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The Role of Testosterone in Females

Yes, females have testosterone in their system, although we primarily think of it as the male hormone that gives guys their aggressiveness and macho bluster. If a woman has too much testosterone, this can result in masculine characteristics developing, including facial hair growth, bulking up physically, deepening of the voice, hair loss and acne. But a certain amount of testosterone is needed in females, and this is a beneficial thing.

  1. Production

    • Women make 3/10 of 1mg of testosterone per day, according to Abc.net. It is generated by the adrenal gland and the ovaries. Ovarian production is responsible for 1/4 of the testosterone that is swirling through a woman's body. Men generate approximately 20 times more testosterone than women per day. When a woman goes through menopause, her ovarian function comes to a halt so she isn't producing testosterone at the levels she was previously.

    Hormone of Desire

    • According to Dr. Susan Rako, testosterone is not the exclusive domain of men and is every bit as much a sex hormone for women as it is for the other gender. Dr. Rako calls testosterone "the hormone of desire" and contends that testosterone is the most important hormone in terms of sexual desire and libido, in women as well as in men.

    When It's Insufficient

    • When testosterone levels dip because of menopause, Dr. Rako maintains that a woman can experience a "flatness" of mood, brittle hair, dry skin, loss of muscle strength and tone. Her sex drive may fall by the wayside and she may have less sensitivity in her genitals and nipples. Testosterone is needed to help maintain a woman's bone density as well as assist in the health of a woman's vulva and enabling the regrowth of clitoral tissue. Our brains work better when we have sufficient levels of testosterone.

    The Other Hormone

    • Project-aware.com notes that testosterone is often referred to as the "other hormone." Benefits of testosterone include prevention of vaginal dryness and atrophying, mild depression, and vasco-motor symptoms. Of course, the risks of having too much testosterone, as noted earlier, must be taken into consideration. Dr. Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, MD, of San Diego, California, points out that testosterone therapy must be tailored to each individual. The objective is to get a woman's testosterone levels back to where she was before menopause, without giving her too much.

    Controversial

    • Some women are opting to undergo testosterone replacement therapy, which is as controversial as hormone replacement therapy (estrogen and progesterone). There hasn't been enough research done at this time to fully detail the negative side effects of testosterone replacement therapy. Discuss this option with your physician. The Mayo Clinic points out that the FDA has yet to approve testosterone therapy for sexual dysfunction in women, noting that testosterone therapy appears to be most effective for women who have had their ovaries removed (oophorectomy) and have low testosterone levels as a result.

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