What are normal testosterone levels? Ages, males, females, and more

Male Hormone Testosterone Test

Testosterone therapy may also be used to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder in postmenopausal women and to produce physical male sex characteristics in female-to-male transgender patients. Testosterone is often referred to as “the male sex hormone”, but it is also produced in (and important for) females. In males, testosterone helps regulate sex drive and erectile function, muscle mass and strength, body fat distribution, bone density, and sperm production. In females, the role of testosterone is only partially understood, but it helps produce estrogen and may help regulate how eggs develop in the ovaries. Abnormal testosterone levels in both males and females may result in changes to your overall health and physical appearance.

The high levels of these hormones would normally tell your testicles to produce more testosterone and sperm. However, if you have damaged (most commonly related to prior chemotherapy) or missing testicles, they can’t respond to the increased levels of gonadotropins. As a result, your testicles make too little or no testosterone and sperm. For males, testosterone therapy may help treat lower-than-normal testosterone levels. However, there’s inconsistent evidence on the benefits of testosterone therapy for aging-related declines in testosterone. Some evidence also shows testosterone therapy may increase your risk of cardiovascular issues. In some men, testosterone levels remain high throughout life, but in most they begin to decline at about age 40.

Although rare, some people are incorrectly diagnosed with low testosterone because their test is performed later in the day. Our Doctors can recommend a care plan for you, based on your symptoms, hormone levels and specific health goals. Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) can increase your risk of low testosterone. Additionally, surgery, such as the removal of the ovaries, can cause lowered testosterone levels. Maintaining optimal testosterone levels isn’t just about avoiding low-T symptoms—it’s about unlocking a whole new level of vitality and well-being. From 1999 natural ways to increase testosterone in women 2016, testosterone levels have declined in adolescent and young adult men (AYA), according to results presented at the 2020 American Urological Association Virtual Experience1. If you experience any of these symptoms, you might start addressing the issue by asking your doctor, “What is a good testosterone level for a man my age?

The effects were modest, however, and certainly should not deter men who need androgen deprivation therapy from receiving it. Often, men who present with symptoms of hypogonadism are physically inactive, overweight or obese, have chronic medical conditions like type 2 diabetes and/or undiagnosed/untreated obstructive sleep apnea. In these men who are found to have normal testosterone levels, treatment should be directed at lifestyle modification. This may not only help them lose weight and become healthier, but also feel better.

These findings support the concept that sexual function represents a multidimensional condition that cannot be easily captured using subjective sexual function questionnaires. Because of circadian variations in testosterone levels, serum testosterone measurement should occur in the morning, or within two hours of awakening in shift workers (Figure 19 ). Although there is no universal laboratory definition of hypogonadism, in most laboratory reference ranges, the lower limit of normal is between 250 and 350 ng per dL (8.7 to 12.2 nmol per L). The Evaluation and Management of Testosterone Deficiency AUA Guideline provides guidance to the practicing clinician on how to diagnose, treat and monitor the adult male with testosterone deficiency. The care of testosterone deficient patients should focus on accurate assessment of testosterone levels, symptoms and signs as well as proper on-treatment monitoring to ensure therapeutic testosterone levels are reached and symptoms are ameliorated. Guidance is also given on the management of patients with cardiovascular disease, men who are interested in preserving their fertility and men who are at risk for or have prostate cancer. Testosterone therapy is a billion-dollar industry, with studies reaching myriad conclusions on the pros and cons of the treatment.

Hormone testing is the only way to know what your testosterone levels are for definite. In women and people assigned female-at-birth, testosterone is produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. Testosterone production is age-dependent and it gradually declines with age.

If you’re trying to increase your sex drive, 6 months may do the trick. A decrease in this hormone could be caused by a number of things, like an injury or infection in the testicles, which make testosterone. It could also be caused by tumors and diseases of the pituitary gland, which regulates how much of the hormone your body releases. Even if your testosterone levels are below the recommended range, you still might not have to worry.

Unlike the precipitous drop in hormones that women experience at menopause, however, the decline in men is gradual, averaging just over 1% a year. This drop is imperceptible at first, but by age 70, the average man’s testosterone production is 30% below its peak. Still, testosterone levels remain within the normal range in at least 75% of older men, which is why many men can father children in their 80s and beyond. It’s normal for testosterone levels to decrease with age or with the use of certain medications like corticosteroids or opiate pain medication.

Doctors say that a reading between 200 and 300 ng/dL is sort of a gray area. In certain cases, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Ask your provider how you should prepare for a testosterone levels test. A blood sample for a testosterone test should be taken in the morning between 7 and 10. During these hours, your testosterone levels are typically the highest.