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How do you check DHT in your body?

A DHT test requires a blood drawn from the arm. Once you've placed your order on our website, bring your test requisition form to a laboratory that is closest to you. Find convenient locations using our lab locator. The results of your test will arrive confidentially to your HealthLabs.com account.

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Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a sex hormone similar to testosterone. DHT is technically an androgen—a hormone that regulates the development of the male sex organs and reproductive system. Androgens are also responsible for the biological characteristics of males, like a deep voice and facial, body, and pubic hair. Although deemed the “male sex hormone,” women also have DHT, just in smaller amounts. In a woman's body, DHT is converted to estradiol (a form of estrogen), a hormone that supports the growth and development of the reproductive organs. It is thought that DHT may also play a role in puberty for women. Sometimes, DHT can become imbalanced, either there is too little or too much DHT than normal. This imbalance can cause unwanted symptoms for both men and women.

What to Expect From a Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) Test

This dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blood test measures the amount of DHT hormone in the blood. A DHT test requires a blood drawn from the arm. Once you’ve placed your order on our website, bring your test requisition form to a laboratory that is closest to you. Find convenient locations using our lab locator. The results of your test will arrive confidentially to your HealthLabs.com account. Most results arrive in one to three business days.

Symptoms of a Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) Imbalance

Low levels of DHT do not seem to have an impact on women other than delaying the onset of puberty. However, when men have low levels of DHT, this can cause:

The sex organs to develop later than normal or incomplete development

The body to redistribute fat differently, leading to conditions like gynecomastia (enlarged breasts)

An increase in the risk of developing prostate tumors

When women have high levels of DHT, this can cause:

Hair loss that occurs in irregular patterns

Acne

An increase in body, facial, and/or pubic hair

A cease of menstrual periods

When men have high levels of DHT, this can cause:

Hair loss that occurs in irregular patterns

The skin to heal more slowly after an injury

A decrease in sex drive

Infertility

A loss of bone density

A loss of muscle strength

Coronary heart disease

Enlarged prostate

Prostate cancer

Who Should Get Tested for a Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) Imbalance?

Men and women who experience symptoms of DHT imbalance may consider testing to understand whether a DHT imbalance is the cause of their symptoms. This test can also be used to monitor DHT levels for individuals who are currently receiving treatment for a testosterone or DHT imbalance.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Higher levels than normal of DHT can be treated using medications that either reduce the body’s production of DHT or prevent DHT from binding to certain cells in the body; for example, receptors in hair follicles cells that, when bound to DHT, shrink hair follicles and lead to hair loss. Lower levels than normal of DHT can be treated using testosterone replacement therapy. When there is more testosterone available in the body, more of it can be converted to DHT. With proper treatment, individuals in partnership with their doctors can normalize DHT levels in the body and control symptoms.

Sources:

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Can high DHT be reversed?

Prescription medications. The FDA has approved oral finasteride, a medication that inhibits conversion of testosterone to DHT, for use by men. Topical finasteride “significantly decreased” DHT in the scalp, according to a 2019 article published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.

If your hair is falling out, your dermatologist may tell you that your hair loss is genetic or linked to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). If so, you’ll want to explore the range of medications, products, treatments and foods known informally as DHT blockers. Keep in mind that while some have proved quite effective, the jury remains out on others.

How Does DHT Cause Hair Loss?

DHT is a common factor in both male pattern baldness and hair loss in women, according to the American Hair Loss Association. Although DHT is a sex hormone associated with masculine characteristics, such as facial hair and a deep voice, it is created in the ovaries in women as well as in the testes and prostate in men. If DHT attaches to hair follicles for very long, it can trigger receptors to shrink those follicles, which eventually leads to increasingly fine hair and, finally, to hair loss.

DHT Blocking Treatments

DHT blockers are available in a variety of forms. Some of the most common treatment options include:

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