What Are the Effects of Dihydrotestosterone on Females?

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgenic hormone found in the testes and prostate of men, as well as in the hair follicles and adrenal glands of men and women. It is a metabolite of the hormone testosterone, and therefore occurs with much greater frequency in men. Still, its effects on women are not to be discounted.

Alopecia

• Dihydrotestosterone clings to hair follicles in the scalp, shrinking them and causing pattern baldness in both sexes. About 50 percent of all women are affected by DHT-induced alopecia, though it typically does not occur until after menopause.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

• Women with heightened levels of dihydrotestosterone may show certain male characteristics, such as a deepened voice and facial hair.

Bone Mineralization

• Testosterone and DHT, testosterone's metabolite, increase bone mineralization, facilitating osteoporosis in women with calcium deficiency and other skeletal afflictions.

Mood and Personality

• Women taking growth hormones and other supplements containing DHT can show signs of increased aggression and moodiness.

Epidermal Effects

• Due to its location in the body's hair follicles, dihydrotestosterone can also affect a woman's sebaceous glands, resulting in acne, sebaceous cysts and other skin ailments.