Extra T?

[icontact]

So I know I'm not intersex. I've got the boobs, the buttocks, and the tiny waist. [On a side note, whose brill idea was it to give girls a small waist, it's so abnormal looking, like they'd snap right in half...]

But I've always had suspicions that I was born naturally producing more testosterone. I pass 100% without being on hormones. I've got a male jawline, 5oclock 'stache, veins pop out on my hands wrists and lower forearms, happy trail, male voice, and I swear, my hair is thinning like a man at the temples. Exactly like my father's at least. But that part is more on the worrying side, since I am way too young to have thinning hair. Alas.

But anyways, could it be possible that some girls are born naturally producing more T?

[myles]

Yes and I was/am one of them. You can have your T levels checked at the lab and see just how much you are producing if you would like. might be good to know,
In the end all it means is I am having to take less T than a"normal" dose and my levels are still high for a male my age.
Myles

[Northern Jane]

If you have periods, the T levels aren't too high - they would block periods.

It is distinctly possible that you are producing higher than normal levels of testosterone.

Have you had a blood test for testosterone and oestrogen levels? It might be a good idea.

[jmaxley]

Yeah, you can get it tested.  I had mine done.  My T levels were depressingly low...even for a female.   

[Nero]

One quick way to tell if you probably have extra T levels is body shape: Apples have considerably higher T levels than other shapes; hourglass shapes have lower. Course there's no guarantee.

Scroll down to 'female shapes': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_body_shape

[Seshatneferw]

You are not 'too young' to have thinning hair, some just get it earlier. A guy I knew in the military had already lost just about all the hairs on his forehead when I met him at age 20. Looking back at those pictures, I was already well on the way too, although still acceptable by male standards. Sigh.

Male pattern baldness comes from a recessive gene in the X chromosome, so (genetic) men inherit it from mum and women from both parents. If the disposition exists, DHT (a T derivative) makes the hair vanish, which is why it's pretty rare and usually relatively mild in (hormonal) women. In other words, this is another reason to suspect that you might have a highish testosterone level.

  Nfr

[uni]

I too swore I produced excess T but to my disbelief, my lab tests came back within range. I think my body is just oversensitive to the effects of T. I have a bony face, sharp jawline, browbone, bad acne, I sweat a lot, noticible adam's apple, no cheeks, receding hairline, thick long arm hair, broad shoulders, muscular frame, low body fat, and I have AA size chest!

But ironically, I have wide hips and a small waist. You're probably within normal range but everybody's body uses T differently.

[Hermione01]

I too swore I produced excess T but to my disbelief, my lab tests came back within range. I think my body is just oversensitive to the effects of T. I have a bony face, sharp jawline, browbone, bad acne, I sweat a lot, noticible adam's apple, no cheeks, receding hairline, thick long arm hair, broad shoulders, muscular frame, low body fat, and I have AA size chest!

But ironically, I have wide hips and a small waist. You're probably within normal range but everybody's body uses T differently.

I think that might be the key.

I started my periods at age 12 so I don't have high level of T either if that's how it's measured, but I may have been exposed to above normal level of T while still in the womb which gave me my strong facial features.  Idk.

[KaleisGood4U]

So I know I'm not intersex. I've got the boobs, the buttocks, and the tiny waist. [On a side note, whose brill idea was it to give girls a small waist, it's so abnormal looking, like they'd snap right in half...]

But I've always had suspicions that I was born naturally producing more testosterone. I pass 100% without being on hormones. I've got a male jawline, 5oclock 'stache, veins pop out on my hands wrists and lower forearms, happy trail, male voice, and I swear, my hair is thinning like a man at the temples. Exactly like my father's at least. But that part is more on the worrying side, since I am way too young to have thinning hair. Alas.

But anyways, could it be possible that some girls are born naturally producing more T?

A lot of these symptoms are consistent with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (https://health.google.com/health/ref/Polycystic+ovary+disease), which can be caused in part by an excess of androgens in the ovaries.  Not all people with PCOS are overweight or have an apple shape, BTW.  You really should look into having a vaginal ultrasound right away, as well as having blood work.  Ovarian tumors can also produce similar results, and endometrial cancer is a risk of PCOS.  You also have an increased risk of lipid abnormalities, diabetes, and sleep apnea. 

It's not a laughing matter, and while I'm not a doctor, or even a nurse yet, your condition is alarming enough that even if you don't have insurance right now, you should get your yearly physical and PAP anyway.  Your county health department will work with you on costs.  I don't want to scare you, but better safe than sorry.