Fatigue, decreased energy, decreased sex drive, depressed mood, increased body fat, decreased muscle and bone mass may be symptoms of low testosterone in women.

Testosterone is a steroid hormone produced by the body by both men and women. In men, primarily the testicles produce testosterone. It plays a major role in stimulating sperm production, sex drive, mood, muscles, and bone mass and cognition. Testosterone is produced in the ovaries and the adrenal gland in women. In women, it plays a role in sex drive, mood, and muscle and bone mass as well.

This hormone declines around age thirty in men (andropause) and women over forty years old (menopause). As we mature into later years there a significant decline during andropause for men and during menopause for women. Other causes of decreased testosterone may include chronic stress, hormonal imbalances, and medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, infections, liver and kidney disease, obesity, and pain.

Men deficient in this hormone may develop abdominal obesity (pot bellies), decreased muscle mass, and loss of sexual interest and decreased sexual performance. Women may exhibit low sex drive, fatigue, low muscle, and bone mass and increased body fat. Low testosterone is also associated with heart attacks, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, and depression. In both sexes of all ages, low testosterone appears to decrease sex drive, sexual arousal and lead to sexual dysfunction.