Female Testosterone Side Effects
Women naturally produce the steroid hormone testosterone in small amounts, and an elevated level usually indicates a disease or medical abnormality. Abnormally high levels of testosterone in women can result in changes in appearance, certain health risks, and detrimental side effects.
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Identification
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In mammals, testosterone is a naturally occurring steroid hormone produced by the testes of males. It is also produced in very small amounts by the ovaries of females and the adrenal glands of both sexes. In men, testosterone is responsible for sperm production and the development of male secondary sexual characteristics. It also causes increases in skeletal muscle mass and bone density, and decreases body fat.
Scientists first isolated testosterone in the 1930s, and pharmaceutical companies began manufacturing synthetic versions shortly thereafter. Testosterone is prescribed to treat a number of medical conditions, most of which affect men (hypogonadism, hormone replacement therapy), but it is also used to treat breast cancer in women, and experiments have been conducted using testosterone to treat pre- and post-menopausal changes in mood, energy, bone density and body composition.
Causes
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The most common cause of high testosterone in women is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), an endocrine disorder characterized by the formation of cysts in the ovaries. Five percent of all women experience this condition during their lives. Other causes include ovarian cancer and any diseases, injury or external conditions (e.g., stress) that result in low estrogen levels.
Women using anabolic steroids during sport or bodybuilding, for cosmetic reasons or as part of a transition from female to male during Gender Identity Disorder treatment can also experience high testosterone levels by taking exogenous (externally produced) testosterone.
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Virilization
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Testosterone binds strongly to the androgen receptors in muscle cells, increasing the rate of nitrogen retention and thus stimulating muscle growth while preventing muscle breakdown. It also stimulates fat loss and affects the distribution of adipose (fatty) tissue throughout the body. Women with high testosterone levels may experience changes in their physique that make their bodies more greatly resemble those of adult men.
Additionally, testosterone exhibits strong androgenic (masculinizing) effects, particularly upon women. High testosterone can lead to hirsutism (the growth of excess facial and body hair), particularly upon the chest and stomach. Women may also experience a deepened voice, acne, increased perspiration, male-pattern baldness and oily skin.
Sexual Dysfunction
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High levels of testosterone can produce changes in a woman's libido and result in an enlarged clitoris, a condition that may be irreversible. Women may also experience interrupted menstrual cycles, which may stop completely.
Other Physiological Changes
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High levels of testosterone are hepatotoxic (show a strong propensity to damage the liver), and they can result in peliosis hepatitis, a condition in which blood-filled cysts form inside the liver and/or spleen. Testosterone has caused changes in liver levels, as well as excess sodium and water retention, which puts additional strain on the liver and kidneys.
High levels of testosterone can exacerbate existing heart disease and result in changes in blood serum cholesterol, which may lead to coronary disease, high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis. As testosterone can also affect blood sugar, women who are diabetic may need to closely monitor insulin dosages and blood sugar levels .
Pregnancy
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Testosterone is classified as a Pregnancy Category X drug, which means that it is known to cause birth defects in unborn fetuses. Women who are pregnant should not take exogenous testosterone for this reason.
Psychological Changes
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High levels of testosterone, whether the result of an abnormality or steroid use, can result in moodiness, depression, aggression, irritability and excitability. Also, studies have shown that women with higher levels of testosterone take more risks and engage in more thrill-seeking behavior.
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