How to Treat High Testosterone in Women Naturally - Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

Understanding High Testosterone in Women

Testosterone is often thought of as a "male" hormone. But women also produce small amounts of testosterone in their ovaries and adrenal glands. When women have higher than normal testosterone levels, it can lead to symptoms like facial hair growth, acne, irregular periods, thinning hair, and fertility issues.

If you're experiencing these symptoms, getting tested for high testosterone is important. A blood test can determine if your levels are truly elevated or within a normal range. With treatment and lifestyle changes, many women find relief from high testosterone symptoms naturally.

Symptoms of High Testosterone in Women

Some signs that you may have higher than normal testosterone levels include:

• Increased facial and body hair growth in a male pattern
• Thinning hair or hair loss on the scalp
• Severe acne on face, chest, and back
• Irregular, absent, or heavy periods
• Infertility or reduced fertility
• Increased muscle mass and reduced body fat
• Deepening of the voice

If several of these symptoms sound familiar, make an appointment with your doctor. There are blood tests that can measure your testosterone levels and help determine if they are contributing to your symptoms.

Causes of High Testosterone in Women

There are a few possible causes for elevated testosterone in women, including:

• PCOS - Polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common hormonal disorders in women of childbearing age. It causes a surplus of male hormones like testosterone as well as ovarian cysts.
• Adrenal gland disorders - The adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys and can develop tumors that secrete extra testosterone.
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia - This genetic disorder affects your adrenal glands' ability to make important hormones, leading to a testosterone surplus.
• Ovarian tumors - While rare, tumors on the ovaries can sometimes secrete extra testosterone and other androgens.
• Medications - Certain medications like anabolic steroids, opioids, and glucocorticoids can influence hormone levels and raise testosterone.

Finding and addressing the underlying cause, whether its a health condition or medication side effects, is key to lowering high testosterone levels in women.

Natural Ways to Lower Testosterone

If you have been diagnosed with elevated testosterone, there are natural treatment options that may help get your hormones back in balance. This can relieve symptoms and reduce your risk for long-term health issues linked to high testosterone like diabetes and heart disease.

Adjust Your Diet

Making dietary changes is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to address high testosterone levels. Here are some smart diet strategies:

• Choose low GI foods - Stick to low glycemic index foods like non-starchy vegetables, beans, lentils, and rolled oats. High GI foods can trigger spikes and crashes in blood sugar, which can throw hormones out of balance.
• Increase healthy fats - Get more anti-inflammatory fats from olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish. These provide building blocks for important hormones like progesterone which opposes testosterone.
• Stay hydrated - Drink plenty of water instead of sugary drinks or alcohol which can disrupt your hormone equilibrium. Herbal teas are another healthy choice.
• Moderate caffeine - Limit coffee, tea, soda and energy drinks to 1-2 servings per day or less. Too much caffeine can overstimulate your adrenal glands and trigger excess testosterone.
• Minimize alcohol - Alcohol raises testosterone and estradiol levels in the blood, so its smart to cut back or avoid it altogether.

Increase Fiber Intake

Consuming more fiber is commonly recommended for balancing hormones. Fiber helps the body eliminate excess estrogen and may also bind to testosterone so your body can clear it effectively. Try to eat 25-30 grams of fiber per day.

Great high fiber foods include:

• Beans and lentils
• Avocados
• Berries
• Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts
• rolled oats and quinoa
• Chia seeds and flaxseeds
• Nut butters

Take Targeted Supplements

Several vitamins, minerals and herbs have been studied for their beneficial effects on female hormone balance. Supplements to consider include:

• Maca root - May stimulate progesterone production and modulate estrogen levels
• Chasteberry - Alleviates PCOS symptoms like irregular periods. It limits prolactin and raises progesterone.
• Omega-3 fatty acids - Helps regulate menstrual cycles and improve insulin sensitivity.
• Magnesium - Supports healthy testosterone breakdown and binds to excess hormones for excretion.
• Zinc - Important for modulating testosterone production and metabolism.

B-complex vitamins, vitamin E, selenium, and adaptogens like ashwagandha also help normalize hormones when levels are off.

Increase Sweating

One little known way to lower testosterone is to sweat! Sweating helps your body eliminate excess hormones and cleanses the sweat glands. Activities that make you sweat include:

• High intensity exercise like running, cycling, interval training
• Yoga and Pilates
• Saunas

Aim for at least 30-60 minutes of vigorous sweat-inducing activity 3-5 days per week. This also helps control weight, another key factor in balancing hormones.

Reduce Stress

Chronic stress takes a major toll on your endocrine system. The stress hormone cortisol signals the ovaries and adrenals to produce more androgens like testosterone. Lowering stress through relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, or massage therapy gives your hormones a break.

Get Good Sleep

Not getting enough restorative sleep causes hormone disruption. Lack of sleep leads to blood sugar imbalance, impaired insulin sensitivity, and inflammatory cortisol spikes which drive up testosterone. Make getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night a top priority.

When to Consider Prescription Treatment

Implementing natural remedies can help normalize testosterone levels for many women. However, others need medical intervention if lifestyle measures aren't providing sufficient relief from symptoms.

Your doctor may prescribe medications like:

• Birth control pills - Oral contraceptives that contain estrogen and progestin restore regular menstrual cycles.
• Anti-androgens - Spironolactone blocks effects of high testosterone like excess hair growth.
• Insulin sensitizers - Metformin improves insulin resistance, stabilizes blood sugar, and lowers testosterone levels.

For women whose high testosterone is caused by an underlying disorder like PCOS or adrenal tumors, treating the root cause may require additional therapies.

Discuss all your medical and lifestyle options with your healthcare provider. Many women see significant improvements combining natural remedies with prescription medications tailored to their specific hormone imbalance when needed.

The Bottom Line

If you are experiencing bothersome symptoms associated with high testosterone like facial hair growth, acne breakouts, and irregular periods, get your levels tested. Making smart diet and lifestyle changes may help restore balance naturally.

Controlling weight, minimizing stress, taking targeted supplements, and allowing time for healthy sleep, relaxation and sweat sessions enable your body to clear out excess hormones like testosterone. When natural methods fall short for finding relief, speak to your doctor about medical therapies that can get your hormones functioning optimally again.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.