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Testosterone: Important for Men and Women

picture of testosterone molecule
Testosterone Structure

The Importance of Testosterone

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone is a steroid hormone that both men and women make.  Hormones are chemicals that your body makes, that are released into your bloodstream. They are carried to target organs.  There, they can bind to a receptor. When the hormone binds to its receptor, it causes an effect in your body.

Hormones usually cause several effects.  This particular hormone plays a crucial role in bone, muscle, and fat metabolism, red blood cell production, and brain health. Some of the other functions of this hormone are dependent on whether you are male or female.

Testosterone in Men

For men, this hormone is responsible for male secondary sexual characteristics.  These include:

  • Facial hair growth
  • Underarm hair
  • Enlargement of the penis and scrotum at puberty
  • Adam’s apple
  • Voice change
  • Pubic hair
  • Muscle development
  • Body hair

Testosterone in Women

While this is generally considered to be a “male” hormone, women make it too.  In fact, healthy levels are vital to women’s overall well-being.  In women, the level peaks around the ovulatory phase of the cycle.

In women, this hormone helps with cognitive function, musculoskeletal health, estrogen production, and libido.

What are the Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Men?

Symptoms of low male testosterone include:

What are the Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women?

The symptoms of low testosterone in women are:

What are the Symptoms of High Testosterone in Men?

As with anything, it is best to have a healthy balance.  There can be too much of a good thing if this hormone is too high.  The symptoms of high male testosterone are:

  • A decrease in testicle size
  • A decrease in sperm count
  • Increased red blood cell count
  • Acne
  • Oily skin
  • Prostate enlargement
  • Sleep apnea
  • Water retention
  • Breast growth

What are the Symptoms of High Testosterone in Women?

Women with too much of this hormone can have a hormonal condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS.  The symptoms of high female testosterone are:

What are Normal Testosterone Levels?

The following table lists lab ranges and estimated “ideal” levels for this hormone in men and women.  The difference is that lab ranges are just averages of (often) unhealthy people.  The ideal range is an estimate of where you would like to be for more optimal health.  There is little or no data on optimal ranges for hormones, so this number is an estimate based on clinical experience.  If you have not had thorough hormone testing done, I can order these tests for you.  If you check your levels against my chart and find that you need to increase or decrease your level, I can help.

Testosterone

HormoneLab's Normal Range (SI Units)Estimated "Optimal" Range
Total Testosterone♀ ♂ 6.7 – 28.9 nmol/L♀ 0.8-1.2 nmol/L
♂ 19-25 nmol/L
Free Testosterone♀ 3.47–29.5 pmol/L
♂ 174–777 pmol/L
♀ 8.0-20.5 pmol/L
♂ 288-500 pmol/L

What Causes High Testosterone?

You make testosterone from another hormone called androstenedione.  An enzyme drives this conversion. This enzyme increases its activity under the influence of insulin.

If you are making too much of this hormone, you want to look at ways to decrease your insulin level.  This is done by reducing your carb and sugar intake, reducing your stress, and increasing your physical activity.  I can help lower high levels in both men and women.

Other causes of excess include hormone-secreting tumors (adrenal, testicular, ovarian) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

What Causes Low Testosterone in Men?

Low testosterone in men is caused by:

Hypogonadism

This means under-activity of the testes.  This can be primary, meaning it is a direct problem with your testes.  Or it can be secondary, meaning that the problem stems from somewhere else.  Examples of secondary hypogonadism are problems with your pituitary gland or thyroid.

Obesity

Obesity in men is also associated with low levels of this hormone.  Healthy weight loss is recommended over hormone replacement.

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome is a collection of symptoms that include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and blood sugar dysregulation is also associated with low testosterone in men.   I can help with Metabolic Syndrome.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea contributes to low male testosterone.  Correcting sleep apnea involves weight loss, diet changes to reduce inflammatory foods, and helping your body to burn body fat.

Very Low Levels of Cholesterol

Because cholesterol is the skeleton for all of the hormones, deficiency of cholesterol contributes to low levels of all of the hormones.  If you are on cholesterol-lowering medication and your cholesterol is too low, your dose may need adjusting.

Low Testosterone Treatment Options

As a naturopath, I can help your body make hormones properly through natural means.  I do this by ensuring the optimal function of your reproductive organs, addressing your blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight, and helping with your sleep apnea.

This allows your body to make the proper amount of all of your hormones without pills or injections.

How Do You Make Testosterone?

Women make this hormone in their ovaries and adrenal glands.  Men produce it in their testes. To make any of the hormones, you need to make a hormone called pregnenolone from cholesterol. In either gender, testosterone synthesis is from another hormone called androstenedione.  This hormone is made from either DHEA or progesterone.  Maintaining healthy production of all of these hormones helps to make better amounts of other hormones.

How Can You Boost Testosterone?

The best way to increase this hormone is by addressing the factors that suppress it.  A low glycemic index diet rich in Omega 3’s helps.

As a naturopath, natural treatment for low levels of this hormone involves losing weight, reducing stress, building muscle, addressing the root cause of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and fixing sleep apnea.  Since DHEA is a building block to make this hormone, maintaining healthy adrenal gland/HPA axis function also helps.

How Can You Decrease Testosterone?

To decrease the excess production of this hormone in women, we need to reduce the production of insulin.  A clean diet helps.  So does exercise.  In addition, there are vitamins, minerals, and herbs that can help your body make less of this hormone by making less insulin.

Want help with improving your hormone levels or any other health issue, call the clinic at 416-481-0222 or book online any time here.

Authored by Dr. Pamela Frank, BSc, ND

Picture of Toronto Naturopath Doctor Dr. Pamela Frank, Best Naturopath in Toronto many times over
Dr. Pamela Frank, BSc(Hons), Naturopathic Doctor

Dr. Pamela has practiced as a naturopathic doctor in Toronto since 1999. She has received numerous “Best Naturopath in Toronto” awards. She is registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario.

Dr. Pamela Frank uses a natural treatment approach that may include acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, diet, vitamins, supplements, and other natural remedies to restore balance and provide long-term resolution to almost any health problem.

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