Excess testosterone is a phenomenon that both men and women can experience. However, the signs and symptoms of elevated testosterone are very different for each gender. These are some of the most common signs that an individual may experience when dealing with an excessive amount of male hormones.
Women tend to have a wider range of negative signs when it comes to elevated testosterone levels. One of the most common problems for women has to do with their hair. A woman may start to notice hair growth above her upper lip or a thickening of hair on her legs and arms. At the same time, there is a good chance that she will experience hair loss on her head. If left untreated, there is a chance of severe hair loss leading to partial or complete baldness.
A woman can also have elevated testosterone if she begins to experience a severe change in personality. Excess testosterone is likely to make a woman more aggressive, less tolerant, and generally much quicker to act than normal. She may also begin to notice that moments of mild depression occur more frequently and are harder to shake.
The skin may also undergo changes in women who have elevated testosterone. Perspiration levels begin to increase at a remarkable rate. Breakouts of acne and other skin irritations become more frequent and are often difficult to control. For some women, higher testosterone levels can also cause itchiness that goes beyond discomfort and becomes maddening.
On the other hand, men tend to have relatively few problems with elevated testosterone levels. In fact, there may be some male health benefits to increasing levels. Testosterone tends to moderate blood pressure levels, decrease the potential for obesity, and help fight colds and the flu. Men with higher testosterone levels also have a lower risk of heart attack.
However, elevated testosterone is not without risks for men. Because the hormone increases aggressiveness and a predilection for acting spontaneously, a man with higher levels of testosterone may tend to use tobacco more frequently, drink alcoholic beverages excessively, and develop a taste for participating in activities that are somewhat risky. In some cases, elevated testosterone levels can be so high that these drawbacks effectively cancel out any benefits derived from the increased amount of male hormone in the body.
Elevated testosterone sometimes occurs when treating for low testosterone levels. For this reason, it is important for a doctor to actively monitor the progress of testosterone replacement therapy. Close monitoring will allow testosterone levels to be restored to a normal range and therefore gain the benefits associated with the male hormone, while minimizing the chances of experiencing the ill effects of elevated levels.