Testosterone, a hormone called androgen, is often referred to as a male hormone. It is not. Women also produce testosterone. The normal level of testosterone for women is 15 to 70 ng/dL. For women, testosterone aids in a lot of function such as producing new blood cells. The hormone also enhances libido and works on influencing follicle-stimulating hormones. These hormones affect your reproduction. This hormone requires a perfect balance. Too much or too little testosterone in women can affect their overall health.
For example, if you produce too much testosterone, you will notice signs of the overproduction such as facial hair, acne and fluid retention. Your voice may deepen and you may develop male pattern boldness.
1. Fatigue
Feeling tired or overworked often happens. This is not feeling fatigued. Fatigue is the unrelenting feeling of exhaustion. You are exhausted all the time. The unrelenting exhaustion won’t go away regardless of how much sleep or rest you get. The unrelenting tiredness begins to interfere with every aspect of your life because you cannot complete your daily tasks. It can also have a negative impact on your emotional and mental health. The unrelenting exhaustion can have one or more causes. These causes include lack of exercise, habits or routine. Sometimes a medical condition can cause fatigue such as Low T, cancer, anemia, concussion and COPD.
2. Hot flashes
Hot flashes are the sudden, intense sensation of warmth. The sensation typically is more intense on your chest, face and neck. You skin may become red. The flashes have other symptoms like sweating and chills. Your skin may appear flushed with a blotchy red look. You may experience a rapid heartbeat and perspiration too. Hot flash symptoms vary by intensity and frequency. Depending on the cause they may last seven to 10 years. Some contributing factors occur to increase your chances of developing the condition such as smoking, your ethnicity and obesity. The effective treatment for hot flashes is estrogen hormone therapy. Other medication to treatment this condition is anti-seizure drugs and antidepressants. These drugs may help reduce the hot flashes, but will not help you produced the needed hormones.
3. Muscle weakness
Muscle weakness is described as tiredness, muscles not working properly or reduced power in muscles. True muscle weakness is the inability to perform a task with a muscle. For instance, you try use the muscle in your leg to walk, but you cannot walk. There is a reduction of force that prohibits you from moving the muscle properly. Muscle weakness can also be a tired feeling sometimes called asthenia. Your muscles feel weary or exhausted. You may not be able to use them. Your muscles do not become weaker, but it takes more effort to complete a task. The treatment for your muscle weakness depends on other symptoms and any underlying medical causes such as low testosterone.
4. Absence of menstruation
Absence of menstruation, or amenorrhea, is not having one or more monthly periods consecutively. The most common cause of amenorrhea is pregnancy. Other causes can be Low T, using contraceptives, inability to regulate your hormone levels or reproductive organ problems. Symptoms of absence of menstruation include vision changes, excessive facial hair, hair loss and pelvic pain. You may also experience a headache. Treatment for amenorrhea depends on the underlying cause.
5. Delayed puberty
Puberty is the time when during adolescence when your body changes from the structure of a child to a structure of an adult. For instance, you develop breast. The changes are spurred by sex hormones like testosterone or estrogen. However, puberty can be delayed or not start at the right time (ranging from ages 7 years old to 13 years old in girls). The delayed puberty can happen for a number of reasons including low testosterone. Treating delayed puberty depends the underlying reason the delay occurred.
6. Mood swings
A mood swing refers to quickly changing moods. For instance, you may be happy one moment and sad the next minute. You can be sad for a short time before becoming extremely angry for no reason. The mood change can occur for no reason or because of a disorder such as depression or bipolar condition. Experiencing a mood change for no reason and is completely normal. However, mood swings are also caused by premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Treating the underlying cause of your mood swings such as low testosterone will treat your mood swings.
7. Pot belly
A pot belly refers to the fat deposits in your body that localizes around your abdomen. The appearance of the extra body fat deposits makes your stomach extend and rounded. You may look pregnant, when you are not. A pot belly occurs because of the extra fat that builds up in your body. The extra fat deposits can develop because of overeating and drinking too many beverages such as beer. A pot belly can develop because of a medical condition such as low testosterone. Treating this symptom depends on the cause. If it is lack of exercise, then you may try to lose weight. If the condition occurs because of an underlying disease or disorder, treatment will depend on the cause.
8. Infertility
The inability to have children may occur with you or your partner. The main sign of infertility is not getting pregnant when trying. Other symptoms of infertility include not having a menstrual period or it being irregular. Causes can range from age and problems with your reproductive organs or medical condition. The treatment for this condition depends on what is causing your inability to production children, your age and how long you have been infertile.
9. Weight gain
When you gain weight without trying and not consuming more food and drink than normal, it is called weight gain. The causes of weight gain vary. For instance, your metabolism may have slowed. Certain medications can cause you to gain weight like birth control pills and corticosteroids. Hormonal changes can also make you gain weight without trying. You may experience symptoms like a buildup of fluid in your tissues. Medical conditions, disorders and diseases can cause you to gain weight. Treating the underlying cause will help you lose weight.
10. Depression
Depression, a mood disorder, causes you to feel a persistent, continuously feeling of sadness. You also may lose interest in daily activities. Symptoms of depression include feeling tired, having a lack of energy, having trouble thinking or frequent thoughts of suicide. You may feel said or empty. You may feel like life is hopeless. The cause of depression ranges from having an inherited trait and hormone imbalance to biological differences. Treatment depends on the cause of the disorder such as having low testosterone. Traditional treatments for therapy include antidepressant medications and talk therapy.
