How to Reduce Androgens in Females Naturally
Sep 10, 2024
High levels of androgens like testosterone can cause changes in your body that you might not want. You might get thick-course hair on your upper lip, chin, chest, stomach, back, or buttocks. You could also start losing hair on your head, especially around the hairline and temples. Symptoms of high androgens in females can also include worsening acne by making your skin generally more oily and irregular or absent cycles.
Doctors often treat high androgens in females by using birth control pills or other androgen-lowering medications. These medications can cause problems like weight gain, mood swings, depression, lower interest in sex, and irregular periods. Because of this, more people are looking for natural ways to lower androgens without these common side effects.
How to Reduce Androgens in Females:
Acupuncture A study of more than 2300 people with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) found that acupuncture helped lower testosterone levels after 3-4 months.
Berberine Research shows that taking berberine for 3 to 6 months can lower testosterone levels and increase a protein that helps reduce testosterone. This could be an effective way to reduce androgens in females naturally.
Chamomile In a study with 80 people with PCOS, those who took chamomile for 3 months had lower testosterone levels than those who took a placebo.
Melatonin In a study with 40 people with PCOS, taking melatonin at night for 6 months helped lower testosterone levels.
Myo-Inositol (MI) Several studies show that taking myo-inositol can lower androgens and reduce unwanted hair growth and acne in people with PCOS.
Omega 3’s In a study with 78 people with PCOS, those who took omega-3 supplements for 8 weeks had lower androgens and more regular periods.
Saw Palmetto This herb can help by stopping testosterone from turning into a more potent form called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can cause hair loss and other issues.
Spearmint A study with 42 people with PCOS found that drinking spearmint tea for one month helped reduce androgens in females.
Resveratrol In a study of 34 people with PCOS, taking resveratrol for 12 weeks helped lower androgens like testosterone and another hormone called DHEA.
Zinc Zinc supplements can help lower androgens and DHEA levels, but the correct dose depends on the person.
Why Are Your Androgens High?
PCOS, fluctuating blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, blood pressure, inflammatory conditions, gastrointestinal health conditions, environmental toxicants, smoking, alcohol, certain diets, and disordered sleep can all affect androgen levels. Additionally, structural issues such as an androgen-producing adenoma can also be a cause.
Determining why your androgen levels are high is essential to treat effectively and at a root cause level.
Get the workup done and talk to your doctor, but know that there are some effective natural options worth exploring before medications.
Sources:
https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/98/12/4565/2833703
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10228207/
https://academic.oup.com/ejendo/article-abstract/166/1/99/6659259
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34684666/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5961291/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29178904/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19551544/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3218455/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.2900
https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(16)61530-3/fulltext
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