Testosterone is an androgen hormone secreted in the testes and adrenal glands in men and in the ovaries and adrenal glands in women. Women's libido depends on sufficient blood levels of this hormone. An inadequate level of this hormone is a one of the main contributing factors to a low libido in women. Other effects of low testosterone levels include an inability to have organisms, loss of natural feminine traits, weight-gain, hot-flashes, irregular or absent menstruation, anxiety and depression.
The Biological Basis of Depression
Depression is directly linked to an imbalance in the neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Typically, depression is a result of low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. In some cases, low levels of dopamine are the dominant cause of depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors block the transporter that transports serotonin back into the neurons. This increases the extracellular levels of serotonin and improves mood. It also has a positive effect on anxiety. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors therefore are frequently prescribed for depression. The newest generation of anti-depressants work on both serotonin and dopamine.
Low Testosterone and Depression
There is no scientific evidence for a direct link between testosterone and depression in women. Testosterone, however, negatively affects the body's energy levels, feminine features, blood flow to vaginal areas and the cells in the inner lining of the vaginal tract that normally lubricate the vaginal tract. The brain's perception of these changes in energy levels and body identity may lead to increased activity in the amygdala, the brain's main fear processing center. Increased activity in this brain region is significantly correlated with a drop in extra-cellular serotonin, according to MayoClinic.com.
Causes of Low Testosterone
The main causes of testosterone in women are menopause or the removal of the uterus or ovaries. Oral contraceptives can also lower testosterone levels by increasing the blood levels of SHGB, a chemical that binds testosterone. Obesity is another common reason for low testosterone levels. Excessive fat tissue has an overall disturbing effect on hormone secretion and can therefore avert proper secretion of testosterone from the adrenal glands and ovaries.
Treatments
While depression is most commonly treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, this kind of treatment may not be desirable when the depression results from low testosterone levels. One of the reported side effects of most selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is a decrease in libido. A more promising treatment is one that actively increases testosterone levels. Sexual health supplements and testosterone replacement may be effective as a treatment of both low testosterone and depression, though no studies exist of the effect of this kind of treatment in women, according to the National Institute on Aging. Prescription medicines that supply testosterone may be a necessary link in the treatment of more severe cases of low testosterone and depression.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Menopause
- MayoClinic.com: Female Sexual Dysfunction
- Medscape News Today: Low Testosterone Levels Linked With Higher Risk for Depression
- MayoClinic.com: Depression
- National Institute on Aging: Scientific Task Force To Examine Usefulness of Testosterone Replacement Therapy
- Science Daily: Male Obesity Linked to Low Testosterone Levels, Study Shows
