What you need to know about low androgens
Recently I found out I have low Testosterone levels. This was a huge coincidence, because low Testosterone (and low overall androgens) is something I am seeing more frequently in my clinic.
And while this isn’t great news for my hormones, it is so powerful healing myself alongside my lovely clients.
I am really passionate about this topic because symptoms of low androgens can be debilitating and are often misdiagnosed.
And I can tell you this from experience, having months of low energy, no libido (that I couldn’t blame on fatigue), delayed ovulation and loss of some of my precious hair.
While getting my result was a little confronting, I feel overall empowered by this experience, because now I can take active steps to restore my balance and reclaim my menstrual cycle.
What are androgens?
Androgens are a group of hormones that are typically associated with ‘male health’, although they are super important for all aspects of female reproduction and well-being.
The main androgen produced by the adrenal glands is DHEA, which then gets converted to our main active androgen – Testosterone – primarily in the ovaries.
What are the symptoms of low androgens?
Common symptoms include low libido, decreased sexual pleasure, low mood, low energy, overall diminished sense of well-being, menstrual irregularities, and fertility issues.
Less common symptoms include low body mass, osteoporosis and thinning pubic hair.
Some of the symptoms of low androgens even cross-over with high androgen symptoms, which means comprehensive hormone testing is essential to make a diagnosis.
How do I measure androgens?
The primary androgens that I measure in clinic are DHEAs and Testosterone. Testosterone is the main biologically active androgen in menstruating people.
Testosterone can only be active when it travels freely around the body, but a portion of our testosterone travels around bound to carrier, which make it inactive. For this reason, we also need to measure the levels of the primary testosterone carrier - sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) - to understand our free testosterone level, i.e. how much testosterone is actually active in the body.
My preference for testing androgens is a simple blood test. As androgens do not fluctuate greatly across the menstrual cycle, you can test on any day. Ideally have the test first thing in the morning, fasted.
You can also measure androgens through saliva and urine tests, which I use less frequently under specific circumstances.
Why may my androgens low?
· Stress related changes in the menstrual cycle
· Hormone containing medications like the pill and hormone replacement therapy
· Post-partum hormone changes
· Natural age related decline – androgens normally decline from our 20s
· Early onset ovarian ageing
· Genetic factors
· Auto-immune conditions
· Rare pituitary disorders
· Adrenal disorders
Can low androgens be fixed naturally?
Absolutely! The natural approach is to find the reason WHY your androgens are low and address the root cause. There are certain herbs and nutrients that are scientifically proven to help boost androgen levels.
For some people, natural support alongside conventional medical replacement may be the way to go, in which case I work safely alongside a medical practitioner to support you.
If you think you may be suffering from low androgen levels, and want to explore how we can improve your hormone health, book in a free introductory chat here
References:
A clinical update on female androgen insufficiency--testosterone testing and treatment in women presenting with low sexual desire https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33009651/
A form of secondary ovarian insufficiency (SOI) due to adrenal hypoandrogenism as new infertility diagnosis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33009651/
Genetics of androgen metabolism in women with infertility and hypoandrogenism https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25942654/
Tribulus terrestris for treatment of sexual dysfunction in women: randomized double-blind placebo - controlled study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4045980/