Scott Braverman FNP-C
Scott Braverman FNP-CWhat are healthy testosterone levels in women?
Inside this detailed guide, we’ll breakdown everything you MUST know about testosterone levels in women, including:
- Normal testosterone levels
- Free testosterone levels
- Testosterone levels by age
- Other female hormones to monitor
…and so much more!…
Testosterone can be a confusing topic. Most people think of it as the “male hormone.” Men produce a lot more testosterone than women. However, testosterone still plays a critical role in women’s overall health and well-being.
Many women are dealing with signs and symptoms of low testosterone levels, and they don’t even know it. In this guide we will show you the best ways to monitor your testosterone levels and some safe, natural strategies that you can start using today to raise your testosterone levels.
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What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a hormone produced by the testes in men and the ovaries in women. You can think of hormones as a set of instructions inside your body. Your hormones float around in your bloodstream and tell the different tissues and organs in your body what to do in response to your environment.
Testosterone is known as the male sexual hormone because it plays a huge role in the growth and development of men during puberty. Testosterone is the hormone that causes men to grow facial hair, develop broad shoulders and speak with a deeper voice.
Many people do not know this, but testosterone also plays a huge role in women’s health. In fact, three systematic reviews performed as recently as 2021 show that normal testosterone levels play an incredibly important role in women’s health [1–3].
Here are just a few of the things that testosterone does in the female body:
- Creates new blood cells
- Improves bone density
- Improves muscle mass
- Decreases body fat
- Maintains a healthy sex drive
- Improves reproductive health
- Regulates other hormones
And much, much more. One of the big differences between men and women is the amount of testosterone that they produce. Women produce a much smaller amount of testosterone than men, but it is enough to get all the benefits listed above.
Do Women Need Healthy Testosterone Levels?
Testosterone plays a very important role in in the female body. Women do not need as much testosterone as men. However, it still plays a critical role in their overall health and well-being.
So why is it so important for women to have healthy testosterone levels? For starters, testosterone plays a role in the health of almost all tissues in the female body. Researchers have found functional androgen receptors, or testosterone receptors in almost all tissues including the breasts, heart, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, brain, spinal cord, bone marrow and reproductive tissues [4–5].
Talk about a team player! It’s incredible that one single hormone can maintain the health of so many different parts of the body.
Healthy testosterone levels also help to prevent metabolic disorders in women like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, or metabolic syndrome. In fact, research has shown that normal testosterone levels protect women’s hearts and have a positive impact on lean body mass, glucose metabolism and blood lipid profiles [6–7].
Clinical trials have even shown that testosterone has a protective effect on breast tissues and prevents the development of dangerous breast cancers in women [8–9].
Many older women experience depressions or a decline in sexual desire because their testosterone levels are too low. In fact, a recent meta-analysis showed that “women with depression do indeed display significantly different serum levels of testosterone” [10–11].
The idea that only men need healthy testosterone levels is simply inaccurate. The truth is normal testosterone levels play a critical role in almost every part of women’s health.
Normal Testosterone Levels in Women | Ultimate Guide
Testosterone plays a critical role in the overall health and wellbeing of women. Therefore, it is important to know what normal testosterone levels are in women. There are two main ways to measure testosterone levels: total testosterone and free testosterone.
Total testosterone is by far the most common way of measuring testosterone levels. Total testosterone tells you the total amount of testosterone that is floating around in your blood at a given time. This test gives you a very good idea of how much testosterone your body is producing and whether you are in the normal, healthy range of testosterone levels.
So, what are normal testosterone levels in women? Here is what you need to know: The normal range of testosterone in women is anywhere from 15-70 ng / dL, or nanograms per deciliter. Most pre-menopausal adult women fall in this range [12–13].
Some women start to produce less testosterone after they start menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. This gradual decline in testosterone levels is common, but it sometimes comes with unwanted side effects.
Here is a breakdown of normal testosterone levels for women of different ages:
- Teenage girls: 17 – 32 ng / dL
- Adult women: 15 – 70 ng / dL
The average adult woman produces anywhere from 15 – 70 ng / dL of testosterone. It is very rare for a woman who is not taking performance enhancing drugs to have more than 70 ng / dL of testosterone. However, it is slightly more common for women to fall below the bottom end of the healthy range.
Women who have a total testosterone reading below 15 ng / dL often experience some of the signs and symptoms of low testosterone including mobility restrictions, frailty, osteoporosis and reduced athletic performance [14-15]. There are many potential causes of low total testosterone levels in women. Some of the most common causes include advanced age, poor diet, diabetes, and hypertension.
Research on normal testosterone levels for women is still in its infancy. In fact, researchers do not yet know what qualifies as a “normal” testosterone level for women in their 50s, 60s, 70s or 80s. However, many medical doctors find that the amount of testosterone produced by women’s ovaries slowly declines following menopause.
Free Testosterone Levels vs. Total Testosterone
There are two main ways to test someone’s testosterone levels: total testosterone and free testosterone. Total testosterone is the most common test. As we already discussed, most women have a total testosterone reading between 15-70 ng / dL. However, women sometimes experience signs and symptoms of low testosterone, even though their total testosterone is in the normal, healthy range.
Today many doctors prefer to use the free testosterone test to measure testosterone levels in the human body. Free testosterone measures the amount of “active” testosterone in the bloodstream.
The truth is only a small percentage of your testosterone is considered active at any given time. About 98% of the testosterone in men and women is bound to a protein called shbg, or sex hormone binding globulin. Free testosterone measures the active or unbound testosterone that can bind to the surface of cells and exert its physiological effects.
Some women have normal levels of total testosterone but very low free testosterone levels. For this reason, many medical professionals like to test free testosterone levels in women in addition to total testosterone.
Here are the normal free testosterone levels for women [18–19]:
- Teenage girls: 0.3 – 1.9 ng / dL
- Adult women: 0.3 – 1.9 ng / dL
As you can see these numbers are significantly lower than the total testosterone ranges that we looked at before. This is perfectly normal. After all, free testosterone is only measuring the amount of unbound, or “active” testosterone in the blood stream.
If you are experiencing some of the signs and symptoms of low testosterone then it may be a good idea to test your total testosterone and free testosterone levels together. Fortunately, total testosterone and free testosterone are usually included in most female hormone blood tests.
Signs of Low Testosterone in Women
Low testosterone, or hypogonadism, is a serious medical condition. Many women are suffering from low testosterone, and they don’t even know it. Therefore, it is essential to know the most common signs and symptoms of low testosterone in women.
Here are five of the most common signs [20]:
- Depression
- Bone loss
- Muscle loss
- Breast pain
- Sexual dysfunction
This is just a small list. The truth is there are many other signs of low testosterone including excessive fatigue, increased risk for cardiovascular disease or diabetes and even memory loss and cognitive decline.
Low testosterone can be difficult to diagnose because there are so many possible signs associated with this condition. This is one of the many reasons it is important to talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any new symptoms. Your doctor will be able to talk to you about the symptoms you are experiencing and help you check your testosterone levels if necessary.
How to Test Testosterone Levels
The best way to check your testosterone levels is to perform a blood test. There are a few different ways to do this. The first option is to order a blood test through your doctor.
The process is relatively simple: you visit your doctor, explain the symptoms that you are experiencing and request that he or she orders a blood test for you to measure your testosterone levels.
Another option is to order your blood test online through a company like Let’s Get Checked. With an online company you pay for the exact test that you want, and then visit a local clinic to perform the actual blood test. Within a few days they will send the results back to you electronically.
If you decide to order a blood test through an online company then it is critical that you pick the right test. Most companies have dozens of different options for you to choose from. Here are the most important tests to include:
- Total testosterone
- Free testosterone
- Estradiol
There are many other tests that you can include as part of your overall blood test. This is especially important if you are a female as women have many more hormones that can impact their overall health.
Here are some of the most common tests that are medical professionals include when testing hormone levels:
- Complete blood count
- Comprehensive metabolic profile
- Lipid profile
- Thyroid profile
Most online companies offer a simple blood test that you can purchase to measure your hormone levels. Hormone tests especially useful for women who are going through menopause and want to check if their signs and symptoms are caused by declining testosterone levels.
For example, research shows that declining sexual desire is extremely common in women undergoing menopause [21–27]. Of course, we always recommend that you consult with a doctor or a qualified medical professional before and after performing any diagnostic tests.
The BEST Online TRT Clinic
Testosterone replacement therapy is an important treatment option for men and women who are suffering from low testosterone levels. The goal of testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, is to raise your testosterone levels back up to a normal, healthy level.
Testosterone replacement therapy is probably not appropriate for most women. However, there is a growing body of research showing that post-menopausal women who are dealing with signs and symptoms of declining testosterone levels benefit from TRT.
Many women report improved energy levels, decreased symptoms of depression, and improved sexual desire. If you are suffering from some of the signs and symptoms of low testosterone then you may be interested in learning more about online TRT clinics.
The advantage of an online clinic is you do not have to visit your doctor in person. Instead, you can talk to a doctor about your signs and symptoms from the comfort of your own home. Many doctors now use zoom and other technologies which make getting the medication you deserve fast and simple.
In our experience one of the best online TRT providers is called Fountain TRT. Co-founded by a board-certified urologist, Fountain TRT has decades of experience with helping men and women who are suffering from low testosterone. Fountain TRT uses a simple 3-step process with all their clients:
- Step #1: Take a free Low T assessment to see if you have symptoms of low testosterone. Your doctor will then schedule a time to talk to you about your results.
- Step #2: Perform a blood test at one of their partnered labs to test your exact testosterone level. Your Fountain TRT doctor will coach you through this process, so it goes as smoothly as possible.
- Step #3: Schedule a follow up visit with your online doctor to discuss the results of your blood test. If you and your doctor agree that TRT is the right choice for you, then they will deliver your medication right to your door.
Testosterone Levels in Women | Overall
Men aren’t the only ones who need to maintain normal testosterone levels.
The truth is testosterone plays a huge role in women’s health. Women who have abnormal levels of testosterone often experience symptoms including fatigue, depression, reduced sexual desire and reduced muscle and bone mass.
Most women should have their total testosterone between 15 – 70 ng / dL. This is the normal range of testosterone in women based on the available scientific literature. If your testosterone levels are below this range, then you may want to seek medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
There are many options available for raising your testosterone, including natural options and even testosterone replacement therapy. The research on TRT in women is still developing. However, it is associated with positive outcomes for post-menopausal women who are dealing with signs and symptoms of low testosterone.