Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHealthy Testosterone LevelsSignsMain CausesDiagnosisTreatment OptionsSelf-Care Methods
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Healthy Testosterone Levels
Signs
Main Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment Options
Self-Care Methods
Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone. It is also present in women. It is responsible for developing male reproductive tissues like the prostate and testicles and contributes to muscle and bone mass.
Though testosterone is considered a male sex hormone, it is also present in people assigned female at birth. A person assigned female at birth experiences fluctuating levels of testosterone throughout the lifetime. Healthcare providers do not come to conclusive guidelines on normal testosterone levels in women and people assigned female at birth.
Lowtestosterone in womenand people assigned female at birth could cause sluggishness, muscle weakness, irregular periods, and more.
Oscar Wong/ Getty Images
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts but differ. To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as its sources do.
What Should a Woman’s Testosterone Level Be?
There are no conclusive guidelines concerning what a woman’stestosterone levelsshould be.Your healthcare provider will discuss your levels based on your unique health history.
Signs of Low Testosterone in Women
Too much or too little testosterone affects overall health and causes several possible symptoms. The body needs testosterone to produce newred blood cells, regulate hormone levels, and balance mood.
Possiblesigns of low testosteronein people assigned female at birth include:
It is important to note that some people assigned female at birth do not experience any symptoms of low testosterone levels.
A person may experiencelow testosterone levelsbecause of natural declines or a chronic health condition. Testosterone naturally decreases in women and people assigned female at birth over time. Other hormones, includingestrogen, also naturally decline over time.
Low testosterone levels may indicate a problem with theovaries,adrenal glands, orpituitary gland. The ovaries produce testosterone, and as the ovaries lose function duringmenopause, testosterone levels decrease.
Possible causes of low testosterone in women and people assigned female at birth include:
How Is It Diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider can measure your testosterone levels with a simple blood test.If you have developed possible symptoms of low testosterone, such as reducedlibido, see a healthcare provider.
Because there are no conclusive guidelines for normal testosterone levels in women and people assigned female at birth, your healthcare provider will consider both your lab values and symptoms when making a diagnosis. Your provider will also perform a thorough physical exam.
Treatment Options and Their Side Effects
Treatment options are available for people with low testosterone levels. The goal of treatment is to improve symptoms and increase energy levels and sex drive.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a few treatment options for people assigned female at birth with low testosterone levels. Possible treatment options include:
Possible side effects of testosterone supplements include:
Alternative Therapies and Self-Care Methods
Alternative treatments and lifestyle changes to raise testosterone levels may include:
Summary
Testosterone is a sex hormone that develops the male reproductive tissues and sperm. It is also important for the overall health of women and people assigned female at birth. The body needs testosterone to produce new red blood cells, support muscle health, and maintain bone mass.
Low levels of testosterone in women and people assigned female at birth include fatigue, sluggishness, muscle weakness, sleep disturbances, irregular periods, and decreased sex drive. Talk with your healthcare provider if you are concerned about your testosterone levels.
A healthcare provider can diagnose low testosterone with a physical exam, a medical history of your symptoms, and a blood test. Treatment options are available. Discuss the potential benefits and risks with your healthcare provider before starting testosterone therapy.
10 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.Wierman ME, Arlt W, Basson R, et al.Androgen therapy in women: a reappraisal: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(10):3489-3510. doi:10.1210/jc.2014-2260Labcorp.Testosterone, total, women, children, and hypogonadal males.Reed BG, Bou Nemer L, Carr BR.Has testosterone passed the test in premenopausal women with low libido? A systematic review.Int J Womens Health. 2016;8:599-607. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S116212Weiss RV, Hohl A, Athayde A, et al.Testosterone therapy for women with low sexual desire: a position statement from the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism.Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2019;63(3):190-198. doi:10.20945/2359-3997000000152Yu Z, Jiao Y, Zhao Y, Gu W.Level of estrogen in females—the different impacts at different life stages.J Pers Med. 2022 Dec 2;12(12):1995. doi:10.3390/jpm12121995Uloko M, Rahman F, Puri LI, Rubin RS.The clinical management of testosterone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a review.Int J Impot Res. 2022;34(7):635-641. doi:10.1038/s41443-022-00613-0MedlinePlus.Testosterone levels test.Vegunta S, Kling JM, Kapoor E.Androgen therapy in women.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2020;29(1):57-64. doi:10.1089/jwh.2018.7494Scott A, Newson L.Should we be prescribing testosterone to perimenopausal and menopausal women? A guide to prescribing testosterone for women in primary care.Br J Gen Pract. 2020;70(693):203-204. doi:10.3399/bjgp20X709265Davis 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
10 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.Wierman ME, Arlt W, Basson R, et al.Androgen therapy in women: a reappraisal: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(10):3489-3510. doi:10.1210/jc.2014-2260Labcorp.Testosterone, total, women, children, and hypogonadal males.Reed BG, Bou Nemer L, Carr BR.Has testosterone passed the test in premenopausal women with low libido? A systematic review.Int J Womens Health. 2016;8:599-607. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S116212Weiss RV, Hohl A, Athayde A, et al.Testosterone therapy for women with low sexual desire: a position statement from the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism.Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2019;63(3):190-198. doi:10.20945/2359-3997000000152Yu Z, Jiao Y, Zhao Y, Gu W.Level of estrogen in females—the different impacts at different life stages.J Pers Med. 2022 Dec 2;12(12):1995. doi:10.3390/jpm12121995Uloko M, Rahman F, Puri LI, Rubin RS.The clinical management of testosterone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a review.Int J Impot Res. 2022;34(7):635-641. doi:10.1038/s41443-022-00613-0MedlinePlus.Testosterone levels test.Vegunta S, Kling JM, Kapoor E.Androgen therapy in women.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2020;29(1):57-64. doi:10.1089/jwh.2018.7494Scott A, Newson L.Should we be prescribing testosterone to perimenopausal and menopausal women? A guide to prescribing testosterone for women in primary care.Br J Gen Pract. 2020;70(693):203-204. doi:10.3399/bjgp20X709265Davis 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
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.
Wierman ME, Arlt W, Basson R, et al.Androgen therapy in women: a reappraisal: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(10):3489-3510. doi:10.1210/jc.2014-2260Labcorp.Testosterone, total, women, children, and hypogonadal males.Reed BG, Bou Nemer L, Carr BR.Has testosterone passed the test in premenopausal women with low libido? A systematic review.Int J Womens Health. 2016;8:599-607. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S116212Weiss RV, Hohl A, Athayde A, et al.Testosterone therapy for women with low sexual desire: a position statement from the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism.Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2019;63(3):190-198. doi:10.20945/2359-3997000000152Yu Z, Jiao Y, Zhao Y, Gu W.Level of estrogen in females—the different impacts at different life stages.J Pers Med. 2022 Dec 2;12(12):1995. doi:10.3390/jpm12121995Uloko M, Rahman F, Puri LI, Rubin RS.The clinical management of testosterone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a review.Int J Impot Res. 2022;34(7):635-641. doi:10.1038/s41443-022-00613-0MedlinePlus.Testosterone levels test.Vegunta S, Kling JM, Kapoor E.Androgen therapy in women.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2020;29(1):57-64. doi:10.1089/jwh.2018.7494Scott A, Newson L.Should we be prescribing testosterone to perimenopausal and menopausal women? A guide to prescribing testosterone for women in primary care.Br J Gen Pract. 2020;70(693):203-204. doi:10.3399/bjgp20X709265Davis 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
Wierman ME, Arlt W, Basson R, et al.Androgen therapy in women: a reappraisal: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(10):3489-3510. doi:10.1210/jc.2014-2260
Labcorp.Testosterone, total, women, children, and hypogonadal males.
Reed BG, Bou Nemer L, Carr BR.Has testosterone passed the test in premenopausal women with low libido? A systematic review.Int J Womens Health. 2016;8:599-607. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S116212
Weiss RV, Hohl A, Athayde A, et al.Testosterone therapy for women with low sexual desire: a position statement from the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism.Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2019;63(3):190-198. doi:10.20945/2359-3997000000152
Yu Z, Jiao Y, Zhao Y, Gu W.Level of estrogen in females—the different impacts at different life stages.J Pers Med. 2022 Dec 2;12(12):1995. doi:10.3390/jpm12121995
Uloko M, Rahman F, Puri LI, Rubin RS.The clinical management of testosterone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a review.Int J Impot Res. 2022;34(7):635-641. doi:10.1038/s41443-022-00613-0
MedlinePlus.Testosterone levels test.
Vegunta S, Kling JM, Kapoor E.Androgen therapy in women.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2020;29(1):57-64. doi:10.1089/jwh.2018.7494
Scott A, Newson L.Should we be prescribing testosterone to perimenopausal and menopausal women? A guide to prescribing testosterone for women in primary care.Br J Gen Pract. 2020;70(693):203-204. doi:10.3399/bjgp20X709265
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
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