Testosterone is a hormone that's produced and secreted in the testicles of males. It's the primary hormone in sexual development during male puberty and in muscle development. Women produce testosterone in the ovaries and adrenal glands but in much smaller amounts. A woman's body converts most of the testosterone it produces into estrogen, another hormone.
Slow Sexual Development
Testosterone effects a woman's body in several ways. During puberty, testosterone causes changes like formation of breasts, pubic and underarm hair and skin changes like acne. Testosterone is often thought of as a male hormone but its function in females is also important. Lack of this hormone in childhood and early teen years can cause delayed puberty and under-development.
Diminished Sex Drive
The testosterone levels in the blood stream of a woman drop naturally over time and there is a significant drop during menopause. During this phase of life, a woman also experiences a dramatic drop in estrogen levels. This combination of hormonal changes causes a loss of libido, desire for intimacy and general lack of energy. Hormone replacement therapy may be an option to aleviate some of these symptoms.
General Depression
Symptoms associated with testosterone deficiency in women are fatigue, decreased strength or endurance, lost height, decreased joy for life, persistent sadness, moodiness, falling asleep early, and decreased work performance. Any number of these symptoms may indicate a testosterone deficiency and medical advice should be sought. Hormone replacement is available in 3 forms in the United states, pill, injection and pellets.
