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larabriden.com - How Testosterone Causes Weight Gain in Women - Lara Briden

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In women, too much testosterone can cause insulin resistance and abdominal weight gain. That’s why androgen excess is a factor in the weight gain associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menopause, and some types of birth control.

PCOS

The link between testosterone and insulin resistance is most clear with the hormonal condition PCOS, in which high androgens made (mostly) by the ovaries cause insulin resistance and impair ovulation. Impaired ovulation, in turn, causes low progesterone and therefore robs the system of progesterone’s beneficial anti-androgen effect. Which, in turn, causes more high androgens and more insulin resistance, creating a vicious cycle that I describe in my peer-reviewed paper. Natural progesterone can help to lower androgens, improve insulin sensitivity, and break the cycle of PCOS. That’s why Professor Jerilynn Prior’s protocol of cyclic progesterone therapy for PCOS is currently undergoing a clinical trial. 👉 Tip: There’s no progesterone in hormonal birth control. Contraceptive drugs are progestins, many of which are androgenic or testosterone-like (see below).

Menopause

With menopause, progesterone and estrogen drop away while androgens slightly increase before resuming their gradual decline with age (as happens in both men and women). The menopausal situation of relatively high testosterone paired with relatively low estrogen and progesterone causes a profound shift in fat distribution from gynoid (hourglass) to android (thicker waist and heavier upper body). Menopausal hormone therapy (estrogen and progesterone) can have a beneficial anti-androgen effect and improve insulin sensitivity. For example, estrogen therapy directly improves insulin sensitivity and lowers testosterone by increasing sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), the protein that binds and inactivates testosterone. Progesterone indirectly improves insulin sensitivity by stimulating metabolic rate and lowering testosterone. Taking testosterone or androgenic progestins can worsen insulin resistance and cause weight gain.

Birth control

Androgenic (testosterone-like) progestins can cause insulin resistance and weight gain. They include levonorgestrel, norethindrone, and etonogestrel, found in many pills, Nuvaring, Mirena IUD, and the Nexplanon implant. Anti-androgenic progestins can promote weight loss while they’re being taken but then cause rebound weight gain when they’re stopped. Anti-androgenic progestins include drospirenone, norgestimate, dienogest, and cyproterone.

The link between high testosterone and insulin resistance

There’s a bi-directional relationship between high testosterone and insulin resistance.

In one direction, insulin resistance or high insulin can stimulate ovarian cells to make more testosterone. That happens with PCOS and menopause. In the other direction, testosterone can cause or worsen insulin resistance. That happens with PCOS, menopause, and androgenic progestins. And all of it can lead to weight gain, acne, facial hair, irregular periods, and a long-term risk of diabetes. There are two parts to the solution: 1) reverse insulin resistance and 2) lower androgens, which, in turn, can improve insulin resistance.

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Does flirting increase testosterone?

Researchers have found that just being in the presence of an attractive member of the opposite sex causes a temporary surge in levels of testosterone, which is linked with the male libido, and cortisol associated with alertness and wellbeing.

hindustantimes.com - Meeting pretty women 'makes men feel good' - Hindustan Times

Pretty women may make men nervous but blokes do feel good when they flirt with them, a new study has revealed. Researchers have found that just being in the presence of an attractive member of the opposite sex causes a temporary surge in levels of testosterone, which is linked with the male libido, and cortisol associated with alertness and wellbeing. However hanging around with other men has the opposite affect -- reducing the levels of both substances in the body, the study found. Lead researcher Dr James Roney said the increases did replicate the boosts found in animals. "Both testosterone and cortisol increased among men who spoke with women but declined among men who interacted with other men." For their study, the researchers, led by California University, recruited 149 male students aged between 18 and 24 with a third interacting with a male researcher of 25 and the others talking to one of seven female graduates aged 18 to 22. After the short five minute sessions, the men were asked to rate the physical attractiveness of the women between one and seven. The average was 5.83 showing they found them alluring, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported. The participants then swished with mouthwash before providing a sample of saliva into a collection vial which was tested within 20 to 40 minutes of exposure to the women. The study found that just a five minute talk with an attractive women raised the levels of testosterone by 14 per cent and the anti-stress hormone cortisol by 48 per cent. Spending the same time with men saw the hormones drop two per cent and seven per cent respectively, it found. The findings have been published in the 'Proceedings of the Royal Society B' journal.

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