More Testosterone Myths for Women

Myth 2: "Testosterone's Sole Role in Women is Sex Drive and Libido"

Contrary to common belief, the role of testosterone (T) in women extends far beyond just sex drive and libido. Functional receptors (ARs) that interact with T are found in nearly all tissues in the body, from the heart and brain to bones and muscles.

As both men and women age, levels of T decrease, potentially leading to symptoms of testosterone deficiency. These can include mood disorders like anxiety and depression, physical fatigue, bone and muscle loss, memory issues, insomnia, hot flashes, rheumatoid complaints, urinary problems, and sexual dysfunction, among others. Such symptoms are increasingly recognized in women and treated with T therapy. It is scientifically implausible and unsound to claim that testosterone deficiency does not exist in women or that T therapy should not be considered in women. The reality is that testosterone is essential for women's physical and mental health and well-being.

Myth 3: "Testosterone Masculinizes Females"

For over 65 years, it's been recognized that the effects of T are dose-dependent, and at lower doses, it stimulates femininity. While high doses of T used in female-to-male transgender patients may cause increased facial hair growth and slight clitoral enlargement, true masculinization isn't possible. Any side effects can be reversed by reducing the T dose.

While potent synthetic testosterone can cause clitoromegaly and fused labia in some female fetuses, there's no evidence that T, delivered by pellet implant or topically, has any adverse effect on a fetus, even in animal studies. It's important to note that significant elevation of maternal T levels during pregnancy doesn't cause harm due to the placenta's role in buffering hormone diffusion and metabolizing maternal T. Testosterone can safely increase ovulation, fertility, and even treat early pregnancy nausea without any adverse effects.

So, the truth is, outside of supra-pharmacologic doses of synthetic testosterone, testosterone does not have a masculinizing effect on females or female fetuses.

Myth 4: "Testosterone Causes Hoarseness and Voice Changes"

Another myth surrounding testosterone is that it can lead to hoarseness and voice changes. In reality, hoarseness is a common condition that affects around 30% of individuals at some point in their lives and is more common in women than in men. The leading causes of hoarseness are usually inflammation-related due to allergies, infections, voice overuse, and other factors.

There's no evidence suggesting T causes hoarseness, and in fact, T deficiency is sometimes listed as a cause of hoarseness, which aligns with T's known anti-inflammatory properties. While a few anecdotal reports suggest a link between certain synthetic testosterone and self-reported voice changes, more robust and objective studies have found no such connection. Even high doses of anabolic steroids in female rats fail to cause irreversible vocal cord changes, reinforcing that testosterone therapy does not lead to hoarseness or irreversible vocal cord changes in women.  Jason & Rita.