When you think of testosterone, typically you automatically think of men. We all know this is the sex hormone that men naturally produce and is what makes men, well, men. It helps them think clearly, supports healthy weight and muscle mass, increases sexual health and also has been shown to protect against Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, depression and many other age-related diseases.
But did you know that women actually need testosterone just as much as men do?
It’s true and here’s why:
Women produce testosterone, too. While we only produce about 10% of what a man produces, women’s bodies naturally make testosterone in their ovaries and adrenal glands. Because of this, it is important to supply your body with what it has become deficient in. Like men, our testosterone levels typically peak in the twenties and slowly decline from there on out. In addition to testosterone decline, women also experience a decline in progesterone and DHEA, too. Because women’s bodies naturally produce testosterone, and because it is necessary for complete hormone balance, it is important that testosterone supplementation is considered if the levels are low and you are symptomatic.
Testosterone improves energy. Maybe you have a hard time getting out of bed, or you just feel drained at the end of the day. Perhaps normal physical activities that don’t normally cause exhaustion have you feeling completely wiped out all of a sudden. Or, even after a good night’s rest, you still feel exhausted. Chances are, if you’ve been experiencing extreme fatigue in one form or another, this could be a direct response to low testosterone levels, as well as deficiencies in other key hormones as well, such as progesterone, thyroid and cortisol.
Testosterone has positive effects on strength, fitness and muscle mass. Aside from encouraging healthy energy levels, testosterone has many benefits when it comes to helping women achieve and maintain lean muscle mass and a healthy body composition. Like in men, testosterone supplementation can help build muscle while also combating weight gain in women. Now, ladies, I’m not talking about building muscles like those who perform in bodybuilding competition. I’m referring to the lean muscle mass that keeps your body feeling tight and tone.
Testosterone improves sexual health in women. There are many studies that have discovered the many sexual benefits of testosterone supplementation in women. Those women with low testosterone levels may experience low libido. In saying this, testosterone supplementation can easily help with low libido and sexual satisfaction, as well as any other sexual dysfunction. There is a great supplement that can naturally boost testosterone and libido, check it out here.
Testosterone protects your bones. The skeletal system can be adversely affected by testosterone deficiency. By not not having a sufficient supply, you could be exposed to brittling, or weakening of the bones, which could lead to osteopenia or osteoporosis. The correct balance of testosterone, and other hormones, supports the growth and strength of healthy bones.
Testosterone is almost always necessary in women, especially after menopause. Similar to all hormones, testosterone takes a nosedive after menopause. In fact, it nearly decreases by 50% in some women. High levels of stress, a hysterectomy and certain specific drugs can all result in low testosterone levels in women. However, testosterone alone isn’t the answer. Many symptoms of low testosterone can also be caused by low estrogen and progesterone, too. Therefore, you always need to make sure you are balancing out all out your female-producing hormones, not just one.
As a woman, it may be hard to see the importance of the “man” hormone, testosterone but I’m here to tell you that testosterone is just as important in women as it is in men. From bone and sexual health, to energy and an ideal body weight, testosterone is easily one of the most important pieces to the puzzle when it comes to feeling optimal and balanced.
Are you curious to know if your symptoms could be low testosterone? Test your symptoms with this quick and easy at-home saliva test. The Saliva Test Kit was designed to detect specific hormone deficiencies that traditional testing ignores. Not only will you be relieved to know your results, but it will get you pointed in the right direction to getting your hormones balanced naturally.
