Content Health Encyclopedia University of Rochester Medical Center

Normal Testosterone Levels In Men And Women By Age

In some men, estrogen levels will increase as testosterone levels increase. Men naturally need some estrogen, one of the main sex hormones that women have, in the body for bone health and other body functions. But too much estrogen can cause conditions such as gynecomastia (male breast tissue). Excess estrogen can also cause sleep apnea, edema (swelling), and acne. Free natural testosterone in food levels can be influenced by factors including age, sex hormone-binding globulin levels, and overall health. Ensuring levels are within the optimal range can maximize the benefits of TRT and minimize adverse effects. Physicians typically recommend maintaining regular testing intervals to ensure therapy is successful and safe.

“Everyone agrees that if you have a phenomenally low level, you’d benefit from treatment. But if it’s just slightly low, as is more common, you’d definitely want to have symptoms,” says Bradley Anawalt, MD, chief of medicine at the University of Washington. Adverse effects specific to topical preparations include application site reactions (3-16% erythema or rash), and risk of transference. Patients should be particularly cautioned against contact with women and children after application of the gel to limit the possibility of inadvertent transmission. Transference may be mitigated by washing hands, covering the application site with clothing, and washing the region prior to anticipated direct contact with others.

Some patients have come to us from low-T clinics with testosterone levels as high as 3,000. That’s unnecessary, and so much chemical modification increases the risk of enlarged prostate or increases the risk of prostate cancer. Even safe and moderate testosterone therapy bears a slightly increased risk.

That’s a hormone problem that can cause irregular periods and make it hard to get pregnant. Testosterone testing is part of the work-up of certain adrenal tumors. To understand why testosterone levels decline, it’s useful to understand how testosterone levels are controlled.

These include bleeding, infection, bruising, and feeling lightheaded. When the needle pricks your arm or hand, you may feel a slight sting or pain. Transdermal testosterone patches deliver hormones through the skin.

Testosterone levels are measured and reported as nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). Kecia Gaither, MD, an OB-GYN and director of perinatal services and maternal-fetal medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals in Bronx, New York, says that the normal testosterone levels for women are typically between 9–55 ng/dL. In comparison, normal testosterone levels for men ages 19 years and older are typically between 240–950 ng/dL. Testosterone is a hormone responsible for male sex characteristics, sperm creation, and fertility. Both males and females produce testosterone in their bodies, but males typically have much higher levels of it. If you’re found to have low testosterone and are recommended a clinical course of treatment, commonly called testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), you’ll need to keep testing your testosterone levels during your treatment regimen.

Although the 2.5th and 5th percentiles generally decreased with age, this was less the case for values at the upper end of the distribution, which tended to fluctuate across the age groups. However, as expected, values in nonobese men at all percentiles tended to be greater than those derived from all (obese and nonobese) participants. We computed model-based estimates of population reference ranges for all men in each age range regardless of obesity status, using combined data from all cohorts.

People with past prostate or breast cancer or those with untreated sleep apnea should avoid TRT. It may also exacerbate conditions such as polycythemia, where there is an excess of red blood cells. For adult men, a normal testosterone level is often considered to be between 300 and 1,000 ng/dL. While we’ve ensured that everything you read on the Health Centre is medically reviewed and approved, information presented here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor.

Where your levels should be, how to know when they’re off, and how to test your hormones. As you grow older, the level of testosterone in your body naturally decreases, leading to a variety of changes. At around week seven in utero, the sex-related gene on the Y chromosome initiates the development of the testicles in male infants. Testosterone is a hormone that your gonads (sex organs) mainly produce.