containing drug or supplement. You must also ensure that there are no negative interactions with others medicines that you accept.

Sources

Androgen deficiency in women(2017)
Guay A, et al. (2003)
Testosterone insufficiency in women: fact or fiction? (2016)
Testosterone. (2016)
What does testosterone do? (2017)

Testosterone is considered by many to be an exclusively male hormone. Its excess explains the pronounced masculinity of the stronger sex. Developed muscles, a deep voice, abundant hair growth and aggressiveness signal to others that the owner of such traits contains a large amount of testosterone in the blood. At the same time, this hormone cannot simply be present in the female body. Ladies need it. Considering the effect this substance has on men, the natural question is what is the normal level of testosterone in women, which allows them not to worry about the possible occurrence of masculine traits in appearance.

Where and why does testosterone appear in women?

In a woman’s body, the ovaries and adrenal cortex are responsible for the production of testosterone. This hormone is synthesized from cholesterol. Testosterone travels with the blood as a free substance or in combination with plasma proteins. Next, it is transformed in tissues into a more active biological form - dihydrotestosterone, and in the liver - into ketosteroids.

The purpose of testosterone in the female body is to regulate the functioning of the sebaceous glands, to ensure the development of bone and muscle mass, and the functioning of the bone marrow and brain. The stability of your emotional state may also depend on testosterone levels. Job reproductive organs Women and mammary gland growth also cannot do without this “male” hormone.

Female testosterone norm

There is no single indicator that could be called the universal norm of testosterone in a woman’s blood. There are a number of factors that determine what level of the hormone ensures the high-quality functioning of all systems of a particular organism in a certain phase of its life. Units of measurement vary. The general rate is determined in nanomoles (nmol) per liter of plasma or nanograms (ng) per milliliter. They relate in this way. Ng is about a third of nmol. The nanomole is more often used as a unit of measurement than the ng. Free testosterone is measured in picomoles per milliliter. Normal indicators It is advisable to divide testosterone into categories.

The form in which testosterone circulates

The general indicator for a woman over 10 years of age is 0.45–3.75 nmol/l. For comparison, in the blood from 5.76 to 28.14 nmol/l

Free testosterone normally ranges from 0.29 to 3.18 pg/ml.

By cycle phase

The lowest level of free testosterone occurs after the end of menstruation. From 0.29 to 1.73 pg/ml. During bleeding (follicular phase of the cycle), the values increase and range from 0.45 to 3.17 pg/ml. In the luteal phase, that is, between ovulation and menstruation, a decrease to 0.46–2.48 units is observed.

By age

In a woman's body throughout reproductive period Free testosterone levels should be 0.5–4.1 pg/ml.

After the onset of menopause, the indicators drop several times and amount to only 0.1–1.7 units. Testosterone levels are approximately the same in girls under 10 years of age.

IN at different ages indicators that are considered normal are different.

According to the physiological processes occurring in the body

During pregnancy, especially from the middle, testosterone levels, both total and free hormone, increase with rare exceptions. Sometimes there is an increase several times.

Signs of testosterone imbalance

The fact that the amount of testosterone in the blood has gone beyond normal limits can be signaled by such disturbances in the functioning of the body.

Signs increased testosterone in women.

Natural skin hydration deteriorates.
Unstable emotional state. Attacks of aggression appear.
Hair falls out and becomes much oilier.
The menstrual cycle is disrupted.
The figure takes on masculine features.
Increases libido and physical strength.
The voice becomes rougher.
Hair begins to grow rapidly in places where women do not typically have hair.

Signs of abnormality low content testosterone in the blood.

The appearance of constant unmotivated fatigue.
Sweating increases. The skin is shiny.
Sexual desire practically disappears.
Depressive state.

If the above symptoms appear, especially several at the same time, it is necessary to do a testosterone test.

Almost all testosterone in a woman’s body is bound to proteins, only its small part is found freely in the blood. That's why do 2 types of tests to determine androgen levels:

on total testosterone, which takes into account and free hormones, and associated with protein;
for free.

Level female testosterone depends on age, time of day, day of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, physical activity, taking certain medicines, lifestyle and some other factors. In the morning its amount increases, in the evening it decreases.

The hormone content decreases in old age and increases after physical exercise.

What value is considered normal?

How much testosterone should a woman normally have?

Testosterone levels may vary from laboratory to laboratory. On average, the rate of free testosterone in fertile women ranges from 0.45 nmol/l to 3.75 nmol/l.

Deviations from these values (3-4 times) are observed during ovulation and pregnancy, in all other cases they may indicate the presence of pathologies of the endocrine system.

The level of total testosterone ranges from 0.24 nmol/l to 2.7 nmol/l in women of fertile age, and during menopause it decreases.

Reasons for deviations

An increase in free testosterone levels can be observed in the presence of:

pregnancy and ovulation;
hereditary factors;
ovarian tumors;
due to poor nutrition;
due to taking anabolic steroids;
as a result of long hormone therapy or taking contraceptives;
chronic diseases;
abnormalities in the functioning of the adrenal glands.

With the onset of pregnancy, a placenta forms in a woman’s body. Its cells produce additional testosterone, as a result of which during this period the amount of total testosterone increases, which is the physiological norm. The most dangerous periods in this regard are the periods from 4 to 8 weeks of pregnancy and from 13 to 23. During these periods, testosterone increases as much as possible, which can provoke a miscarriage.

Made a very interesting discovery Filipino doctors. It turned out that not only in women, but also in men who become fathers, testosterone levels also decrease. The results of blood tests of 624 men studied showed that androgen levels in new fathers decreased over a period of 5 years. Men who care for children at least 3 hours a day have even less testosterone. So, according to research, caring for young children helps suppress the production of this hormone.

Modern psychologists are sounding the alarm that an increase in the level of male hormone in women it is provoked by morality modern society. Women are increasingly working in leadership positions, are involved in politics and business, and are moving to more late dates birth of children. The result is physiological changes in the female body.

Level determination tests

To determine androgen levels, it is necessary to donate blood from a vein.(in some cases, saliva is tested). In a woman’s body, only 2% is free testosterone, 44% is associated with globulin (SHBG), 54% is associated with albumin and other proteins.

Laboratory studies take into account all testosterone conditions, because the ratio of hormone fractions at various pathologies and conditions changes and is informative during illness.

If there is a suspicion of a deviation from the norm, the doctor prescribes a test for total testosterone, and if a deviation is detected, a test for SHBG.

When analyzing the amount of free testosterone, its increased or decreased level while the overall level is normal also indicates an imbalance.

Each hormonal laboratory uses various techniques. That's why Androgen level is determined in different units of measurement: ng/ml, ng/dl, nmol/l.

Sometimes situations arise when you have to compare data different analyzes in one patient, done in different places, and differing in units of measurement. For these purposes, special calculators have been developed for recalculating units of measurement.

Table of androgen indicators depending on age

The level of free testosterone varies depending on age. To make it easier to navigate the normal values, a special table has been compiled. What should the free androgen index be for the fair sex?

Normal androgen levels in girls:

10-14 years more than 0.98 nmol/g;
14-17 years within 0.36-1.54 nmol/g;
17-20 years within 0.49-1.70 nmol/g;
over 20 years old 0.52-1.72 nmol/g.

Total testosterone does not depend on age and normally ranges from 0.26 to 1.3 ng/ml.

However, hormone levels change during fertile age and throughout the month. For women childbearing age its level is normal:

acceptable values – 0.45–3.75 nmol/l;
average values – 0.29-3.18 pg/ml;
follicle formation phase (on days 1-7 of the cycle) – 0.45-3.17 pg/ml;
ovulation phase – 0.46-2.48 pg/ml;
at the end of the cycle – 0.29-1.73 pg/ml.

What are the dangers of a lack or excess of a hormone in the blood?

Free testosterone in amounts below normal is considered a pathology, since it leads to various diseases. It may indicate the following problems:

May develop renal failure. Women with androgen deficiency are often depressed, get tired easily, and suffer from excessive sweating, do not feel sexual attraction, their hair, skin, and nails suffer.

Excess androgen causes menstrual cycle disruptions, infertility, acne on the skin, craving for increased physical activity, and excessive sexual activity in women.

With low testosterone, a woman's body cannot build muscle and burn fat.

Conclusion

To summarize, we can conclude that testosterone for women is very significant hormone. It is capable of greatly influencing the activities of all systems and individual organs. Ladies should never forget to monitor their hormone levels in order to avoid hormonal imbalances and more severe subsequent health problems.