Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIts FunctionMeaning of Low LevelsMeaning of High LevelsBalancing It
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Its Function
Meaning of Low Levels
Meaning of High Levels
Balancing It
Testosteroneis commonly considered a male hormone but is present in female bodies too. People assigned female at birth need testosterone to make the female hormone estradiol. It is also essential for maintaining healthy bones and muscles and making new red blood cells.
Women do not usually experience lowtestosterone levels,but too-high levels may cause several symptoms, including acne, body and facial hair, balding, and a deeper voice.
This article will provide an overview of testosterone in women and what to do if your level is too high or too low.
Evgeniia Siiankovskaia/ Getty Images
Biological Function of Testosterone in Women
Testosterone is an essential hormone for each of us. In women, testosterone is produced in theovaries,adrenal glands, and fat cells. The adrenal glands are organs on top of both kidneys that produce hormones.
Testosterone levels in women are usually highest in the morning and fall throughout the day. Thehypothalamusand the pituitary gland control these levels.
The female body converts most testosterone to the female hormone estradiol. Testosterone is essential for:
Adrenal Gland and Hormone Release
While testosterone is usually considered a male hormone, it is essential for female health. The same goes forestrogen, a female hormone that is also produced in male bodies. A man’s estradiol levels vary widely; the normal male range is 28.0 to 156.0 pmol/L.
What Do Low Female Testosterone Levels Mean?
Female testosterone levels usually begin to rise in girls between 6 and 8. When girls have their first period (menarche), the ovaries produce testosterone cyclically. This means the levels change throughout the month based on one’s menstrual cycle. In women, testosterone levels peak mid-cycle and stay high during theluteal phase(last stage).
A low testosterone level is a lab value of less than 15 ng/dL of testosterone.Symptoms of low testosterone in women include:
What Do High Female Testosterone Levels Mean?
Testosterone is anandrogenhormone that stimulates the development of male characteristics. That means that women with a high testosterone level often experience physical changes associated with the male body. A normal testosterone range in women is 15 to 46 ng/dL during the reproductive years. Any value above 46 ng/dL is considered high.
Symptoms ofhigh testosterone in womenmay include:
A common cause of high testosterone levels in women ispolycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS), a hormonal disorder that causes the ovaries to produce too many androgens like testosterone. Other possible causes of high testosterone include adrenal or pituitary gland disorders andovarian cancer. In rare cases, benign ovarian tumors may also cause high testosterone.
There are three different ways totest your testosterone level, and a healthcare provider will recommend one based on your symptoms and overall health. Blood tests for testosterone include:Total testosterone test:Measures the amount of free testosterone and testosterone attached to blood proteins (the most common type of test)Free testosterone test:Measures the active form of testosterone in the bloodBioavailable testosterone test:Measures free testosterone and testosterone that is attached to the protein albumin
There are three different ways totest your testosterone level, and a healthcare provider will recommend one based on your symptoms and overall health. Blood tests for testosterone include:
Balancing Female Testosterone
It is possible to balance your testosterone levels. The treatment plan will depend on your hormone levels, the underlying cause, and overall health.
How to Raise Testosterone Levels
One study found that taking testosterone may improve muscle strength and cognitive performance inpostmenopausalwomen. However, taking testosterone may also increase the risk of heart disease.
How to Lower Testosterone Levels
Lifestyle changes that can reduce your testosterone level include:
If lifestyle changes do not improve your symptoms, your provider may recommend medication to lower your testosterone levels. Medical options include:
Summary
Testosterone is an androgen (male hormone) present in both male and female bodies. People assigned female at birth need testosterone to produce estradiol, strengthen bones, build muscles, and make new blood cells.
Women with low testosterone levels may benefit from hormone therapy but should discuss the risks with their healthcare providers. Women with high levels of testosterone may be able to decrease their levels with lifestyle changes like weight loss, daily exercise, and diet modifications. A common cause of high testosterone in women is PCOS.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Society for Endocrinology.Testosterone.MedlinePlus.Testosterone levels test.Chen T, Wu F, Wang X, et al.Different levels of estradiol are correlated with sexual dysfunction in adult men.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):12660. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-69712-6Davis SR, Wahlin-Jacobsen S.Testosterone in women–the clinical significance.Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2015;3(12):980-992. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(15)00284-3Baqer Ali E, Alhamza A, Zaboon IA, Alidrisi HA, Mansour AA.Fasting versus non-fasting total testosterone levels in women during the childbearing period.Cureus. 2023;15(2):e35462. doi:10.7759/cureus.35462Kaur H, Singh N, Bharti S, Kaur G.Exploring the unusual: a testosterone-secreting ovarian tumor.Autops Case Rep. 2024;14:e2024478. Published 2024 Feb 26. doi:10.4322/acr.2024.478Campbell KL, Foster-Schubert KE, Alfano CM, et al.Reduced-calorie dietary weight loss, exercise, and sex hormones in postmenopausal women: randomized controlled trial.J Clin Oncol. 2012;30(19):2314-2326. doi:10.1200/JCO.2011.37.9792National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.Treatments to relieve symptoms of PCOS.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Society for Endocrinology.Testosterone.MedlinePlus.Testosterone levels test.Chen T, Wu F, Wang X, et al.Different levels of estradiol are correlated with sexual dysfunction in adult men.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):12660. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-69712-6Davis SR, Wahlin-Jacobsen S.Testosterone in women–the clinical significance.Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2015;3(12):980-992. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(15)00284-3Baqer Ali E, Alhamza A, Zaboon IA, Alidrisi HA, Mansour AA.Fasting versus non-fasting total testosterone levels in women during the childbearing period.Cureus. 2023;15(2):e35462. doi:10.7759/cureus.35462Kaur H, Singh N, Bharti S, Kaur G.Exploring the unusual: a testosterone-secreting ovarian tumor.Autops Case Rep. 2024;14:e2024478. Published 2024 Feb 26. doi:10.4322/acr.2024.478Campbell KL, Foster-Schubert KE, Alfano CM, et al.Reduced-calorie dietary weight loss, exercise, and sex hormones in postmenopausal women: randomized controlled trial.J Clin Oncol. 2012;30(19):2314-2326. doi:10.1200/JCO.2011.37.9792National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.Treatments to relieve symptoms of PCOS.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Society for Endocrinology.Testosterone.MedlinePlus.Testosterone levels test.Chen T, Wu F, Wang X, et al.Different levels of estradiol are correlated with sexual dysfunction in adult men.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):12660. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-69712-6Davis SR, Wahlin-Jacobsen S.Testosterone in women–the clinical significance.Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2015;3(12):980-992. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(15)00284-3Baqer Ali E, Alhamza A, Zaboon IA, Alidrisi HA, Mansour AA.Fasting versus non-fasting total testosterone levels in women during the childbearing period.Cureus. 2023;15(2):e35462. doi:10.7759/cureus.35462Kaur H, Singh N, Bharti S, Kaur G.Exploring the unusual: a testosterone-secreting ovarian tumor.Autops Case Rep. 2024;14:e2024478. Published 2024 Feb 26. doi:10.4322/acr.2024.478Campbell KL, Foster-Schubert KE, Alfano CM, et al.Reduced-calorie dietary weight loss, exercise, and sex hormones in postmenopausal women: randomized controlled trial.J Clin Oncol. 2012;30(19):2314-2326. doi:10.1200/JCO.2011.37.9792National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.Treatments to relieve symptoms of PCOS.
Society for Endocrinology.Testosterone.
MedlinePlus.Testosterone levels test.
Chen T, Wu F, Wang X, et al.Different levels of estradiol are correlated with sexual dysfunction in adult men.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):12660. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-69712-6
Davis SR, Wahlin-Jacobsen S.Testosterone in women–the clinical significance.Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2015;3(12):980-992. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(15)00284-3
Baqer Ali E, Alhamza A, Zaboon IA, Alidrisi HA, Mansour AA.Fasting versus non-fasting total testosterone levels in women during the childbearing period.Cureus. 2023;15(2):e35462. doi:10.7759/cureus.35462
Kaur H, Singh N, Bharti S, Kaur G.Exploring the unusual: a testosterone-secreting ovarian tumor.Autops Case Rep. 2024;14:e2024478. Published 2024 Feb 26. doi:10.4322/acr.2024.478
Campbell KL, Foster-Schubert KE, Alfano CM, et al.Reduced-calorie dietary weight loss, exercise, and sex hormones in postmenopausal women: randomized controlled trial.J Clin Oncol. 2012;30(19):2314-2326. doi:10.1200/JCO.2011.37.9792
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.Treatments to relieve symptoms of PCOS.
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