What Are Normal Testosterone Levels For Women?
Low Testosterone in Women: Symptoms, Signs, and Causes
This form of testosterone is biologically active and can freely interact with cells throughout the body. Measuring free testosterone levels is important because it gives a more accurate representation of the amount of testosterone available for the body to use effectively. The normal range of free testosterone in females can be measured through a blood test.
High free testosterone levels in females can be a cause for concern as they may indicate conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), adrenal gland disorders, or tumors. Symptoms of high testosterone levels in females can include acne, unwanted hair growth (hirsutism), and menstrual irregularities. It is important for women with high levels to consult with a healthcare professional for further evaluation and management.
While hormones like estrogen and progesterone are most important for female reproductive function, women also produce testosterone, which contributes to fertility and other body functions. The amount of testosterone normally in a woman’s body varies, primarily depending on age, menstrual status and pregnancy. Certain medical conditions can also affect a woman’s testosterone level. Resistance exercise has been shown to induce acute increases in testosterone levels in both sexes, potentially contributing to improved musculoskeletal adaptations over time46. Therefore, understanding the dynamics of testosterone in females, particularly in response to physical activity, is essential for designing effective, sex-specific exercise interventions. Adequate testosterone levels are essential for optimizing physical performance and muscle strength, regardless of sex12.
By Carrie Madormo, RN, MPHMadormo is a health writer with over a decade of experience as a registered nurse. She has worked in pediatrics, oncology, chronic pain, and public health. When something goes wrong with your pituitary gland, less estrogen is made.
They may also develop osteoporosis — thin bones — and fractures. Free testosterone levels under 1.5 pg/mL for those under age 50, and below 1.0 pg/mL for the over 50 female are also indicative of Low T. Just as with men, determining what is considered to be an acceptable testosterone level in women is often complicated. The wide range of fluctuation in normal testing levels makes it difficult to set an ideal number. Doctors are often left on their own to determine who requires treatment for Low T. And yet, hormonal health is still too often treated as an afterthought. Many women describe years of feeling dismissed by doctors, told to “come back if you want to get pregnant”, or offered little more than the contraceptive pill.
So we don’t know where you are in your cycle and that makes it really difficult to interpret. Sometimes I even do it two weeks apart, like we’ll do it now and then we’ll do it two weeks later just to kind of see what we get because it should be very different. So we know that your blood pressure is going to change minute by minute over the day depending on what’s going on, but we don’t say we can’t measure your blood pressure because it changes. So that’s how I feel about hormones is we just have to put it into context.
Most females don’t develop male characteristics because testosterone and other androgens act differently in their bodies, being quickly converted to estrogen. This production of sex hormones contributes to the development of secondary sex characteristics. These include deep voices and facial hair and higher voices and breast development.
Transmasculine and gender-diverse individuals who use testosterone are trt not working (https://docpulse.com/pgs/?weight_loss_pills_1.html) at increased risk of gynecological cancer in the first years of hormone therapy. This is evident from large-scale research by Amsterdam UMC, which was published in eClinicalMedicine. General practitioners, gynaecologists, dermatologists and even mental health professionals all have a role to play in recognising the signs of androgen excess.
