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angieh angieh
 
M$2.50 August 25, 2009 02:38 PM

What causes increased testosterone, like found in Caster Semenya?

South African runner Caster Semenya is under fire lately over questions of her gender. While those tests are not back yet, one test did find she had increased testosterone, more than three times what is found in a normal female.

Are there biological reasons for this increased testosterone or does this result point toward steroid use?
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fallen_ang... fallen_ang...
 
 August 25, 2009 03:25 PM
It's not normal for women to have high testosterone level. If this happens to a women, it is expected that she'll have some features of a man like hair growth in chests and others. Testosterone is the hormone that makes men appear "masculine".

High testosterone levels can be cause by several variety of conditions and even diseases. This can be an aspect of androgen disorders. One of the main causes of high testosterone in female is hormonal imbalance. While aging, it could worsen especially at 30's. Other causes can be from adrenal gland disorder as well as ovarian problems. The most common testosterone-increase disease is called Polycystic Ovarian.

Other causes:
1. Removal of Ovaries
2. Old age
3. Low Progesterone Level
4. Some Medicines (ex. birth control pills)

One symptom we see from Caster is her being male-looking.
Source(s):
http://www.ehow.com/facts_4962570_what-causes-high-testosterone-women.html
http://www.natural-hormones.net/testosterone-imbalance-causes.htm



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albanian albanian
 
August 25, 2009 04:16 PM
Another symptom is her low pitched voice. Since she is young, most of the possible causes do not apply. She probably has one of the glandular diseases, which would have been noticed had she been receiving better health care.

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fallen_ang... fallen_ang...
 
August 25, 2009 04:22 PM
yes... during her interviews, she sounded like a male too.

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rovee89 rovee89
 
August 25, 2009 04:21 PM
heightened levels of stress. strenuous activity. an abnormality of the pituitary which is activated during puberty. there needs to be a control system where certain levels of testosterone are released at any given time,especially during puberty. then again it is also due to genetics. it could also be linked to nutrition. women that go through menopause experience heightened levels of testosterone production because progesterone and estrogen start to decrease.
Source(s):
im in medical school lol


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