Testosterone Levels in Women by Age: Chart and What the Numbers Mean

Testosterone is often called a “male” hormone, but women make it too, in the ovaries and adrenal glands. It plays a part in sex drive, bone, muscle, and overall energy. If you have seen a testosterone number on your lab report and wondered whether it is normal for your age, this guide walks through what research shows about testosterone levels in women by age, why ranges differ from lab to lab, and when a test is actually useful.

One point up front: there is no single, universal chart of testosterone levels in women by age. Different studies and labs use different methods, and the numbers shift depending on the assay. The ranges below come from published research and are meant to help you understand the pattern, not to diagnose anything on their own.

How Testosterone Changes Across a Woman’s Life

The clearest finding across studies is that testosterone in women declines with age, and most of that drop happens earlier than many people expect. A large community study of 1,423 women aged 18 to 75 found that total testosterone, free testosterone, and DHEA-S all declined steeply with age, with the biggest drop in the earlier decades rather than the later ones (Davison et al., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2005).

That same study found something that surprises many women: natural menopause itself did not cause a sudden drop in testosterone. In women aged 45 to 54, menopausal status had no independent effect on androgen levels. The postmenopausal ovary appears to keep producing some testosterone. Women who had both ovaries removed, however, had significantly lower total and free testosterone after age 55.

Cleveland Clinic describes the same general pattern, noting that testosterone in women is highest around age 20 and declines naturally with age (Cleveland Clinic).

Female Testosterone Levels by Age: Research Chart

The testosterone levels in women by age chart below pulls together figures from peer-reviewed studies that used modern lab methods. Values reported in nmol/L have been converted to ng/dL (the unit most U.S. labs use) by multiplying by 28.84, and rounded. Treat these as reference points from research, not cutoffs.

Age group or situation	What the research shows (total testosterone)	Source
General adult range (all ages)	About 15 to 46 ng/dL, highest around age 20	Cleveland Clinic
Ages 18 to 39, regular cycles	Median about 10 ng/dL (0.34 nmol/L); observed range roughly 1 to 29 ng/dL. Levels were lower at ages 35 to 39 than at 18 to 25, and higher mid-cycle than early in the cycle	Skiba et al., 2019
Ages 20 to 80 combined	Reference range about 10 to 57 ng/dL (0.35 to 1.97 nmol/L), with a clear decline across each 10-year age group	Haring et al., 2012
Around menopause (ages 45 to 54)	No independent drop caused by natural menopause itself	Davison et al., 2005
After removal of both ovaries (55+)	Significantly lower total and free testosterone than women of the same age with ovaries	Davison et al., 2005
Ages 70 and older	Median about 11 ng/dL (0.38 nmol/L); levels were about 11% higher in women 85 and older than in women 70 to 74	Davis et al., 2019

You will notice the ranges do not line up perfectly. That is expected. The studies used different populations, different lab methods, and different ways of defining “normal.” This is exactly why your provider reads your result against the range printed by the lab that ran it.

Looking for men’s ranges? See our normal testosterone levels by age chart.

What about free testosterone?

Most testosterone in the blood is bound to proteins, mainly sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Free testosterone is the small unbound portion. In the study of women aged 20 to 80, calculated free testosterone ranged from about 0.0025 to 0.0253 nmol/L, or roughly 0.7 to 7.3 pg/mL (Haring et al., 2012). Free testosterone results vary widely by method, and an international expert panel noted that evidence that the “free” fraction is the biologically active one is lacking (Global Consensus Position Statement, 2019).

Why Your Lab’s Range May Look Different

Cleveland Clinic notes that normal ranges vary based on the type of blood test and the laboratory, and that your provider should always reference those ranges when reviewing results (Cleveland Clinic). A few reasons this matters even more for women:

• Women’s levels are low. Older immunoassays are less precise at low concentrations. Mass spectrometry methods are more accurate in the female range, which is why newer studies used them (Haring et al., 2012).
• Timing matters. Testosterone is usually drawn in the morning, between about 7 and 10 a.m., when levels tend to be highest (MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine). In women who still cycle, the phase of the cycle also shifts the number.
• Medications change the picture. Oral estrogen significantly increases the liver’s production of SHBG, which lowers the amount of testosterone available to tissues (Goodman, Journal of Women’s Health, 2012). Tell your provider about any hormonal medicines, including birth control, before testing.
• Body weight plays a role, but not in one direction. In women 18 to 39, overweight participants had lower median testosterone (Skiba et al., 2019), while in women 70 and older, those with overweight or obesity had higher testosterone and lower SHBG (Davis et al., 2019).

What High or Low Results Can Mean

A testosterone number alone cannot diagnose a condition. MedlinePlus is clear that results are interpreted alongside your age, symptoms, test type, and other labs (MedlinePlus).

Higher than expected

High testosterone in women is the more common reason a test is ordered. Signs include extra facial or body hair, acne, thinning scalp hair, and irregular or missed periods. Possible causes include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), congenital adrenal hyperplasia, ovarian problems, and pituitary disorders (MedlinePlus).

Lower than expected

Low testosterone is normal for women in general, so a low number is less informative. Extremely low levels can sometimes point to an adrenal, pituitary, or ovarian problem (MedlinePlus). Surgical removal of the ovaries is one well-documented reason levels fall (Davison et al., 2005).

Can a Blood Level Tell You If You Need Testosterone?

This is where many women get mixed messages online. A global consensus statement endorsed by the Endocrine Society, The North American Menopause Society, and other medical groups reached several conclusions worth knowing (Davis et al., Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women, 2019):

• The only evidence-based reason to prescribe testosterone to women is hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in postmenopausal women, after a full assessment.
• A total testosterone blood level should not be used to diagnose HSDD, and no cutoff level separates women with and without sexual dysfunction.
• If treatment is tried, doses should aim for levels that approximate the premenopausal range, with a baseline level and a repeat level about 3 to 6 weeks after starting.
• Products that push levels above the physiologic range, including pellets and injections, were not recommended.

In other words, testing is useful for safety and monitoring, but your symptoms and overall health matter more than any one number. If you want to go deeper on this question, read our guide on whether women can take testosterone.

What to Bring Up With Your Provider

• Your symptoms, how long they have lasted, and how they affect daily life.
• Where you are in your cycle, or whether you are perimenopausal or postmenopausal.
• Any hormonal birth control, estrogen, or other medicines you take.
• Whether you have had a hysterectomy or ovaries removed.
• Any previous testosterone or SHBG results, so trends can be compared on the same lab method when possible.

Low sex drive in particular has many possible causes beyond hormones. Our article on low libido in women and its hormonal causes covers what else to look at.

Testosterone is one piece of the bigger hormone picture that also includes estrogen and progesterone, as well as thyroid. Our women’s hormone therapy program looks at the full panel and your symptoms together rather than chasing a single value.

Talk to a Licensed Provider

If your lab results have left you with more questions than answers, a licensed provider can review them with you and explain what they mean for your situation. MultiGen Wellness is $247 to start (includes your first provider visit), then $97 per visit. Request a consultation or call 1-800-259-0015.

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Reference ranges differ by lab, and only a licensed provider who knows your history can interpret your results.