Lower Testosterone/Androgens

Pandora1151 · 11-16-2007, 01:18 PM

I am wondering if anyone can recommend a natural supplement designed to lower androgens, specifically testosterone. I tend to have high testosterone levels whether I take bcp or not and I have been off bcp for a year now. I'm going to have some blood tests done and I know the testosterone levels will be higher than before. I can tell because of the symptoms I'm having. I am taking Met right now & that's it. I have stopped a lot of the other things I was doing. I have gained 20 pounds since going off spiro/bcp and I know it is related to increased androgens. My facial hair has been getting steadily worse and a bunch of the hair on my head has fallen out in the last few months. I can't believe how much thinner my hair is! It is a good thing it was so incredibly thick before.

mise · 11-16-2007, 01:46 PM

I have searched on this too as I too have symptoms of high testerone.

I am taking a holistic approach as I don't believe the medical side really helps and also i'm very sensitive to drugs always gettingnasty side effects easily.

From my own research the best bet is to lower your weight. The best way it seems is by eating healthily on a LOW GI Diet! It really works but does take some motivation. You may find that you have big cravings for sugar and carbs with PCOS though. Chromium can help this, there's alot of studies about benefits of chromium around. Just read threads here on others taking cinnamon and have heard about it a few times the last year too. It too can naturally help lower your appetite.

anyway the point is that if you lower your weight , it lowers the testosterone. Suposedly weight loss is about the best thing you can do for PCOS as it naturally lowers the testosterone. Some people find Metformin helpful...it's a diabetic drug that should help lower your weight and hence lower the testosterone too. But you'd be better off loosing the weight naturalyl if possible.

Through my own research i've also read on saw palmetto for lowering testosterone and i did try it for a month over a year ago but had a few probems so dropped it. Herbals can be hard to self prescribe so it's probably best to find a good naturopath in your area who is god with herbal remedies if you wanted to try that. Saying that i've currently jsut re started agnus cactus to help balance my hormones in hope it will help overall but i'm having awful headaches and think i'll have to give up on herbals till i find someone professional to help me with it.

My excess hair got worse after my DD was born nearly 3 yearas ago. Its' getting a bit better the last while definately...so i think some things are working for me. I discovered Moom wax a good few months ago and it's working well for me. I had used cold wax strisp for ages on my body and foudn out that they are not a good idea. A girl on another board i frequent is a beauty therapist and she said the cold wax stips make it worse and it sure was for me!!! Moom has really improved my leg hair the last while and when I loose weight the growth of my facial hair reduces a bit. I really want and need to loose lots more weight !! Going to get cinnamon to try for my appetite!

Well that's my tuppence! Hope things improve for you!! It can be very frustrating.

MissBehave · 11-17-2007, 09:19 AM

There are studies that success that spearmint tea reduces testosterone levels. Check out the thread in this alternative remedies section or in section about the hair growth.

MarianneUnfaithfull · 11-17-2007, 12:18 PM

My body went crazy when I came off bcps; mainly acne, weight gain around the middle and excess hair. I had success with Vitex/Agnus castus. It didn't make much of a difference on the hair problem but I lost a small amount of weight on it and my skin improved dramatically.

puffnstuff · 11-18-2007, 01:24 PM

You might also want to look into licorice and/or peony.