Testosterone Tales: Finding Your Swagger!

Aaaah, testosterone. The bolshy androgen that is allegedly responsible for making the men folk believe a Friday night on the lash isn’t a good night unless it ends in a fight.  Grrrr…pass the beer and get back to the kitchen, woman! 

Whilst testosterone may play a role in male competitive and dominant behaviours, it really is a misunderstood hormone and the latter analogy is an extreme one. In fact, it isn’t testosterone that makes anyone behave like this and if it was, we’d all be living in absolute anarchy; the lid that women manage to keep tightly screwed on would come flying off and we’d all be tearing each other’s hair out if this was the case.  Why? Because the life of a woman can be a big one and testosterone isn’t just for men, women have it and depend on it too.    

Whilst women have lower testosterone levels compared to men, this hormone is essential for various bodily functions, including maintaining bone density, muscle mass, energy and libido (ever wondered why your husband never has a headache, doesn’t have to wash his hair or wait for his birthday, but you do?) It might be that you are just genuinely tired, I mean why wouldn’t you be, but it could be that low levels of testosterone make you want to run for the hills when your partner grabs you by the waist and pokes you in the back as you're unstacking the dishwasher! I mean, we all know that this is only going to make you want to stab them in the face! However, if you’re also experiencing mood swings, irritability or depression; if you find yourself with abnormally lower levels of energy, stamina and are developing the meno belly; brain fog or a loss in muscle strength or bone density, or you struggle to assert yourself, it may be that your partner’s usual way of seduction is not the only thing to blame, and in fact, you have depleted levels of testosterone. I would have a word though!

There are several factors that can contribute to low testosterone levels in women: age, medical conditions and lifestyle factors.  

As we near menopause, testosterone levels can decline significantly and after, they can crash hard.  This is because testosterone levels peak around ovulation; you know, that one day in the month when an “early night” seems like a good idea! When our bodies stop releasing eggs, our testosterone stores deplete, and the only thing you want in you is a cup of tea and a biscuit. 

Now it’s not all dry doom and gloom. The adrenal glands also produce small amounts of testosterone which becomes significant and something you should be aware of after menopause, when ovarian testosterone production declines. Fatigue; weight loss or weight gain; muscle weakness; low blood pressure; salt cravings; low blood sugar; nausea and diarrhoea; darkening of the skin, especially in folds; loss of body hair and changes in mood can all be symptoms of your adrenal glands struggling to work optimally, and therefore struggling to secrete that much need testosterone. 

Certain medical conditions or treatments (such as polycystic ovary syndrome or chemotherapy) can mess with testosterone levels so if you’re experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms, it might be worth catching up with your doctor and laying it all out on the table.  Sometimes, talking to your doctor can feel like you’re talking to a brick wall.  You are at their mercy and seek a finite diagnosis or miracle cure from their well educated box of tricks, but it doesn’t have to be this way. More often than not, they will begin the consultation with “what do you think is going on?”  Be under no illusion,  they have been trained to begin this way in order to speed through and get you on your way as quickly as possible, so we would urge you to take advantage!  Go in with notes that provide you with a diary of your symptoms, ask them for certain investigations and don’t let them fob you off!  For help in talking to your doctor, check out our ‘How To’ guides - here you will find helpful information about what you should be asking for. 

You may also be experiencing symptoms of low testosterone if your diet has taken a hit, you’re struggling to find the motivation to move, sleep is evading you or you’re experiencing high levels of stress.  Unfortunately, the likelihood is, these symptoms are probably all too familiar if you are knocking on the door of menopause or as you keep trudging through womanhood, but this is just more of a reason to take control and start replenishing that va va voom.  Luckily, we have a store cupboard full of helpful supplements and powders that can help you do exactly this, but if you’re just starting out, check out our non negotiable hero products to get you on your WillPowders Way!