High Female Testosterone Level

High Female Testosterone Level: Overview

Testosterone is an androgen steroid hormone that is usually linked to male sexuality.  It stimulates the growth of normal male sexual organs, leads to deepening of the male voice, stimulates facial and pubic hair growth, and is essential in the sexual behavior of men.  Testosterone is made not only in the testes of men but also in the ovaries of women and in the adrenal glands of both men and women.

Signs and Symptoms

Abnormally high testosterone levels in women can lead to a variety of symptoms.  Most often, women with high testosterone levels develop male pattern hair growth (hirsutism), especially on their faces and chests.  More rarely and over time, some women may experience virilization, which is increased muscle mass, redistribution of body fat, enlargement of the clitoris, deepening of the voice, male pattern baldness, acne, and/or increased perspiration.  It is important to note that some women develop hirsutism without having a high testosterone level.

High Female Testosterone

Information On This Page
Signs and symptoms Conditions that suggest it Contributing risk factors Conditions suggested by it Recommendations

Signs, symptoms & indicators of High Female Testosterone Level:

Lab Values - Hormones

Confirmed high testosterone levels is a sign or symptom of High Female Testosterone LevelConfirmed high testosterone levels
Counter-indicators:
Confirmed low testosterone levels strongly contraindicates High Female Testosterone LevelConfirmed low testosterone levels

Symptoms - Hair

Being nearly/totally bald is often a sign or symptom of High Female Testosterone LevelMale pattern hair loss or being nearly/totally bald

Symptoms - Mind - General

Being a motivated person is often a sign or symptom of High Female Testosterone LevelBeing highly motivated or being a motivated person
Excess secretion of testosterone (a hormone associated with male aggressive behavior) is reported in Type A personality patients.
Counter-indicators:
Being a lethargic person often contraindicates High Female Testosterone LevelBeing highly lethargic or being a lethargic person
Excess secretion of testosterone (a hormone associated with male aggressive behavior) is reported in Type A personality patients.

Symptoms - Skin - Conditions

History of adult acne may be a sign or symptom of High Female Testosterone LevelHistory of adult acne

Symptoms - Skin - General

Excess perspiration is often a sign or symptom of High Female Testosterone LevelExcess perspiration

Conditions that suggest High Female Testosterone Level:

Hormones

Hirsutism often suggests High Female Testosterone LevelHirsutism

Skin-Hair-Nails

Adult Acne may suggest High Female Testosterone LevelAdult Acne

Tumors, Malignant

Breast Cancer may suggest High Female Testosterone LevelBreast Cancer
One study reported that women with the highest levels of testosterone were twice as likely to develop breast cancer as those with the lowest levels.  [Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 17th April 2002]

Risk factors for High Female Testosterone Level:

Hormones

Estrogens Low often increases risk of High Female Testosterone LevelEstrogens Low

Reproductive

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) often increases risk of High Female Testosterone LevelPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Increased testosterone levels in women are most often caused by polycystic ovaries.

Tumors, Malignant

Ovarian Cancer often increases risk of High Female Testosterone LevelOvarian Cancer
When testosterone levels are very elevated, ovarian cancer can be a concern.

High Female Testosterone Level suggests the following may be present:

Tumors, Malignant

High Female Testosterone Level may suggest Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer
When testosterone levels are very elevated, ovarian cancer can be a concern.

Recommendations for High Female Testosterone Level:

Extract

Not recommended:
DIM / I3C is often not recommended for High Female Testosterone LevelDIM / I3C
Aromatase inhibitors such as DIM, I3C, and Chrysin should be avoided, as they will enhance any preexisting androgen/estrogen dominance.

Hormone

Estrogen Replacement often helps with High Female Testosterone LevelEstrogen Replacement
Low estrogens allow the circulating androgens and testosterone to be more freely available and thus stimulate cells more.  Increasing the circulating estrogen in the blood by taking estrogens will increase the proteins that bind the androgens and help decrease the effects of all androgens, whether the levels are normal or excessive.

Lab Tests/Rule-Outs

Test for Hormones is highly recommended for High Female Testosterone LevelTest for Hormones

KEY

Weak or unproven link: may be a sign or symptom of; may suggest
Weak or unproven link:
may be a sign or symptom of; may suggest
Strong or generally accepted link: is often a sign or symptom of; often suggests; often increases risk of
Strong or generally accepted link:
is often a sign or symptom of; often suggests; often increases risk of
Definite or direct link: is a sign or symptom of
Definite or direct link:
is a sign or symptom of
Strong counter-indication: often contraindicates
Strong counter-indication:
often contraindicates
Definitely or absolutely counter-indicates: strongly contraindicates
Definitely or absolutely counter-indicates:
strongly contraindicates
Moderately useful: often helps with
Moderately useful:
often helps with
Very useful: is highly recommended for
Very useful:
is highly recommended for
Often counterindicated: is often not recommended for
Often counterindicated:
is often not recommended for
Last updated: May 05, 2013