Testosterone Levels in Women by Age
The short version:
- Women make testosterone too — about a tenth of what men make — and it supports libido, energy, mood, muscle, and bone.
- Levels are highest in a woman’s 20s and decline gradually with age; surgical removal of the ovaries drops them sharply.
- Unlike men, women have no agreed numeric cutoff for “low” testosterone — lab ranges vary and numbers alone don’t predict symptoms.
- That’s why doctors evaluate women using symptoms and lab results together, never a blood number by itself.
Women produce testosterone just as men do — in the ovaries and adrenal glands (small hormone-producing glands above the kidneys) — though in much smaller amounts. Understanding how testosterone levels in women change with age helps you recognize whether a declining level might be behind fatigue, low libido, or mood changes.
This guide covers what testosterone does in a woman’s body, what typical levels look like across life stages, and why a single blood number can’t tell the whole story.
Testosterone’s Role in a Woman’s Body
Testosterone is a normal, necessary female hormone — not just a “male hormone” women happen to have. It contributes to:
- Sexual desire, arousal, and satisfaction
- Energy and a general sense of well-being
- Mood, motivation, and confidence
- Muscle mass and strength
- Bone density
Because it touches so many systems, a meaningful decline can show up as a cluster of vague symptoms that are easy to blame on stress or a busy life.
Typical Testosterone Ranges for Women
Most labs place adult women’s total testosterone roughly between 15 and 70 ng/dL (nanograms per deciliter) — dramatically lower than the male range of about 300–1,000 ng/dL. Two caveats come with that range:
- It varies by lab. Laboratories use different methods and reference ranges — MedlinePlus explains how the testosterone test works and why results should be read against your lab’s own range.
- Total isn’t the whole picture. Most of a woman’s testosterone travels bound to proteins, so doctors sometimes also measure “free” testosterone — the small unbound fraction actively available to tissues.
How Levels Change with Age
The overall pattern is simple: levels peak in the 20s and decline gradually from there. The tables below show approximate averages reported for each age group — treat them as illustrative, not diagnostic, since individual values vary widely and your own result should be compared against your lab’s reference range.
Premenopausal Women (Still Having Periods)
| Age Range | Average Total Testosterone | Average Free Testosterone |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 years | ~45 ng/dL | 1.3-2.0 pg/mL |
| 30-39 years | ~40 ng/dL | 1.0-1.8 pg/mL |
| 40-49 years (Perimenopause) | 30-35 ng/dL | 0.8-1.6 pg/mL |
Postmenopausal Women (No Longer Having Periods)
| Age Range | Average Total Testosterone | Average Free Testosterone |
|---|---|---|
| 50-59 years | 15-30 ng/dL | 0.5-1.0 pg/mL |
| 60-69 years | 12-20 ng/dL | 0.3-0.8 pg/mL |
| 70+ years | 10-15 ng/dL | 0.2-0.5 pg/mL |
Curious about the male side of the story? See our average testosterone levels by age chart for men.
Menopause and Testosterone
Menopause changes testosterone less dramatically than it changes estrogen — most of the decline is driven by age itself.
- Perimenopause (usually the 40s): reproductive hormones fluctuate unpredictably while testosterone continues its slow age-related slide. Symptoms can come and go month to month.
- Natural menopause (average age 51): estrogen falls sharply, while the ovaries keep making some testosterone. By this point, though, testosterone is often around half its level from the 20s — the cumulative decline is real.
- Surgical menopause: removing both ovaries is the exception — it cuts off a major source of production at once, and testosterone drops sharply.
This helps explain why low libido, fatigue, and mood changes are so common in midlife. They’re not inevitable and not “all in your head” — but because estrogen and testosterone shift together, sorting out which is responsible takes a proper evaluation.
The Missing Cutoff: Why There’s No Official “Low” for Women
The key fact: there is no agreed numeric cutoff that defines low testosterone in women. Men have one — total testosterone below 300 ng/dL, confirmed on two morning tests. Women don’t, for good reasons:
- Standard tests weren’t built for female levels. Most testosterone tests were designed for male-range concentrations and become less accurate at women’s much lower values.
- Lab ranges disagree. A value flagged “low” at one laboratory may sit inside another lab’s normal range.
- Numbers don’t map neatly to symptoms. A woman who drops from 50 to 25 ng/dL may feel a big difference even though 25 is still “normal” on paper — while another woman feels fine at the same value.
- Age shifts the goalposts. A level typical for a 65-year-old would be unusually low for a 28-year-old, so any single cutoff would mislabel one group or the other.
No official cutoff: there is no agreed numeric threshold that defines low testosterone in women. Because no number can define “low” for every woman, symptoms — not age or a lab value alone — are what determine whether testing and treatment are worth exploring.
How Doctors Evaluate Low Testosterone in Women
Good evaluation pairs symptoms with lab work — neither is enough alone. Symptoms that commonly prompt testing:
- Decreased sexual desire, arousal, or ability to reach orgasm
- Persistent fatigue despite adequate sleep
- Mood changes: irritability, low motivation, reduced confidence
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty maintaining muscle tone
- Menopausal symptoms that persist despite estrogen therapy
- A history of ovary removal, which sharply reduces testosterone production
These same symptoms can also come from thyroid problems, anemia, depression, or low estrogen — which is exactly why the lab work matters. The blood test is the same one used for men, ideally drawn in the morning when levels peak, but results must be read against female reference ranges; the Cleveland Clinic’s overview of low testosterone shows how this symptoms-plus-labs approach works in practice. For what the blood draw involves and how to prepare, see our testosterone testing guide.
Worth knowing: the FDA’s approved testosterone products are designed and dosed for men — none is approved specifically for women, so treatment for women is prescribed off-label at much lower doses. If your evaluation does point to low testosterone, our testosterone for women page explains how carefully dosed therapy works and who’s a candidate.
FAQs
What is a normal testosterone level for a woman?
Most labs consider roughly 15–70 ng/dL normal for adult women, but the range varies by laboratory and declines with age — premenopausal women commonly measure around 30–45 ng/dL, postmenopausal women lower. Your own baseline and symptoms matter more than where you fall in a published range.
Can menopause cause low testosterone?
Age is the bigger driver: testosterone declines gradually through the 30s and 40s, so by menopause many women have about half their youthful level. Natural menopause itself changes testosterone only modestly — the ovaries keep producing some — but surgical removal of the ovaries causes a sharp, immediate drop.
How do I get my testosterone tested as a woman?
Ask your healthcare provider for a testosterone blood test and describe your symptoms — that context guides interpretation. It’s a simple blood draw, best done in the morning when levels are highest, and results typically return within days.
Is there a testosterone test specifically for women?
The test itself is the same for both sexes; what differs is interpretation. Results must be compared against female reference ranges, and because standard tests are less precise at women’s low concentrations, some doctors order a more sensitive assay or add a free-testosterone measurement.
What does a high testosterone level mean in a woman?
A level well above the female range — especially with symptoms like irregular periods, acne, or excess hair growth — can point to conditions such as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome, a common hormonal disorder) and deserves a medical workup of its own.
Related resources: Testosterone for Women | Testosterone Testing | Hormone Replacement Therapy | Estrogen Replacement Therapy | Progesterone Replacement Therapy
Your first step isn’t treatment — it’s information.
1. Get the data: a comprehensive blood panel plus a physical exam establish where you actually stand — hormones and beyond.
2. Let a doctor read the full picture: testosterone is one number among many. Your physician weighs your complete lab work, health history, and exam findings before deciding whether treatment would genuinely benefit your individual case.
References
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Testosterone Levels Test.
- Cleveland Clinic. Low Testosterone (Male Hypogonadism).
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Testosterone Information.
- Mayo Clinic. Testosterone Therapy: Potential Benefits and Risks as You Age.
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any hormone therapy or medication. Individual results vary, and treatment decisions should be made between you and your doctor based on your specific medical history and needs.
National HRT Staff
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.