Women produce low levels of the hormone testosterone in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Excessive amounts of testosterone, whether produced by the body or taken as a medication or supplement, cause a variety of dramatic effects in women, ranging from acne to permanent changes in body physique. Hyperandrogenism, the condition of abnormally elevated levels of male sex hormones in women, can occur with polycystic ovary syndrome, adrenal gland or ovarian tumors, and certain medications.
Hirsutism
Testosterone influences the growth of body hair, transforming fine, colorless body hair into dark, coarse hair. Women with excessive testosterone typically exhibit hirsutism, an overabundance or unusual distribution of coarse body hair. Hirsutism can be mild or severe, and is classified according to the abundance and distribution of body hair.
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists reports that an overabundance of coarse hair on the chest, abdomen, buttocks, back, inner thighs or shoulders is considered abnormal in women, typically signifying excessive circulating testosterone. Other body sites that may be affected by hirsutism include the upper lip, chin, neck, sideburns, arms, legs, hands, fingers, feet and toes. Rapid development of hirsutism in a woman with a previously normal distribution of body hair may indicate the presence of a hormone-producing tumor of the ovary or adrenal gland.
Male-Pattern Hair Loss
In a 2006 article on the use of therapeutic testosterone published in "American Family Physician," Drs. Katherine Margo and Robert Winn report that male-pattern hair loss, or androgenic alopecia, may occur in women with increased levels of testosterone. Hormone-induced hair loss commonly begins at the top of the back of head, where the hair grows in a swirl. Thinning hair at the temples or on the top of the head and a receding hairline may also occur with markedly elevated testosterone levels.
Acne
Testosterone stimulates the oil-producing glands of the skin, often causing severe acne in women with an elevated level of the hormone. Among adult women, the presence of new or worsening acne suggests the possibility of hyperandrogenism, reports Dr. Bernard Karnath in a 2008 article published in "Hospital Physician." Acne typically occurs on the face, back and chest. As other factors are involved in the development of acne, the degree of elevation of the circulating blood testosterone does not reliably correlate to the severity of acne.
Physical Virilization
Virilization is the medical term for the physical changes induced by testosterone. Women with a significantly elevated blood testosterone level often exhibit signs of virilization, including deepening of the voice, a parallel decrease in body fat and increase in muscle mass, enlargement of the clitoris, loss of breast tissue and increased sex drive. Ovulation and menstrual periods often cease under the influence of excess testosterone.
References
- American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists: Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hyperandrogenic Disorders
- "American Family Physician"; Testosterone Treatments: Why, When, and How?; Katherine Margo, M.D., Robert Winn, M.D.; May 2006
- "Hospital Physician"; Signs of Hyperandrogenism in Women; Bernard M. Karnath, M.D.; October 2008
- Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Adrenal Virilism (Adrenogenital Syndrome)
- Medline Plus: Virilization
