High Testosterone in Women


We don’t usually associate testosterone and women – it’s often seen as the “male” hormone. But in reality, even those assigned female at birth produce testosterone. So, what are the signs of high testosterone in a woman, and how does it affect us?
What Is High Testosterone in Women?
High testosterone in women is anything over the normal testosterone levels in females – although this depends on many factors. Whilst there will always be some fluctuation, consistently high testosterone in women can have serious effects on our health.
Why Is Testosterone Important?
Testosterone is necessary for women. It helps with everything from maintaining bone density, to your mood, your energy levels, heart health, to your libido. Higher testosterone in females can show itself as physical and cognitive effects – more later.

What Are Typical Testosterone Levels in Women?
Testosterone levels naturally decrease with age, but they can spike during different life stages, such as during puberty or pregnancy. There are also spikes throughout the menstrual cycle.
Testosterone Production in Women
Testosterone is produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. About a quarter comes from the ovaries, another quarter from the adrenal glands, and the peripheral tissues make the rest. The peripheral tissues are also in charge of converting hormones like androstenedione, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) into testosterone.
Normal Testosterone Levels by Age
Testosterone levels in women are measured in a few different ways, but we’re using nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), which indicates how many billionths of a gram of testosterone are in a tenth of a liter of fluid. Here’s a quick look at what’s typical at different ages:
Age | nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) |
0-5 months | 20-80 |
6 months- 9 years | <7-20 |
10-11 years | <7-44 |
12-16 | <7-75 |
17-18 | 20-75 |
19-50 | 8-60 |
50+ | 2-41 |
Pregnancy will increase your testosterone levels, which can also affect us, as shown in this study. If you are wondering what your current testosterone levels are, the Mira Panorama Fertility Lab Test is an easy way to find out! It is an at-home finger prick test that can track your levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), prolactin, and free testosterone. All of these are important to your ovulation and cycle regularity. The results are easy to understand, 100% personalized, and practical for your life, especially if you are experiencing high testosterone or are TTC.
Symptoms of High Testosterone in Women
There are a surprising amount of high testosterone symptoms, both physical and emotional, some of which you wouldn’t expect.
Physical Symptoms
Women with high testosterone may face a number of challenging physical symptoms that can be uncomfortable and may require medical support.
Excess body and facial hair (hirsutism)
When there is excess testosterone, it can be transformed into excess dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This hormone stimulates body hair production and growth (but not scalp hair – rude!). According to the Mayo Clinic, this hair can be that in most places, you would already have body hair, but it may be more noticeable where men would typically have more hair than women, such as your chin, back, and upper lip. You can shave or bleach this excess hair, but it sadly won’t fix the root of the problem! Some women choose not to remove this excess hair, which is a completely valid option.
Hair thinning or balding
Surprise, surprise, we’re back to our friend (or nemesis) dihydrotestosterone (DHT), as it is also responsible for hair loss on your scalp – the worst of both worlds! It does this by either binding to or shrinking hair follicles, causing thinner hair strands, but it can also shorten your hair growth cycle. All of this combines to make thinner hair or bald patches.
Acne and oily skin
Testosterone increases the production of sebum – that oily substance that clogs our pores. It also has a habit of inflaming or altering our skin cells, making our skin more clog-able in general.
Deepened voice
We all know that in puberty, boys’ voices will get lower. It’s also possible that women with higher testosterone will also experience this. It is possible to treat it should you want to, but if you prefer your voice lower, then have fun and enjoy it.
Enlarged clitoris
According to the Cleveland Clinic, if you have too much testosterone, it could cause your clitoris to swell, making it appear bigger. This is because the clitoris is the female erectile tissue – the male equivalent is the penis.
Reproductive symptoms
Whilst we need some testosterone in pregnancy and daily life, it can also make it difficult for us to conceive. This is not only because it affects our menstrual cycles, but also because it can affect our ovulation.
Irregular menstrual cycles
If you’ve looked into the menstrual cycle, you know it is a delicate balance, with each hormone playing its role in causing other hormones to be released or suppressed. Because of this, on top of how it can affect ovulation, too much testosterone can throw that cycle out of balance, making it irregular.
Low libido
Elevated testosterone in women can also lower our libido, which can be really frustrating for ourselves and our partners. When you’re TTC and your libido is low, it can feel upsetting, especially if you are already having reproductive problems. One area that can help with your general reproductive health can be the supplements you take such as the Mira Prenatal multivitamins. Whilst these won’t cure high testosterone they can help the rest of your body be as ready as possible for pregnancy.
Emotional and Behavioral Symptoms
These symptoms are just as important to keep in mind when experiencing high testosterone as the physical symptoms, and for some of us they can have a bigger impact on our lives.
Mood swings
Increased testosterone can create or make mood swings worse for us. This is especially frustrating if we are already stressed or in a tense part of life. One way to help us calm down and recenter ourselves can be using mindfulness and meditation. The Mira meditation playlist that is perfect for you if you’re a beginner or an expert and will help you find your calm and keep your stress at bay.
Irritability
Mood swings aren’t the only way that our emotions can be affected, but how irritable we are. This can make us feel even worse, because we know we are not normally like this!
Diagnosing High Testosterone
Aside from experiencing the different symptoms we’ve listed above, there are more ways that high testosterone can be diagnosed – some of which we can do from the comfort of our own home!
Regular Hormone Tracking
Tracking your hormones can be great for keeping an eye on our testosterone and anything else that might be throwing our system for a loop. The Mira Hormone Monitor does just that and can be used to track crucial hormones that regulate our menstrual cycles, like Luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G), and Pregnanediol Glucuronide (PdG). These are not testosterone but if your cycle is affected, it will be reflected in your other hormonal patterns.
Blood Tests for Hormone Levels
There are many blood tests your general health practitioner can do, but sometimes, it’s more convenient to do a test from home. The Mira Panorama Fertility Lab Test is an at-home finger prick test that can reveal your personal, actual levels of TSH, fT4, AMH, prolactin, and free testosterone.
When to Consult a Doctor
You should consult your doctor when your symptoms affect you and your daily life. High testosterone on its own isn’t likely to kill you, but it can increase your risk of other issues like type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer. You should also speak to your doctor or gynecologist if you want to go down the medical route for treatment.

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Schedule NowFactors Influencing Diagnosis
Like we’ve said, there are going to be natural fluctuations in your testosterone levels, but some things will affect it more than others. Lifestyle factors, medicinal and biological, can affect our testosterone levels on a day-to-day or month-to-month basis.
Timing of the test
As we’ve mentioned, your testosterone levels affect the menstrual cycle, but also where you are in your cycle affects the levels of testosterone in your body. According to a review around the androgen balance and the menstrual cycle studies, there have been results that seem to indicate that there is a slight increase in testosterone in women around the time we ovulate, but as with many areas of women’s health, this is still under discussion (typical!).
Medication effects on results
If you are on antidepressants, medication for yeast/fungal infections, medications to treat ulcers, statins, medicine for type two diabetes, chemotherapy drugs, or medicine to treat high blood pressure, these can all affect your testosterone levels. When getting your tests done, it is worth keeping these things in mind and informing your healthcare provider.
Causes of High Testosterone in Women
High testosterone has several causes, some of which are genetic and some of which are not.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Because PCOS increases your levels of LH and insulin, it can also make your ovaries produce more androgens and stop your liver from making enough sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), which would bind to testosterone and reduce its effect. Safe to say, this is a perfect storm for high testosterone! If you are dealing with PCOS, then the Mira PCOS Supplements may help you balance out your hormones and reduce your symptoms.
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
This is a group of genetic conditions that affect the adrenal glands. Remember, right back at the start of this, we discussed how roughly a quarter of our testosterone is made in the adrenal glands? Well, those with CAH may find that this causes their adrenal glands to overproduce testosterone.
Other Causes
Other conditions like Cushing syndrome may increase testosterone. It may also be higher if you have an intersex condition. The most concerning thing to hear is the possibility that it could be a tumor- so if you’re worried, check with your doctor.
Treatment Options
When looking at how to lower testosterone levels in women, there are treatment options for all of the individual symptoms that we can treat, if you want to get to the root of the problem, there are options that you can discuss with your healthcare professional.
Medications to Reduce Testosterone
There are a collection of medications that you can discuss when exploring your high testosterone.
Glucocorticosteroids
These are also called corticosteroids and are a class of steroids used to treat chronic inflammation or inflammatory diseases. These steroid hormones may be used in nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia to suppress androgen production
Metformin
Usually used to treat type 2 diabetes, it is also used to decrease testosterone and help to manage PCOS.
Oral contraceptives
Combined oral contraceptives (COC – don’t laugh) can reduce the testosterone your ovaries make and increase SHBG.
Spironolactone
This tablet lowers the amount of testosterone your body makes by affecting the proteins involved in making it. There’s just one problem. Spironolactone is a diuretic, aka it makes you pee.
Lifestyle Changes
Believe it or not, lifestyle affects female testosterone levels. This can include if you’re stressed out, your diet (as highlighted in this study), and your exercise levels. One large part of it can be what you need to supplement in your diet. If you prefer to drink your supplements the Mira Fertility Tea has been designed to help you with your overall hormonal balance, although not specifically testosterone.
Treatment Adjustments for Fertility Goals
Several of the medications listed above are not ideal for pregnancy or TTC, so you and your doctor may need to look into other adjustments. If you aren’t sure where to start, the friendly faces at the Mira Hormone Health Clinic can help point you in the right direction and help you make the best decisions for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do women have testosterone?
Yes, but the amount of it in your system varies as you age.
Where is testosterone produced?
In the ovaries and adrenal glands.
What are the potential effects of high levels of testosterone in women?
It can have many physical and mental effects from irritability, to infertility, to increased face and body hair.
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