- High testosterone in women often signals PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal stress, or insulin resistance, so identifying which is driving yours is essential for proper treatment.
- These hormone systems talk to each other, so fixing high testosterone alone without addressing insulin resistance or thyroid problems usually leads to recurring symptoms.
- Your excess androgens may stem from your body's insulin resistance signaling your ovaries to make more testosterone, making metabolic support your first intervention.
- Addressing the root cause (whether thyroid, adrenal, or metabolic) matters more than trying to suppress testosterone with medications that ignore the underlying dysfunction.
Weight gain, acne, or hair loss.
Are you experiencing any of these symptoms?
These are only a few of the symptoms of high testosterone in women, but the real question is this:
Why do women have high testosterone, to begin with, and what can you do to lower it?
Unfortunately, many Doctors may tell you that you have high testosterone but rarely ever will they offer any advice on how to lower your levels to help you feel better.
That’s why it’s important to have an understanding of what is going on in YOUR body so you can figure out how to get back to normal.
The important thing to realize about high testosterone is that usually (95% of the time) it is caused by something else like another hormone imbalance.
So the way to fix the problem is by tackling and reversing the issue causing your high testosterone…
Symptoms of High Testosterone in Women
Before we jump into the causes of high testosterone and the treatment, we really need to understand the symptoms of high testosterone.
Symptoms are very important because each person is different in terms of how much is TOO much for their body.
I have seen plenty of women with “high normal” ranges of testosterone but ALL of the symptoms.
In these patients, it’s obvious they have too much testosterone, but their numbers make them look relatively “normal” but they still benefit greatly from treatment.
Use this list below to help guide you…
Symptoms of High Testosterone in Women:
- Weight gain or inability to lose weight (especially if weight gain is unexpected)
- Hair loss (especially if thyroid function and other hormones are normal and if the hair loss is “male-patterned”)
- Acne, changes in complexion or very oily skin (deep cystic acne is also common with high androgens usually in the jaw-line)
- Changes in mood including depression, irritability, or anger
- Imbalances of other hormones including estrogen/progesterone ratio, other androgens like DHEA, and thyroid hormone
As you will probably notice many of these symptoms are non-specific.
Meaning that there will be some crossover with other hormone imbalances in your body.
For instance: thyroid issues can cause weight gain and hair loss, but it usually isn’t male-patterned baldness.
Thyroid issues can also lead to acne, but it usually isn’t cystic or on the jawline.
Using these specific clues can help you determine WHERE exactly your hormonal issues are coming from.
But, because there is a crossover I always recommend you ALSO test your serum levels.
Testosterone Lab Tests
Ok so let’s talk about what abnormal testosterone tests look like.
First, let me show you an example and then explain:
Below you have example #1 which is a female with high FREE testosterone and high “normal” total testosterone.
From this example, you can see that only the “free” is marked as high but in reality, this patient definitely has high testosterone levels.
How do I know?
Because she presented with hair growth on the face, acne, and weight gain.
I want to take a second and explain that this pattern is VERY common and one of the most commonly missed forms.
You see:
Free testosterone is the ACTIVE form of testosterone, so this particular patient has high levels of ACTIVE and FREE testosterone floating around causing all of the symptoms listed above.
In her case, it was caused by insulin resistance, and by treating that problem her testosterone levels (and therefore symptoms) went away.
Here is example #2:
Again, you can see that her free testosterone is HIGH but her total testosterone is within the “normal” range.
This patient was missed by conventional Doctors because she presented with very slight hair growth and slight weight gain but with very prominent mood swings and irritability.
This is why it’s so important to match symptoms to lab tests to make sure you don’t miss the diagnosis.
I also wanted to show you an example of low testosterone for comparison:
Above you can see the serum testosterone levels are off the chart low (<3) and I also included in the picture her Hgb A1c which shows this patient with insulin resistance as the main cause of her issue.
Remember:
High levels of insulin can cause BOTH high testosterone and low testosterone – it just depends on the patient.
You can read more about the causes and treatment of low testosterone in this article.
So now that you know HOW to diagnose high testosterone levels and what symptoms to watch out for the next step is to find out HOW to treat it…
6 Causes of High Testosterone in Women
In this section, I’m going to go over the most common causes of high testosterone.
It’s important to remember that this list is NOT the complete list, it’s just the most common presentations that I have seen in my practice and the most commonly missed diagnoses.
I also want to spend some time on each to help you determine if you actually have these abnormalities because most Doctors tend to gloss over each of them.
When it comes to high levels of hormones in the body it can be difficult to treat because it requires some digging to find the “root cause”.
Compare this to LOW levels of hormones, which usually can just be “replaced” to achieve symptomatic relief.
High hormone levels require more knowledge and more advanced treatment plans.
1. Insulin Resistance
As I mentioned previously in this article the link between insulin resistance (1) (high blood sugar) and testosterone is VERY strong.
High insulin levels cause both LOW testosterone and HIGH testosterone.
In men insulin resistance typically causes low testosterone, but in women, it can cause both.
But, what is the best way to determine how it’s affecting your testosterone?
Simply check both your Hgb A1c and fasting insulin levels in addition to free and total testosterone.
If you have high testosterone levels + high levels of insulin then insulin is certainly contributing to your hormone imbalance.
(Example of elevated insulin in the serum, your fasting insulin should be < 5)
Women who tend to get HIGH testosterone levels with insulin resistance fall on the PCOS spectrum (2).
Meaning that as insulin increases, testosterone increases, estrogen increases, and progesterone decreases.
Some women can get away with some mild hair growth on the face, while others face serious symptoms like darkening of the skin, abdominal/visceral fat deposits, and extreme mood swings.
Generally, the higher your fasting insulin levels are the worse your symptoms will be.
2. Estrogen/Progesterone Imbalances (PMS/PMDD, Estrogen dominance)
ALL hormones in your body interact with one another.
Think of them like a spider web, you can’t pill a string in isolation.
Moving one strand of the web will move the entire web, to some degree.
The same concept is true with your hormones.
They all play together.
So when one hormone is imbalanced it will ultimately drag down (or up) other hormones in the body.
This concept is true for sex hormones in women (estrogen and progesterone).
The exact mechanism isn’t clear, but there is definitely a correlation between progesterone/estrogen and testosterone.
Take for example women with PMS and PMDD, conditions caused by elevated estrogen levels (AKA Estrogen dominance).
These patients have been shown to have increased levels of both DHEA and testosterone (3).
Compare this to menopause (a complete lack of progesterone with low levels of estrogen) and women generally end up with LOW testosterone levels.
One thing is clear:
Changes to estrogen/progesterone somehow affect testosterone levels.
3. Lack of Exercise (especially weight training)
think of exercise as an extra way to help prevent your body from developing high testosterone levels.
So lack of exercise doesn’t directly cause high testosterone levels, but exercising does help PREVENT high levels, to begin with.
This is most likely due to the effects of exercise on insulin levels (4).
Exercise helps lower insulin levels by sensitizing your cells to insulin.
Low insulin = normal testosterone levels.
High insulin = high testosterone levels.
It’s also worth pointing out that exercising can actually balance testosterone (5) levels to boost libido and muscle mass.
Exercising can also help prevent the abnormal fat distribution that comes with high/low testosterone levels (fat in the upper body and upper arms area).
4. Adrenal Disease (High DHEA Levels)
This condition is less common, but anything that cranks up adrenal production can ultimately lead to high testosterone levels.
To understand you need to see how testosterone is created in the body:
Using this diagram below you can see that testosterone can be created from precursors like DHEA, pregnenolone, progesterone, and androstenedione.
Anything that increases any of these hormones (even if you take these as supplements!) can increase your total testosterone.
There are also several medical conditions that can lead to elevated DHEA and testosterone through this pathway including adrenal hyperplasia, high stress (adrenal fatigue), excess supplementation of progesterone/pregnenolone/DHEA, and insulin resistance (6).
Obviously, the most common causes of high DHEA include increased demand for adrenal production (high cortisol and high DHEA levels) and excess supplementation (which can be a big problem as well).
For this reason, it’s a good idea to always check serum levels of DHEA in addition to cortisol levels when evaluating testosterone levels.
Remember that hormones do NOT operate in isolation, altering one will also alter others.
5. High Leptin Levels (AKA Leptin Resistance)
Leptin is the hormone that just might be making it impossible for you to lose weight and keep it off.
If you aren’t familiar with leptin please read this article which outlines how exactly it causes weight loss resistance.
But briefly here is the story:
Leptin is a hormone secreted by fat cells and it’s supposed to control your appetite, and metabolism and tell your brain to burn fat.
When you have leptin resistance guess what happens?
Your brain doesn’t get the signal and instead of doing all of those things it instead causes the EXACT opposite.
That means your metabolism slows down, your brain makes you think you are constantly hungry and your body refuses to burn fat.
AND…
In addition to causing weight loss resistance, high levels of leptin are also associated with high testosterone levels (7).
High leptin levels also are seen in women with PCOS (8) and many women with leptin resistance also have insulin resistance (which further worsens testosterone levels by itself).
So high insulin levels = high leptin levels = high testosterone levels.
High insulin and leptin levels make it impossible to lose weight and high testosterone levels cause all of the side effects listed above.
6. Weight Gain or Obesity
It turns out that excess fat (9) can also cause high testosterone levels by itself.
Fat cells themselves actually increase levels of androgens in females.
Studies show that this is caused by the upregulation of an enzyme known as 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5 (10).
Forget the long name of the enzyme and just focus on the fact that fat cells themselves increase testosterone levels.
But, in addition to fat cells increasing testosterone levels…
Fat cells also increase insulin resistance which also leads to further androgen excess (high testosterone).
The moral of the story here is that you need to lose weight in addition to adding the other therapies above to normalize testosterone levels.
And don’t let that freak you out because the next section is all about treating high testosterone levels…
How to Lower Testosterone in Women
When attempting to lower your testosterone levels it is critical to know WHY you have high levels, to begin with.
This is because there are multiple “treatments” for the condition, but the theme is always the same: treat the root cause.
Below I’m going to go over some ways to treat high testosterone levels if you have the conditions listed above…
If you have high insulin levels AND high testosterone levels then consider the following treatments:
Treatment for high Testosterone levels due to insulin resistance
- Add in high-intensity interval training or weight training – building muscle mass sensitizes tissues to insulin levels.
- Decrease carbohydrates (especially refined carbs like sugar/bread/pasta/etc.): consider diets like nutritional ketosis.
- Consider the use of T3 hormone to boost thyroid function and sensitize cells to insulin levels.
- Consider insulin-sensitizing medications: SGLT-2 inhibitors, metformin, GLP-1 agonists, and alpha-amylase inhibitors.
- Consider supplements to lower insulin levels: berberine (1,000-2,000mg per day), alpha lipoic acid (600-1,200mg per day), magnesium, chromium, and glucomannan – all of these supplements have been shown to reduce blood sugar and insulin levels.
- Note: Treating insulin resistance will take more than 1 treatment as indicated above. I also find that insulin resistance is very common among women with weight loss resistance. Do not ignore this hormone!
Treatment for high Testosterone due to Estrogen & Progesterone imbalances
- Ensure that your thyroid is functioning optimally – hypothyroidism causes estrogen dominance and low progesterone levels
- Ensure your excretion and metabolism of estrogen is optimal – that means proper liver function and optimal methylated B vitamins and nutrients
- If menopause consider using bio-identical hormone replacement, especially if symptomatic (Bioidentical progesterone and estradiol/estriol combo in the form of biest work particularly well)
- Consider supplements to help estrogen metabolism: Vitamin B12 (preferably methylcobalamin), 5-MTHF, DIM or indole-3-carbinol, milk thistle, MSM, bio-identical progesterone (20-40mg transdermally on days 14-28 of your cycle)
- Note: The best way to check for estrogen/progesterone imbalances is through DUTCH testing, NOT serum levels. If you feel you have estrogen dominance but “normal” serum labs, then make sure to check via DUTCH (urine testing). Also, put special attention on thyroid function because imbalances in thyroid hormone can cause both low progesterone and high estrogen levels.
Treatment for high Testosterone due to Adrenal related issues
- Increase consumption of salt (Himalayan pink salt or Celtic sea salt)
- Manage stress levels with relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, spiritual prayer, time outside or in nature, etc. (see audio clip below for more info)
- Cut caffeine and alcohol consumption way, way down
- Avoid other stimulants like amphetamine-based medications (Adderall, Concerta, Phentermine, etc.)
- Get 8 hours of sleep each night and avoid high-energy tasks later in the evening. Make sure to also avoid taking naps during the day.
- Consider the following supplements: Adrenal adaptogens, Adrenal glandulars, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, and low doses of melatonin (if you are having issues with sleep)
- Note: Adrenal-related issues can be very complex to treat, so if you suspect adrenal issues are playing a large role in your high testosterone levels you would likely benefit from seeing a practitioner to help guide you. It’s also worth noting that the best way to test for cortisol/cortisone levels is again with a series of 4 urine tests throughout the day (DUTCH urinary testing).
Treatment of high Testosterone due to Leptin resistance
- Consider an intermittent or prolonged fasting program.
- Cut carbohydrates and fructose consumption (both make leptin levels worse).
- Treating underlying thyroid resistance and insulin resistance if present (use steps above) -> If you don’t balance these hormones treating leptin resistance will be almost impossible.
- Add high-intensity exercise with weight training.
- Consider leptin-sensitizing medications: Byetta, Victoza, Bydureon, or Saxenda.
- Consider supplements (there are no specific supplements to treat leptin resistance that work consistently): Insulin-sensitizing supplements (above), fish oil, zinc, and leucine.
- Note: Leptin resistance can be very difficult to treat and in order to treat it you must treat conditions that also make it worse (like insulin resistance and thyroid resistance). In my experience treating leptin resistance usually requires the assistance of medication (as listed above) and, when used correctly, weight loss and other hormone-balancing effects can be profound.
Bottom line:
Treating high testosterone levels is possible but it requires the right approach which means finding and treating the underlying cause.
If you are able to properly diagnose and treat the underlying cause you should be able to reduce your symptoms dramatically!
Most causes of high testosterone are due to one or more of the following: insulin resistance, leptin resistance, imbalances in estrogen/progesterone, imbalances in adrenal function, and poor diet/lifestyle.
If you are serious about treating your high testosterone levels make sure you find a doctor who understands hormone balancing and is willing to do some digging to get to the cause of your problem.
Now it’s your turn:
Do you have high testosterone levels?
What have you done to treat it?
What has worked for you?
Leave your comments or questions below!
Scientific References
#1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18615851
#2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1069067/
#3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1438645
#4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10683091
#5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11915780
#6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12505096
#7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19340711
#8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3728861/
#9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16647374
#10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15531721
Hi, my friend had following symptoms, like hair loss, exceptional weight gain, acne around jaw line, mood swings. When we went for her test, we came to know, she is having high testosterone i.e. 112.46 my/ml. Now pls suggest, what next ?
Hi Nk,
You should have your friend read this article which outlines the most common causes. Once you have an idea what is causing the high testosterone then you can go about setting up a treatment plan.
I must say, this is the clearest explanation of how hormones work and what to do in case of imbalance.
My girl has a pretty obvious hormonal imbalance, but the doctors she sees barely acknowledge it let alone treat it.
We have ordered a complete hormonal check for her and the results came back with low Progesterone, high Estradiol and waaay high Testosterone.
Based on your article, I can now at least imagine the underlying cause so we can search further and try various treatments you propose.
Thank you!!
Hi Andrej,
No problem, I hope it helps. Keep us updated on her progress.
We received all the results back from hormone check. DHEA and cortisol were measured from saliva in three samples during different times of day.
And both are way off! DHEA is off the charts in the evening and cortisol is basically zero in the evening.
So very high DHEA and low Cortisol.
Also Progesterone is low (but within norm), Estradiol is high and Testosterone to high (out of norm).
Thyroid hormones (taken from blood sample) seem to be ok. TSH, free T3, free T4, FSH, LH and Prolactin seem to have quite normal values.
Problem here is … I cannot explain low cortisol. My girl has high weight problem and she has typical high testosterone problems (skin coloration, excess facial hair), so how could I explain low cortisol? Adrenal gland problems? PTSD (she is VERY sensistive to stress)
I guess, this will be a challenge … We have made an appointment with the doctor, but so far no one really took the time to get to the bottom of her problems.
My prolactin levels are 72.3 and testosterone are 120.3. I stay vitamin d deficient and no doctor can explain why? I have been to specialist after specialist and have had NOTHING accomplished. My T3 and T4 levels come back normal but i have cysts on both sides of my thyroid. I stay tired all the time my body hurts constantly (joints) PCOS has been brought up but I have had periods every month sometimes twice…I have recently had a hysterectomy ovaries left. Every single day is a struggle for me both Mentally and Physically. Please Help!!!!
Hi Kimberly,
Most people are Vitamin D deficient and most physicians have no clue how to replace it (they often use D2 or tiny doses of D3). Most physicians don’t understand how to naturally increase vitamin D3 levels through sunlight as well which complicates the problem further.
Dr. Childs,
Does saturated animal fat contribute to post menopausal hair loss?
Hi Shirley,
No, but other nutrient deficiencies due to poor diet may contribute to post menopausal hair loss.
I get hormonal breakouts on my chin and jawline typically right before, sometimes after, my monthly cycle. What kind of doctor should I go to to test my testosterone levels?
Hi Alexandria,
Any physician can check your testosterone levels so it depends on what type of treatment you are searching for. Finding doctors who specialize in hormone balancing can be difficult to find and that’s the kind of doctor you would want to seek out.
Hi Dr. Childs!
I’ve been recently diagnosed with high testosterone even though I suffered all my life with PCOS. I had 2 healthy pregnancies, but after my second one, my period just stopped, I have such an enormous amount of facial hair, weight gain, fatigue. Can this be because of the high testosterone or the pcos combined with it? Is best to see an endocrinologist? My GYN only wants to give me anticonceptionals. Thank you.
Hi Fernanda,
It’s best to see a physician who specializes in bio identical hormone replacement and management.
Hi Dr. Childs,
Weird question which came to mind… I believe I’ve had PCOS since my teens, with irregular periods and all… I heard that milk contains high androgen levels, and through my childhood and teens I drank tonnes of milk… like glasses and glasses of it… my mom kept 1 or 2 gallons of milk in the fridge for me!! I wonder if that may have been a catalyst to the syndrome?
Thanks,
Michelle
Hello Dr. Childs,
I am 52 years old in menopause. I have hypothyroidism and I’m on Synthroid 75mcg, transdermal estrogen cream 0.5 once a day, transdermal progesterone cream 0.5 twice a day. I have been having blood work done for the last year to figure out why my hair loss is still happening since being on Synthroid. I know this can happen with hormonal imbalances. My weight has always been around 107lbs but for some reason I lose weight (around 3 pounds) and I’m 5’3. On my last Lab work I had showed: (The Ref Range is ng/dL) Free(t4) 1.57,Triiodothyronine,free,serum 2.7, TSH 5.030, Progesterone 0.7, Estradiol <6.0, Cortisol am 10.4, Testosterone, Serum 11 and Free Testosterone(direct) 4.5(flagged high) DHEA 166.3 also to my surprise my
Glucose, Serum was 103 high. Also my Iron serum is 96.
My compounding Pharmacist put me on Glukokine and Thyroid Response complete care to see if that would give a boost to my Thyroid without changing my Synthroid. After 6 weeks we did another lab work(June) Here were my results: My Glucose Serum dropped to 93, Free Testosterone went up to 4.6, Testosterone Free total 17, Estradiol 13.2, Progesterone 1.0, TSH 3.650, T4(free) 1.74, Triiodothyronine, free, Serum 2.5(went down) TPO is a 16.
I did notice the thyroid response supplement did help some but, my hair seemed to come out more. Its very, very dry. Hair loss is the male pattern baldness too. Could the Glukokine supplement have caused more loss or the thyroid supplement. I stopped both after 8 weeks. I've had my estrogen and progesterone levels in the normal range and thyroid being at a 1 in Check according to my OBGYN but still losing hair.
Any advice would be so appreciated.
Thank you
Hi Dr Childs
I would appreciate your view on this. I had a partial thyroidectomy about 4 years ago and have been on various conventional and more holistic treatments for hypothyroidism and low cortisol and DHEA. Cortisol/DHEA improved but thyroid symptoms continued to worsen over the years – weight gain and inability to lose it, cold, dry skin, depression, slow and brain fog. More recently I developed noticeably severe PMS symptoms. I decided to stop thyroid medication, was on t4 and t3 more recently. The recent blood results show my thyroid levels after five weeks of stopping the medication as similar to when on the medication. Doctors have confirmed a t3 conversion problem. I then did saliva hormone testing which has now revealed low cortisol, low DHEA, high testosterone, high estrogen and low progesterone. I don’t have many of the high testosterone symptoms other than weight gain and inability to lose it. PMS type symptoms still quite severe. My hair has started growing back really well after stoping the thyroid medication. I think I have lower than normal blood pressure, I struggle if I don’t eat regularly with shaking and feeling dizzy. My diet is good, balanced, lots of good protein and vegetables with some carbs like rice or sweet potato. The practitioner I am seeing has recommended some herbs for clearing testosterone and estrogen, increasing progesterone and supporting the adrenals. Will test the thyroid again in a few weeks. Im having difficulty pin pointing the cause of it all, it feels more like a number of issues (bad treatment in the past being one of them) have compounded. Is there anything you could suggest I do to get some relief from this and get my hormones into balance? In particular I’m concerned about my weight. Thanks.
My daughter has a rare chromosome deletion and is nonverbal. All of the male hormones in her blood tests are high – Free testosterone-direct (6.4), DHEA – serum (945),testosterone – serum (40) as of blood test in June. She had been taking a compounded Leuprolide that had brought these numbers down significantly; however, insurance will no longer cover compounding and the commercial Lupron has not had the same lowering effect. With these elevated levels, she has multiple physically aggressive episodes daily. Her doctors have pretty much thrown up their hands and told us there’s nothing to do if she can’t get the compounded leuprolide. Most of her symptoms we determine based on behaviors since she doesn’t have the ability/cognition to tell us what is going on. Any suggestions of doctors or options for us?
Thank you!
Hi Dr Childs,I’m a 65 yr.old woman,just a little back round on me. I had a complete hysterectomy at age 21,(long story). There’s a history of cancer in my family so I can’t take estrogen, I take over counter Estrogen for hot flashes.I quit smoking in 2006 and shortly after that my hot flashes were pretty intense.In 2012 along with hot flashes,I began noticing my complexion was getting extremely dry with acne. My primary doc.after major blood work found that my levels were okay except I have high levels of male testosterone ( 264.7 (h)….she referred me to an endocrinologIstanbul, and after 1 year with her she released me back to my primary care doc.She increased my Armour Thyroid meds from 60 mg to 90mg.
Not sure if this is related or not, but should mention that last year half of my hair literally fell out,since then it grew back to just have the same thing happen starting 1 month ago. I am at wits end and would love any input you can give me. I think I need a step up from an endocrinologist, and I’m not sure if that would help. I worked my whole life to enjoy my retirement and I can’t bring myself to even go out in public. Thank you Beverly_russell51@yahoo.com
Hi,
Could chronic inflammation due to a non-resolvable illness (Empty nose syndrome) cause high testosterone? In the case what can we do to manage and reduce the high testosterone?
Thank you very much
Hi my question is regarding t3 and testosterone. I was currently on 5mcg cytomel along with my tirosint. My t3 was on the lower side so we upped it to 15mcg cytomel. I now have very bad cystic acne on my chin as well as black hairs…never had this before. Also feel as if My upper body is getting larger. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your time.
Thank you for this information. I think my hormonal imbalance began during IVF. All my tests came normal prior to IVF. I didn’t need any “treatment”, but my husband had issues, yet the doctors insisted I had to follow the protocol and still take all those hormones for the IVF cycle to work. I gained 8 lbs within the first two weeks of the IVF, and by the time I delivered my twins I gained 85 lbs. I was hoping to lose this weight postpartum. My kids are 10 y/o now and I was able to lose only 10 lbs over these years. Plus I have facial hair growth on my chin that began right after I gave birth. I can see it’s getting worse every year. I am lost as to what to begin with to treat my imbalance.
Hi doctor
My TSH is 71ng/dL
And free testosterone is 4.8 pg/mL.
And DHEA level is 371mcg/dL.Pls guide me to get the normal testosterone levels
Hi Dr Childs, I really need help I am currently on metformin and soon as my ultrasound come back I may start the clomid treatment. My problem is I really want to have another baby before my biological clock stop ticking. My menstrual came on in July but I haven’t seen it yet this month so far, but I want to know are there some other things I can do to help me along with the process because it is depressing and as I have read over and over it still remain hard to lose the stubborn weight and maintain a positive attitude throughout. How can I get rid of the unwanted hair on my chin, the stubborn weight, excess tiredness without doing to much and moodiness? I have been walking more so I am trimming, but what I can say is that I thank god that he blessed me to have two handsome boys ages 7 and 14, so I can’t complain. The point is I thought every women supposed to be fruitful. Can you help me please?
Hi Dr.Childs!
I am Anne & 27 year old unmarried girl!
As I have read the whole article above; I feel like that I’m having High Testesterone level that caused of High Insulin!
Comparatively to the rest of my body complexion, around my Mouth area (specially the Upper Lip & also the lower lip) including lips & the neck are way DARKER & getting acnes also! The skin is also oily!
Since these keep mentally TORTURING me like hell; I have tried many beauty medications externally with the hope of getting these positively reduced!
But now I feel like there’s nothing to be with a beauty issue but it’s something with a great Hormonal imbalance!
*Is it happens cause of I’m having Insulin resistance?
*Will I be able to get cured this darkening issue by treating Hormonal imbalance?
*Is it curable?
It would be great if you also can make an article regarding, that how to get balanced these hormones by using natural ways?
Like what are the fruits, Vegetables & anything else what are supportive with balancing hormones?
Thank you Dr.!
Eagerly waiting for an answer!
Hi Anne,
You should be able to at the very least improve some of your symptoms if you address the root cause, the degree of improvement depends on your body.
What about women who have normal testosterone levels but high dht? This is the boat I am in. I have androgenic alopecia and my only option appears to b to take an anti-androgen but I am nervous about side effects especially BC I am within normal range for testosterone’s. I do have insulin resistance , have gained a lot of weight but apparently only some doctors would consider me to be prediabetic. My a1c is normal it fasting insulin is high. Can you suggest anything to stop the hair loss and regrow my hair? BTW, thryoid is normal and iron was fine. Its definitely just high dht causing it, I think. And I also have had an increase in facial hair and I have a lot of skin tags. Thanks for ur help.
Hi Ericka,
You can find more information about high DHEA levels in women here: https://www.restartmed.com/high-dhea-levels/
My wife just saw a doctor today and was told that her testosterone was 4x higher than it should be. She hasn’t gained any weight, had any hair loss, and doesn’t look physically different than she normally does. She does get little hairs on her chin and navel area from time to time but nothing excessive, and she does occasionally seem to have a mood swing. She’s scared, and I’ve assured her that she’s okay, because she doesn’t feel any different than normal. Her doctor thought it was strange that her levels were elevated despite not having the obvious symptoms, but what can we do to help her?
Hi Ricky,
You will need to find the cause of the high testosterone and then address treatment based on that cause. The article above outlines how to go about doing that.
I just got blood work back and my testosterone (TOT, LC/MS/MS)levels came back as high (68), but all my symptoms are those of low levels (unexpected/unexplained weight gain, acne, hair loss, depression, loss of sex drive).
I’ve been supplementing with DHEA for a few months now. Could that be the cause of my high levels? I eat well, weight train and run on a daily basis. I started menopause early (40), and could probably be considered completely menopausal by now. (I’m almost 47)
Thanks in advance.
Hi Nancy,
It sounds like your high testosterone is probably the result of another problem and not the biggest problem or the cause of your other symptoms. And yes, your testosterone could certainly be influenced by the DHEA you were taking.
Dr. Childs,
I began seeing a new obgyn who is more educated in HRT than my previous obgyn. Both had run blood test that showed me immeasurable in testosterone. Estradiol low also. (I had a heart attack when I was 41, stress-induced takotsubo.) New doc put me on 10 mg DHEA daily for two weeks then switched me to 7-keto, 50 mg daily for 6 weeks. My bloodwork last week showed me at 742 testosterone. I stopped taking the 7-keto over the weekend. I have been having rhythm changes in my heart all weekend, and probably was last week also, just mistakenly thought it was palpitations. Her nurse called me today and told me to go back on the DHEA but take 5mg only. She said it would reduce my testosterone. Is this accurate? I thought it would increase my testosterone not lower it??
Please advise.
Hi Suzanne,
DHEA may increase testosterone levels from whatever your baseline was, but 5mg will increase it less than 10mg. It all depends on the individual however, so I can’t really say one way or the other.
Hi Dr. Childs,
I have been experiencing excessive body hair growth. I always had excess hair growth & doctors would check my labs & everything would be normal. I never got checked for PCOS. They claim it’s in my genes & not a serious matter. It’s very embarrassing & want to find the root cause. I eat extremely healthy, do not eat meat (only wild caught salmon), no dairy. I have been drinking spearmint tea & reishi for some time now. Any advice on what to take or do? Thank you.
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
It’s obviously best if you know what is causing the hair growth, but you can kind of take a shotgun approach and use both zinc + saw palmetto which may help.
Dr. Childs,
I have received the run-around from several doctors about my hormonal imbalance–I thank you for this article. It’s been a great starting point in my research.
I am reviewing my blood results and my total testosterone level is a high 60 ng/dL. Unfortunately my insulin levels were not checked but I see my hemoglobin A1c is low at a 5.1%–I have all symptoms characterized by iron deficiency. My Hematocrit is 37.5.
Androgen total, Serum, is 457.1.
Some information about myself: I am 24 with painful ovarian cysts, painful and infrequent menstration, cystic acne on cheeks and jawline, anxiety/depression/insomnia and IBS.
I do believe I have PCOS and possibly insulin resistence. What are the next steps I should take? What profession should I reach out to, besides psychiatry/dermotology/primary care?
Hi K,
You can find more information about treating here: https://www.restartmed.com/pcos-supplements/
And here: https://www.restartmed.com/pcos-natural-treatment/
Dr. Childs,
What would your suggestions be for someone who has Primary ovarian Failure (now 35, was dx at 27), High FSH and LH, no cysts on ovaries, High Testosterone (74), Free Testosterone (2.7) and very high DHEA (413.5), SHBG (186). I am on vivelle dot .1mg and bio-compounded 100 Mg progesterone nightly. My estradiol is (104), Progesterone is (0.6). TSH (2.12), T4 free (1.06) T3 (116) , T4 (6.9)My doctors do not know what is going on with me and I am at a loss on how to balance my hormones with my POF. I have a A1C (5.1) Fasting glucose- (68-78). Experiencing a lot of hair loss (not male patterned). I have high testosterone and DHEA but no insulin issues. Thank you for your wonderful blog!
How do you suggest going about finding a physician to manage this? My gynecologist suggested testing for testosterone and found that my testosterone was elevated but that my thyroid was normal. You mention a few times throughout this different physicians and knowing to look for these things, since I’ll be looking for a new endocrinologist or PCP, wondering if you have any tips.
Hi Elizabeth,
Finding the right doctor is the hard part. Most physicians aren’t trained on how to use hormones beyond the use of oral contraceptives. The best thing you can do is look for someone who discusses the topics that I discuss here or has a unique approach to treatment.
Hello Dr. Childs,
I am a 55 yr. old woman, am post-menopausal x 5 yrs now, and had suffered with hot flashes, insomnia and gradual weight gain of 15 lbs. over 5 yrs. I workout regularly, eat a healthy diet, and am retired now for 3 yrs. I started taking natural progesterone cream about 4 months ago due to estrogen dominance, and had to go up to 900 mg per day in order to mitigate the estrogen kickback symptoms. I have titrated down to 700 mg per day and am working at slowly titrating down, depending on my symptoms and always listening to my body. I feel absolutely fantastic, I am sleeping better, my hot flashes are all gone, but I can’t seem to lose the weight, despite weight training and leading a very active lifestyle. I had saliva tests done about 2 weeks ago, I did not stop taking my progesterone cream. and my results came back, as expected, with 100 times greater than normal progesterone levels, as well as high testosterone and high DHEA. My estrogen was also high, despite the fact that I’ve been taking DIM and CDG now for about one month. I believe that my testosterone was so high due to my high progesterone, as I have absolutely no extra hair growth or hair loss (male pattern baldness), no issues with moodiness, etc. In fact, I honestly feel wonderful. Could it be the high levels of progesterone that have caused this imbalance in my testosterone?
Thank you for your time. It is much appreciated.
Petra
Hello Dr. Childs
I have been diagnosed with PCOS for a few years now and I am unsure what the cause is. My Dr. gives me limited information about what it is and how to treat it and I am having to research it all and ask before i can get a solid response. I recently had some blood work done and my labs were all normal with the exception of my testosterone level which was 190. I’ve called to see if i can get on metformin or something to help treat the underlying cause but no response, he just keep telling me to stick with my birth control which is not helping but only masking the issue.
I’ve done some research and saw that saw palmetto, magnesium and vitex, amongst others are helpful but I am unsure if herbal is the way to go because i do not know what the exact cause of my PCOS is. any helpful suggestions with these OCP will be helpful. awaiting your thoughts. Thanks.
Hello. I LOVE your blog and can’t thank you enough for all of this information. I’m very confused about my situation and how to handle it. My testosterone is a 53 and free testosterone is now a 1.2 (was 0.5 about two years ago). My main issue is hair thinning (I have always had extremely thick hair), and I did have a very poor diet while I was traveling for a few months this year, which I think may have contributed to the increased in free testosterone. My question is, I’m trying to take a hair supplement to hopefully resolve this issue, and it has Stinging Nettle in it, which claims to help with the conversion of DHT. Will this help my issue with high testosterone / high androgens? Or will it make it worse? I’m also trying very hard to stay on a strict low carb / keto diet, aside from the occasional wine here and there. Really appreciate your thoughts and any info you can provide! Thank you xx
hello!
I am 36 year old woman. I went to my gyn/on because we have been having trouble getting pregnant with my first. I just found out my testosterone level was 106 on a range saying 10-45 normal for a woman…my A1C is normal, normal thyroid, normal adrenal glands, negative endometrial biopsy, no cysts on ovaries, and all other lab work normal except. My doctor diagnosed me with PCOS. He prescribed me metformin and I am following up soon. my symptoms have been weight gain and extreme mood swings. My problem is, metformin makes me so sick, to point of vomiting occasionally. We really want to have a baby, and I truly am struggling with the mood swings (not to mention my wonderful partner) Any recomendations on anything else than metformin to lower testosterone? I am exercising and cutting sugars/carbs…thank you! any help would be so appreciated.
Hello!! First off, I would like to Thank You for writing such a wonderful and informative page! Really helps someone like me to understand why my body acts the way it does. I’m 41, have had a total hysterectomy due to my severe pcos. Had a pretty extensive blood panel done a little over a year ago. I kept having bad lightheaded spells. A1C was good, thyroid levels were good.. had very high iron levels. (I don’t take any supplements) The bloodwork shown that i was pre-diabetic with insulin levels over 350! Of course, i’m leptin resistant as well. I’ve been on Metformin for the last few years.. i try to eat right.. staying away from carbs and sugars, and overly processed foods. All while keeping my calorie intake under 1200 a day. Drink only water, no soda. I still keep gaining weight. Im over 325 lbs. I believe the body can heal itself if you do the right things. But i’m losing this battle. People look at someone like me and think that i’m lazy or don’t care about myself. Quite the opposite, im very active and can’t sit still most of the time. Insulin resistance is a real pain, but hey, my hubby is jealous of my beard! Haha. Just wish i could figure out what I need to do to get my weight down.
Hi there. Did you ever figure it out? I have the same problem my weight has almost doubled in the past year and part of it was diet and depression but now that I’m eating healthy nothing is budging.
Hi! I just read your blog over high testosterone! You are brilliant. I sure wish you did consultations because you hit the nail on the head over about every question I’ve had! Now I’m curious on a few things…
I’ve been sick a little over a year. Have hs every test known to man ran on me. I am going to do the Dutch test as you suggested. A few things that have been very consistent in my blood work:
High Testosterone
High DHEAS
Low(like 8) Ferritin
Very normal thyroid labs(have had every kind)
Positive Lyme(don’t believe I have Lyme disease)
High Oxalates
Low Vit D
High Insulin Growth Factor
Blood sugar is always elevated but not enough to have diabetes. It’s never under 110 and normally around 140. I know without a doubt food is not raising my BS.
I could go on and on with my symptoms but they correlate with many different diagnosis. I choose to go off blood work and positives. These above have been tested over and over and continue to stay the same.
Adrenal issue? I would think so but the Dr.’s don’t consider it because my DHEAS is only double normal and not triple?! Why is it double? They can’t answer. Stress is the best answer for them.
PCOS? Well, I have the bloodwork that says it but I’ve lost 40 pounds, I’m not balding, hair growth on face is normal. I have VERY heavy periods but they come every 28 days and last 4 days. I had three kids VERY easy with no issues. I’m not convinced on this theory.
Now to my question….
Can all of this be caused by toxicity? Mold exposure? I was exposed to mold(it was confirmed through testing) for two years in a building I rented for a store. Through all my testing to try and find what went wrong, I had a toxicity report that showed I’m highly toxic to plastic! I also do not detox well. I’m toxic to plastic and mold. Could simply detoxing fix all of this? I would say detoxing has helped me more than anything conventional. Sorry so long but there is a reason all this happened to me and I feel it’s all related to toxicity. I’m curious your take on it because you never mentioned toxicity? THANK YOU for being so smart and researching and reporting on this!
Hello, Dr. Childs
I am 33, and I had a total thyroidectomy in my early 20s due to thyroid cancer. I was severly hyperthyroid prior to the surgery, now I tend to flucuate between hyper, hypo, and “a little to high or low” depending on my levothroxine levels. I requested Nature or Armor as well about a year ago, as I wasn’t satisfied with how I was feeling day to day. I was just in to see my endo, and was told my t3 was a bit high, t4 normal range. Cortisol healthy range, testosterone through the roof. I’ve been on spironolactone for over a year now, and had always been told my testosterone levels for normal range prior to taking it and even during. Endo said that she thought the sudden spike was due to a switch in my birth control (apparently it comes from India, and she thinks its been diluted) which I had to do because my insurance stopped covering the old one. I have since gone back on the old one am paying out of pocket.
I started noticing extreme hair thinning and hair loss about 2 years ago now, which followed a noticable difference in the texture and vitality of my strands. I’ve lost a signifigant amount of hair at my temples, crown, and nape of neck. My part has also widened. My hair loss does not match up with either male or female pattern baldness. I had a biopsy by a dermotoligist, and was told I had androgenic alopecia. Shortly after the hair started falling out, other sympoms began showing up: slightly enlarged clitoris, more pronounced hair growth/coarsness/length on my arms and upper lip, problems with acne (only experienced the occasional zit or two prior to this), inflammation on my cheeks that closely mimics rosacea, sebum over-production on my scalp–my hair will reek of sebum even a few hours after washing, lighter periods that don’t last as long, and very slight deflation of my breasts. I also suffer with acute gluten sensitivity, and painful digestion issues including severe constipation and cramping. I have been eating completely gluten free for almost 7 months.
I also suffer from frequent mood swings, irritability, chronic fatigue, horrible insomnia, debilitating anxiety, brain fog/poorer memory, frequent food cravings when I shouldn’t be hungry, occasional vertigo and slurred speech.
I just wrote a novel, I know. But I am so desperate for answers, I have been given the run around by scores of doctors and specialists..I am so tired. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you kindly,
Stephanie
So once I get the testosterone down… then will it stay down? Or is the supplementing and weight training a lifelong thing?
Hi I have been using testerone cream as well as progesterone orally for last 6 or so months but I still feel something is not right. My last labs I had total testerone of 71 and free .7 but I feel these are both showing too high for me and maybe I need to decrease what I use..dr said they were good levels to her but I feel like I getting to much because i have had increase of acne and facial hair as well as my hair shedding more and my libido has not increased at all. Also my anxiety is not getting any better and still having other things that should be better if this level of testerone is ok. So if inwas your patient would you say my levels are high and maybe I need to decrease the amount I take? I wonder if I even need it because when I originally started it my levels were in the 30s and they said that was low . I am confused and just want my hormones working. What do you see usually as the optimal level women should be for both free and total testerone if your experience?
I am a young 66 female and have been suffering from major hair loss! Thyroid is normal. My estrogen level is normal (on HRT for estrogen) and my progesterone is almost nonexistent. Testosterone is high (doubled). If I elevate my progesterone level will this lower my testosterone? Can Hair regrow then?
Went to my GP, presenting with excess facial/body hair, fat deposits on abdomen, Amenorrhea, pms. I’m 5’2. 180 lbs. No thyroid problems or diabetes. Blood tests for everything is pretty normal. I requested a test be done to determine if I had high T. I tested normal high for overall T. Tested High for free T. My doctor put me on a high dose bc. I have just recently had my first baby, at 34 years old. Most my life not using contraceptives. My little one tested positive for CAH. It was ruled a fluke, as she didn’t present with abnormal genitalia. Should I pursue Cah with myself or Pcos? I plan on having my daughter tested for CAH again.
Hi Dr. Childs,
I am 24 y/o recently dx with PCOS. I am 5’1 and 111 Ibs and do not seem to be insulin resistant. My Dr. had me do a saliva test and my progesterone (49 pg/mL) and estrogen (0.5 pg/mL) were low. Testosterone was high (98 pg/mL). My Dr. suggested a progesterone cream but I am afraid to supplement it (I am clearly not ovulating). The hair loss I have been having is devastating, any direction we could go in would be so appreciated.
Hello Dr Childs,
I am 32 years old. I have been experiencing stubborn acne only along my chin and jawline for the past 6 months. My periods are regular (anywhere between 25-28 days), physique with normal BMI. A week before my period I experience slight tenderness in my breasts but it is not too severe to even hinder my day-day routine. I don’t experience any major PMS symptoms. However during the first 3 months of my pregnancy in 2013 I was diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism and I was put on levothyroxine to correct it. Since then I have been checking my thyroid once a year. Last month when I checked, my TSH was 3.29. And it has always been around 3-3.5 in the last 3 years. Could this be the reason for my stubborn acne. What is the reason for my stubborn jawline acne? I am thinking of starting spearmint capsules if it can help with oil production in my skin. Please advise.
Ohmagah, you’ve got to be kidding me? My brain hurts now. Huh, cortisol, tired adrenal (glands), huh? NEVER have I had THAT lab work done.
I’m 47. Apparently menopausal phase began at 44-45 and postmenopausal hit by by 46-47, according to my MD 5 1/2 months ago. Subsequently thereafter I had my 1st Bio-Te Pellets implanted. 3 days ago I had my 2nd set of pellets implanted. Both times I requested a copy of all related lab results. This time I asked for a copy of what she put in me.
Labs pre re-pellet:
TEST-FSH, Serum RESULT- 72.1 mIU/mL
TEST-Estradiol
RESULT-73.6 pg/mL
TEST-Testosterone, Total, LC/MS
RESULT-99 ng/dL
FLAG-High
TEST-Triiodothyronine, Free,Serum
RESULT-2.8 pg/mL
Should I have had these 3 pellets implanted?
1.TESTOSTERONE 100mg
2.TESTOSTERONE 37.5mg
3.ESTRADIOL 10mg
Hi, I’m 21, just got anxiety this year. Got blood work done because I started having my period every 3 months because of PCOS (this also happened while I was in high school, and went on birth control for about 5 years, but I’m off BC now and I was fine for this whole year until August). Turns out I have high testosterone, but no signs of diabetes/pre-diabetes or insulin or leptin resistance or cholesterol problems, my thyroid is also fine. I do have high triglycerides but I feel that’s because my family’s eating habits consist of a lot of carbs (asian family), but I try to eat a lot of healthy fats, vegetables and fruits (I feel very empty when I eat a lot of carbs). I also worked at a place where I was exposed to burning plastic every day (making capacitors) which might have had something to do with PCOS symptoms coming back along with worse anxiety, I’m not really sure. I read some things about BPA and endocrine disrupting synthetic hormones from heated plastic. My BMI is at 29, so I’m borderline obese but I don’t really feel “fat”, I actually consider myself a little muscly for a female. I did gain ~20lbs of weight after I stopped working out and because of comfort eating from my anxiety/depression though.
My OBGYN says that the only way to treat high testosterone is to be put on a low dose BC for 3 months and see if levels go down, but I don’t really want to take it because of my health anxiety over blood clots and whatnot, and I’d rather fix this naturally. I’m pretty healthy otherwise, I don’t take any medication except vitamin pills and used to weight lift while on campus, although I’m kind of afraid to exert myself now because of panic/anxiety, which is exacerbated by the hormonal imbalance and they both kind of feed on each other sometimes. I was just wondering if I can do without the BC and just exercise to normalize my testosterone. I’m hoping that I can just do that and have everything kind of “fall into place”, exercise > more energy > less fat > normalize testosterone > decrease anxiety > exercise more > be healthier, etc. Seems a lot better than taking BC and subjecting myself to its side effects when there’s a better alternative with more benefits.
Thanks in advance 🙂
Hello Dr.Childs,
I recently had some blood work done and found that my dhea level were elevated at 343H and my testosterone was at 70H. I am 33 yrs old, very fit, and I am not having any of the pcos symptoms besides a period that shows up every 5_6 weeks and excess spotting afterwards up to a week. I am concerned about my levels and was hoping you had any idea’s on what to check for next, what may be the cause and and advice on how to regulate my hormones.
Thank you for your help.
I’m trying to work with a provider to help me with irregular and long menstrual cycles. I have been TTC for over a year. Some blood work done, my total testosterone was 58 ng/dL and my free/direct was 2.1 pg/mL. I didn’t see that in your post. My progesterone was also low. My only symptom is infertility. Any ideas?
I always had very regular cycles, perfect temperature chart, I did ovulation test etc… all good. Even had a scan to test for PCOS cause I had excess bodyhair and pimples on my back. All was fine.
But the only thing I have had since puberty is high testosterone and androstenedione. So I think my cause is the DHEA? Because I often feel anxious without a reason :S Even tho my heartbeat is really slow at 57 bpm in rest and even when I feel anxious.
I eat healthy, started lifting some weights now as well, but I often do crave salt. I tried to keep it lower a bit because of what they say about salt being unhealthy. But I am just gonna eat it when I crave it tho.
For reference: this started age 15 I am now 31. No diet change has ever helped it. its like I will be stuck with it for life and nothing can change it.
Hi Dr. Childs, really informative article.
I am in my 4th year (final) student clinics studying Nutritional Therapy and my client has Hidradenitis Suppurativa since she was 16 on and off. She is 40, thinning hair, high Gl diet,weight gain, high BMI, menstrual issues for 5 years after the birth of 3rd child which she addressed with the IUD (Mirena) fitted late 2016. Obviously insulin, thyroid, cortisol (v stressed.) is a big player and she also smokes 20 pday which has a huge impact.
I think the progestins in the IUD could be impacting her H.S.? Could this be causing further androgens ?
Would greatly appreciate your opinion and insights.
Many thanks
Dear Dr. Childs,
My daughter Sarah was diagnosed with PCOS 8 years ago at the age of 14. I took her to see an endocrinologist because of excessive menstrual cycles (very heavy bleeding),also body changes (mid line weight gain, body hair and thinning scalp). Her bloodwork showed elevated androgens, elevated DHEA and elevated free Testosterone. She was put on birth control and Metformine. With the exception of more manageable periods, her symptoms have remained the same.
She is now 21 and been suffering for years, effecting her self esteem and confidence.
After coming across your blog on elevated Testosterone, we realized something didn’t feel right about the PCOS diagnosis. We also realized her adrenal glands had never been looked at. She went back to her endocrinologist requesting a look at her adrenals as well as a full hormone workup. Her specialist refused stating there wasn’t sufficient evidence to consider any other possible diagnosis.
I then took Sarah to an OBGYN who agreed to have the tests done. After an MRI of her adrenals glands, they found a 5mm tumor on Sarah’s left gland.
We are somewhat relieved to finally have a hint of whats plagued her, however worried now that she needs to go back to an endo to address the issue. We cannot go back to the specialist who ignored us and I don’t want to bring her to just anyone since we have lost faith.
We don’t know how to find an endocrinologist that may specialize in adrenal tumors who we can trust. Can you guide us in any way as to where to start?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Hello Dr. Childs.I am 51 yrs old. I am normal weight range for height.I have had acne since my teens.It has become worse and is now cystic along jawline with excess hair on chin only.I have hypothyroidism and am on levothyroxine and nature thyroid to control it. I have had 4 children. I have no No loss of libido or hot flashes.The dr put me on 50 mg 3 x daily of spironolactone.It worked perfect but gives me headaches..so I tried going off it.Acne came back worse than ever with extremely oily hair.I had to go back in it Immediately!!! I tried to lower the dose but I need 150 mg daily to stay clear.Any suggestion of what underlying cause could be.I asked dr and they just said if taking spiro lowers androgens and works just stay on it. BUT I don’t want to be on it for life.
Hello doctor, I was diagnosed with PCOS in dec 2016. My lab results came back with high testosterone than normal (4.1ng/ml). I have acne and hair growth on my face and body but keep losing hair on my head. I am slim. I used to miss 2months menstruation and when I finally start to menstruate it won’t stop. Then my gynecologist put me Metformin and Yasmin contraceptive. It helped for a while and when I stopped taking it after 6months(as adviced by my doctor) my situation worsened. I now miss my period for 3-4 months still. What do I do doctor?
Hi, I am worried about my daughter. All of her blood work comes back “normal” but, she has all the symptoms of thyroid disease. sleeps all day, up all night, sluggish, belly fat (shes not overly heavy but could lose some) cheek acne, thin hair, low concentration!! The only level that came back low was progesterone. Her dad had the same problem with “normal” thyroid levels and ended up with thyroid cancer! Any advice? Most doctors want to see a low level to treat.
Hi, I’m 39, two years ago I went on HCG diet with injections of hCG. Three months later my hair started falling out. I had my blood work done including thyroid, according to doctors all in the normal range. I was told by a dermatologist it was telogen effluvium. It’s almost two years and it never went away. I was on Mirena IUD which was replaced with Paragard. The doctor didn’t agree with me but I was thinking that Mirena could be causing it due to hormones.
Did HCG mess up my hormones? I don’t know who to see at this point and what to do. My hair is so thin now and it’s not stopping. Thank you.
Do you have to get the Dutch test through a physician only?
Thank you
Hi C,
You might be able to get it through health coaches and whatnot as well (I don’t think it HAS to be a physician).