Testosterone makes women “masculine” While testosterone is commonly thought of as the “male hormone,” the truth is that at normal levels T does not make women’s voices deeper or more hoarse, cause them to grow excess facial hair, or diminish their femininity in any way. At certain times during a woman’s lifespan, testosterone levels measure up to 10 times higher than estrogen levels.
Testosterone only impacts a woman’s sex drive Yes, testosterone does have a role in a woman’s libido, but this is only a small fraction of the way T affects women. Testosterone also plays a role in mood regulation, physical activity, energy levels, and more.
- Reduce anxiety, depression, and irritability
- Reduce bone and muscle loss
- Combat physical fatigue
- Reduce hot flashes
- Prevent cognition changes and
- memory loss
- Reduce incontinence
- Decrease sexual dysfunction
Testosterone causes hair loss There is no scientific or anecdotal evidence supporting claims that testosterone causes hair loss. More likely, patients who are taking T to combat signs and symptoms of aging are experiencing age-related hair loss (which happens to both men and women). Up to 33% of women begin to lose hair as they age, at around the same time their testosterone levels drop. And contrary to popular belief, nearly two-thirds of women begin to experience hair regrowth when treated with testosterone.
Testosterone is bad for the heart Men carry higher levels of testosterone than women, and men also have higher rates of heart disease than women. Still, this is not a causational relationship (meaning high T does not lead to heart disease). In fact, T can have positive effects on lean body mass as well as lipid profiles in both men and women—and T has been used to treat patients with cardiovascular disease.
Testosterone makes people aggressive The basis for this misconception lies in a confusion between anabolic steroids and T therapy. Yes, anabolic and synthetic steroids may make people more aggressive. However, testosterone therapy is different and leads to decreased levels of aggression, irritability, and anxiety.
