Testosterone & Estrogen in Women: High vs Low vs. Normal Levels

Study finds no increased risk of gynecological cancer with testosterone use after five years

However, if a person with a vulva has high testosterone levels, it can lead to symptoms that affect physical appearance and reproductive health. High testosterone levels in people with vulvas, also known as hyperandrogenism, can result in symptoms such as acne, excess body hair, and mood changes. Women who are experiencing problems with their sexual function should therefore be evaluated by a medical expert with experience in this field, such as a gynecologist. These women should be assessed for all the factors that could potentially be impacting their sexual function, including testosterone.

Like men, women can also experience abnormal testosterone levels, leading to health issues like low sex drive and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this article, we will talk about normal testosterone levels in women to help you determine whether your testosterone is balanced or needs proper treatment. But before we discuss testosterone levels, let’s first see its role in women’s health. Normal testosterone levels support sexual development, libido, healthy muscles and bones, and mood.

Guided by our previous results from cis women with PBC, we focused on the 9 clusters of CD4+ T cells with the highest number of cells, representing naive CD4+ T cells (CD4+ TNAIVE) expressing CCR7, LEF1, and SELL. The second largest CD4+ cluster was identified as central memory T cells (CD4+ Tcm) expressing ITGB1 and GPR183, paired with antibody-derived tag (ADT) signals for CD62L. Furthermore, we identified 2 clusters of CD4+ Treg (CD4+ Treg and CD4+ Treg ACTIVATED) expressing FOXP3, IL-2RA, and CTLA4. Notably, CD4+ Treg ACTIVATED were defined by the expression of the additional activation markers HLA-DRA and HLA-DRB5 as well as by higher expression of CD25. We further assessed the differentiation potential of naive CD4+ T cells into other subclusters and performed propensity analysis using CellRank (23). Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the main medical conditions that can cause abnormal free testosterone levels in females.

For example, some types of breast cancer treatment involve blocking estrogen production. And your levels may be low immediately after childbirth and during breastfeeding. Please note that the information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Women over 50 are ruled deficient with anything less than 20 ng/dL.

With the exception of certain diagnostic test panels, list available here, the tests we offer access to are not intended to diagnose or treat disease. None of our tests are intended to be a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, help, diagnosis, or treatment. But testosterone is a complex hormone, bound by other proteins like SHGB.

During puberty, levels may rise to around 1 to 4 picograms per milliliter (pg/ml). However, as women age, their testosterone levels tend to decrease. In women of reproductive age, normal free testosterone levels typically range from 0.1 to 6.4 pg/ml.

In June 2024, the Society for Endocrinology in the UK published new clinical guidelines to help doctors better identify and manage the condition. These guidelines include clear diagnostic pathways, recommendations for when to carry out blood tests or scans, and guidance on when to refer patients for specialist care. Crucially, they acknowledge that androgen excess can affect women at all ages – not just during the reproductive years.

In women, testosterone is produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and trt gym fat cells. The adrenal glands are organs on top of both kidneys that produce hormones. Too much estrogen can cause your sex drive to drop and your weight to go up, particularly around your waist and hips. You also may experience changes to your periods — with bleeding either lighter or heavier than normal and your cycle’s timing becoming unpredictable. Testosterone levels are at their lowest points in women during puberty and adolescence, and at their highest during the pre and post-menopausal periods.

Women do not usually experience low testosterone levels, but too-high levels may cause several symptoms, including acne, body and facial hair, balding, and a deeper voice. Although any number of reasons can cause a woman to produce too much testosterone, one problem, in particular, can lead to this situation. A condition called PCOS – polycystic ovarian syndrome can induce high levels of testosterone in women. A woman may have an apple shaped body or be dealing with obesity in cases of PCOS. Encouragingly, there’s been a major step forward in how androgen excess is addressed.