What Happens When There is Excessive ‘Male Hormone’ Production in Woman’s Body?

Hormones are chemical messengers that lead to how hormones work. Excess or lack of any of these can lead to various complications. And when there is more of the male hormone in a woman’s body, it can cause certain adverse effects.

Hormones are chemical messengers in the body that help in the daily functioning of various organs. From growth and reproduction to metabolism, hormones are responsible for the optimal functioning of the body. The imbalance of these chemicals has severe impacts on the body.

Speaking of the presence of hormones, there are two types of sex hormones in a woman’s body: estrogen and androgen. These are often called the female and male sex hormones, respectively.

According to the National Library of Medicine, androgen excess is defined as clinical or biochemical evidence of elevated androgenic steroids in women, 1 who generally present with clinical features such as hirsutism, alopecia, or acne. 2 Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) represents the underlying diagnosis in the vast majority of adolescent girls and women of reproductive age who present with androgen excess,

Ovarian androgen overproduction is a condition in which the ovaries produce too much testosterone. This leads to the development of masculine characteristics in a woman. Androgens from other parts of the body can also cause the development of masculine characteristics in women.

What happens to excessive androgen production in women?

Androgens may be called “male hormones,” but don’t let the name fool you. Both the male and female bodies produce androgens, just in different amounts. In fact, androgens have more than 200 actions in women.

Although women normally have androgens circulating in their bloodstream, excessive levels can cause a variety of symptoms including:

1. Menstrual Irregularity or Absence of Periods
2. Excess body hair
3. Facial hair
4. Increased muscle mass
5. Changes in body shape
6. acne

Androgen excess in women is often one of the main causes of PCOS. Birth control pills, regular exercise, and a healthy diet are a few things to keep androgens in check. However, this is generic information on androgens in women and does not replace the advice of any physician.