Most people are well aware that low testosterone can cause issues for men. Fatigue, low libido, and muscle loss are just a few things men notice as testosterone starts to dip.
But what most people don’t realize is that women need testosterone, too.
Yes, testosterone is dubbed a “male hormone.” But women’s bodies also make it, just in smaller amounts. And when levels get too low, it can have downstream effects on energy, mood, and more, just like it does in men.
Unfortunately, most women are unaware that low T could be part of the problem. That’s where this blog comes in. Keep reading for a functional medicine look at what low testosterone in women might look like and why it matters.
What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is an androgen, a type of sex hormone that plays a role in energy, body composition, and reproductive health.1 While often associated with men, women’s ovaries and adrenal glands make testosterone, too.
In fact, testosterone is an essential hormone for women, even though it rarely gets the same attention as estrogen and progesterone. Some of it converts into estradiol, your body’s primary form of estrogen. But testosterone also plays its own distinct role in the body.
Like men, testosterone levels naturally fall as women age. That decline often starts well before menopause, sometimes as early as your 30s.2 While more common in midlife, low testosterone can happen at any age.
What Does Testosterone Do for Women?
Testosterone plays a bigger role in your body than most women realize. It supports your energy, mood, and even your motivation and confidence. It also helps maintain muscle tone, bone density, and mental clarity. And yes, it plays a role in libido, too.
Just like all hormones, your body functions best when testosterone is in a healthy range. When levels get too high or too low, it can start to show up as symptoms.
In the women’s health world, high testosterone tends to get the most attention. That’s because high androgens are one of the telltale signs of PMOS[b] (formerly PCOS), one of the leading causes of infertility.3 However, low testosterone can also be disruptive, even though it’s often missed.
What Causes Low Testosterone in Women?
Several things can contribute to low testosterone in women, including:
- Aging: Women’s testosterone levels decline naturally with age, especially as women approach menopause. They can drop by nearly half by the time menopause hits.2
- Oophorectomy: Removing one or both ovaries can cause a dramatic decline in testosterone.
- Primary ovarian insufficiency: While rare, some women’s ovaries stop working normally before age 40. When this occurs, it can affect hormone levels, including testosterone.
- Hypopituitarism: Your pituitary gland signals your ovaries and adrenal glands to produce hormones. If it’s underactive, testosterone production can suffer.
- Adrenal insufficiency: Your adrenal glands also produce testosterone. So conditions like Addison’s disease can affect levels, too.
- Hormonal birth control: Some contraceptives raise SHBG, which binds to testosterone, lowering the amount your body can actually use.
- Chronic stress, intense exercise, or undereating: These can disrupt the signals between your brain and ovaries, which can lower testosterone.
- Corticosteroids: Long-term use has been linked to lower testosterone levels in some people.
Signs & Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women
Low testosterone can show up in women in a lot of different ways.
Common signs of low testosterone include:
- Fatigue or low energy
- Low libido
- Brain fog or trouble concentrating
- Mood changes, including depression, anxiety, or low motivation
- Muscle weakness
- Increased body fat
- Reduced bone density
- Weight gain, especially around the midsection
Keep in mind, these symptoms overlap with other conditions, including other hormone imbalances. For example, low libido and weight gain are common with low estrogen. And fatigue and anxiety can also be signs of high cortisol or thyroid imbalance.
In other words, having these symptoms isn’t a surefire sign of low T, but it’s worth a look, especially if symptoms are severe or unresolved.
Why Low Testosterone in Women Often Gets Missed
Estrogen and progesterone tend to dominate the hormone conversation. This is especially true during perimenopause and menopause. Since testosterone gets lumped in the “male hormone” category, it’s often overlooked.
In fact, standard OB-GYN visits often don’t check testosterone at all. Unless you specifically ask or see a provider who looks at the fuller hormone picture, low T can go unaddressed for years.
On top of that, low testosterone symptoms often get blamed on other things. Fatigue, low mood, and brain fog often get chalked up to stress or aging. Not to mention that there’s no clear consensus on what counts as a low testosterone level in women.2 This makes diagnosis even trickier.
How Functional Medicine Testing Can Help
If you suspect low T may be part of your symptoms, testing can help confirm it. That way, you’re not just guessing based on symptoms alone.
This is where functional medicine testing can be helpful. Here at Anchored in Health, we use a comprehensive hormone panel known as the DUTCH test.
The DUTCH test measures multiple hormones, including testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol. But it also measures their metabolites. Meaning it shows how well your body is breaking down and clearing hormones, not just how much you’re producing.
This matters because low testosterone rarely tells the whole story. Other imbalances, like estrogen dominance or high cortisol, may also be at play. Having the full picture can help uncover what’s really driving your symptoms.
Natural Ways to Support Healthy Testosterone Levels
While testing can help confirm what’s going on, there’s a lot you can do in the meantime. As a functional medicine doctor in Orland Park, IL, here are a few ways I suggest to support healthy testosterone levels naturally:
Strength train regularly
Resistance training supports muscle mass and bone density. But it also triggers a temporary boost in testosterone.4 Examples include weightlifting or bodyweight exercises like squats and push-ups. No need to spend hours in the gym. Even two to three sessions a week can make a difference.
Manage chronic stress
Chronic stress can dysregulate your HPA axis and throw off your hormone signals. This includes the ones that regulate testosterone. Simple habits like breathwork, journaling, or spending time outdoors can help.
Prioritize sleep
Skimping on sleep can take a toll on your hormones, testosterone included.5 That’s because much of your hormone production happens overnight. Aim for seven to nine hours a night. If you could use some help in the sleep department, be sure to check out our functional medicine sleep guide.
Eat enough food
Restrictive diets and chronic undereating disrupt hormone production, including testosterone. Your body needs energy and nutrients to keep hormone production running smoothly. Try to eat balanced meals at regular intervals to keep your body well fueled.
Support your body with the right nutrients
Zinc plays a role in testosterone production, so it’s essential. Good sources include oysters, beef, chicken, lentils, pumpkin seeds, and chickpeas.
Healthy fats are important, too. They provide the building blocks for steroid hormones like testosterone. Avocados, olive oil, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish can help you get your fill of healthy fats.
These habits are a great place to start. But if you want to dig deeper into what could be behind your symptoms, our root causes of hormone imbalance guide is worth checking out.
Support Hormone Balance Naturally with Functional Medicine in Orland Park, IL
Testosterone plays a bigger role in women’s health than most people know. When levels drop too low, it can affect your energy, mood, weight, libido, and much more.
Like all hormones, testosterone works best when it’s in balance. If you’re struggling with symptoms of low T, functional medicine in Orland Park, IL can help you find clarity.
At Anchored in Health, we use the DUTCH test to get a comprehensive look at your hormones. This helps us understand what’s really driving your symptoms, so we can tailor a plan just for you.
Live in the Orland Park area and ready to get answers? Here’s how to get started:
- Contact us with questions.
- Schedule your consultation with a functional medicine doctor in Orland Park.
- Get a personalized plan to help restore harmony to your hormones.
Other Holistic Health Services at Anchored in Health in Orland Park, IL
Anchored in Health provides a wide variety of services to support whole-body health. This includes chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy, and the Shape ReClaimed program. In addition, we offer genetic testing, thermography, and Vibrant Wellness testing to help uncover the root causes behind your symptoms. If you’re looking to take a holistic approach to your health and live in the Orland Park or Chicago area, reach out to us today!
About the Author
Dr. Cindy Jakubiec is a functional medicine doctor and founder of Anchored in Health in Orland Park, IL — a practice dedicated to helping women get the answers they deserve when conventional medicine falls short. With advanced certifications in hormone balance through the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), Dr. Cindy has spent over two decades helping women uncover the hidden hormonal imbalances that so often go undetected at a standard OB-GYN visit.
Testosterone is just one of the hormones Dr. Cindy routinely evaluates as part of a comprehensive hormone panel at Anchored in Health. Using advanced testing like the DUTCH test, she looks at the full hormonal picture — not just estrogen and progesterone — to understand what’s really driving symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, low libido, and mood changes. Because in her experience, the answers are often in the hormones nobody thought to check.
If you’re tired of being told your labs are normal while still feeling anything but, schedule an appointment with Dr. Cindy and find out what your hormones are really saying.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.
Reading this blog does not establish a doctor-patient relationship between you and Anchored In Health or any of its practitioners. Reliance on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk.
Sources:
- Testosterone | Cleveland Clinic
- Low Testosterone in Women | Cleveland Clinic
- The Role of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Reproductive and Metabolic Health: Overview and Approaches for Treatment | PMC
- Testosterone responses after resistance exercise in women: influence of regional fat distribution | Pubmed
- Effect of 1 Week of Sleep Restriction on Testosterone Levels in Young Healthy MenFREE | PMC
