Originally Posted by
atomic sagebrush
The only way you can know your levels of testosterone for certain are by tests done by a doctor, but there are ways to tell based on personal appearance whether your testosterone is high, low, increasing, or decreasing.
:Flower:Body type - MOST variations in body type are due to genetic differences and have little to do with testosterone. Women who are higher in testosterone have more muscle mass than the average woman of the same build. They tend to carry more fat in the abdomen and chest (apple shape) rather than on the legs and rear end (pear shape), which is more common among women with normal/low testosterone.
Again, much of these differences are due to genetic factors, so it is very possible to be apple-shaped and have testosterone in the normal range, or pear shaped and high in testosterone. However, if you notice a CHANGE in your fat distribution or the amount of muscle you have, this may be evidence that your body chemistry has changed and you should take note of it.
:Flower:Changes in amount and texture of body Hair - Again, MOST variations in the amount/texture of body hair is due to genetics and not testosterone. If the rest of the women in your family tend to have a lot of body hair, you will as well, and this says nothing about your testosterone.
However, women with high/rising testosterone levels may have or develop increased hair growth on the upper lip, face, chest, lower abdomen and other parts of the body. Three areas in particular are indicative of potentially higher testosterone levels - hair on the big toe, around the nipple, and around the anus (although there are still genetic factors to consider). Additionally, as testosterone levels increase, fine body hairs may turn coarse and darken.
If your testosterone level is dropping, you may find that you have fewer and finer body hairs than before. (Personal note, when I was swaying pink and eating a low testosterone diet, I did notice that the hair on my face and around my areolas that I had had since puberty, disappeared within a matter of weeks.)
:Flower:Deepening of the voice - Some deepening of the voice occurs naturally with age, but can also be caused by increases in testosterone.
:Flower:Thinning hair on top of the head - Very high testosterone can lead to thinning hair in both men and women, called androgenic alopecia. This is one of the last symptoms to develop and is a sign your testosterone may be TOO high.
:Flower:Skin problems - If your skin is or becomes very oily and brone to breakouts, this may mean you have higher testosterone. If your skin seems thinner, dryer, and more fragile, this may mean your testosterone is low.
:Flower:Mood - Testosterone can boost confidence, strength, assertiveness, and libido. Can also make you agressive, agitated, and easily angered. PMS is believed by some researchers to result from sudden increases in testosterone. Lower testosterone can cause feelings of indecisiveness, depression, and lack of motivation.
:Flower:Sexual Symptoms - Higher testosterone causes increases in libido and may actually make your clitoris grow in size and sensitivity. Lower testosterone may cause your clitoris to shrink, your vagina to become thinner and dryer, and makes it more difficult to have an orgasm.