Signs Of Testosterone Deficiency in Women

Women can develop testosterone deficiency during the two to three years preceding menopause, but more commonly during the five years following. For some women, lack of sexual interest may occur suddenly, for others, the change may be more gradual. The average age for a woman at menopause is about 50. About 8 percent of all women have a full, natural menopause before the age of 40. Symptoms of testosterone deficiency can develop for these women as early as their mid-to late 30's.

Women who have had a hysterectomy, even if the ovaries have been left in place, are very likely to develop testosterone deficiency, and can benefit substantially from appropriate evaluation and supplementatation of testosterone.

Women who have had chemotherapy resulting in loss of ovarian function often develop testosterone deficiency.

Signs And Symptoms Of Testosterone Deficiency

• Loss of vital energy and feeling of well-being.
• Loss of your familiar level of sexual desire.
• Loss of sexual sensitivity in your nipples and genitals.
• Flatness of mood and some loss of mental sharpness.
• Dry skin and brittle scalp hair.
• Loss of muscle tone.
• For some women: thinning or loss of pubic hair.
• Decreased production of red blood cells by bone marrow
  and loss of calcium from bones - which can contribute to
  osteoporosis.
• For some women: Loss of muscle tone in the bladder and
  pelvis - resulting in symptoms of urinary incontinence.

Each woman must evaluate her sexual arousability in the context of
her physical, emotional, historical and relational circumstances. Some helpful questions to ask yourself if you think your body may not be producing sufficient testosterone are:

• What is my normal level of energy, sense of well-being,
  sexual desire and pleasure?
• Am I suffering a significant loss in this level of well-being,
  sexual desire and pleasure?
• Do I notice a lack of arousability in my nipples and clitoris?
• Do I notice not only that I have no particular interest in
  making love, but also (if this is part of one’s sexual life)
  that I do not feel like masturbating?
• In even the most conducive to me circumstances, does it
  take a long time for me to be aroused?
• If I do have an orgasm, is it diminished in intensity?
• Have I noticed (if this is part of one’s sexual life) a lack of
  sexual dreams and fantasies?

While there are many possible contributing factors to loss of sexual desire, unless you have enough testosterone, nothing else that you can do to improve your sexual sensitivity, arousability and pleasure will be effective.