Testosterone, Serum (Female)

Serum
Optimal Result: 8 - 60 ng/dL, or 0.28 - 2.08 nmol/L.

Testosterone is a male sex hormone produced in a woman’s ovaries in small amounts as well. Combined with estrogen, the female sex hormone, testosterone helps with the growth, maintenance, and repair of a woman’s reproductive tissues, bone mass, and human behaviors.

The normal ranges of testosterone levels for females are:

Age (in years) Testosterone range (in nanograms per deciliter)
10–11 < 7–44
12–16 < 7–75
17–18 20–75
19+ 8–60

 

Resources:

- Hunter MH, et al. (2003). Evaluation and treatment of women with hirsutism.
aafp.org/afp/2003/0615/p2565.html

- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: Overview.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/congenital-adrenal-hyperplasia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355205

- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Symptoms and causes.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/symptoms-causes/dxc-20342150

- Sowers MF, et al. (2001). Testosterone concentrations in women aged 25-50 years: Associations with lifestyle, body composition, and ovarian status. DOI:
10.1093/aje/153.3.256

- Test ID: TTFB – testosterone, total, bioavailable, and free, serum. (n.d.).
mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/83686

What does it mean if your Testosterone, Serum (Female) result is too high?

Symptoms of too much testosterone in females:

An imbalance of testosterone can have damaging effects on a woman’s health and sex drive.

Increased testosterone levels can cause symptoms that effect a woman’s physical appearance, such as:

- too much body hair, specifically facial hair

- balding

- acne

- enlarged clitoris

- decreased breast size

- deepening of the voice

- increased muscle mass

- irregular menstrual cycles

- low libido

- mood changes

- high testosterone can also cause infertility and obesity in some extreme cases.

Numerous diseases or disorders can cause hormonal changes in women. The most common causes of high testosterone levels in women are hirsutismpolycystic ovary syndrome, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Hirsutism -- Hirsutism is a condition of unwanted, male-pattern hair growth in women.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) -- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia -- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of inherited genetic disorders that affect the adrenal glands

Elevated testosterone levels in postmenopausal women:

Postmenopausal women may have higher testosterone levels because estrogen levels decline and the balance is skewed. 

Elevated testosterone levels in postmenopausal women can be indicative of a variety of conditions. In addition to the above mentioned, here are some possible implications and causes for higher testosterone levels in postmenopausal women:

- Adrenal Gland Disorders: The adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys, can produce excess testosterone. Conditions such as adrenal hyperplasia or adrenal tumors (benign or malignant) can result in elevated testosterone.

- Ovarian Tumors: Ovarian tumors, particularly those that are androgen-secreting, can lead to increased levels of testosterone.

- Medications: Some drugs, including certain hormone therapies or steroids, can raise testosterone levels.

- Insulin Resistance: Elevated testosterone can be associated with insulin resistance, a condition where the body's cells become less responsive to insulin. This is a risk factor for diabetes and is also related to metabolic syndrome.

Lowering elevated testosterone levels involves addressing the underlying cause of the elevation.

Treatments may include:

→ Lifestyle Changes: Adopting a healthy diet and regular exercise can help regulate hormones and improve insulin resistance, which can indirectly lower testosterone levels.

→ Medications: Depending on the cause, medications can be prescribed to lower testosterone levels. For instance, if insulin resistance is a factor, metformin may be used. Anti-androgen medications, such as spironolactone, can also be effective.

→ Hormone Therapy: In some cases, estrogen therapy may help to counteract the effects of high testosterone.

→ Manage Underlying Conditions: If a woman has PCOS, management of this condition can help reduce testosterone levels. This might include the use of birth control pills, which are sometimes prescribed even for postmenopausal women to regulate hormones.

→ Surgery: If the high testosterone level is due to a tumor on the ovaries or adrenal glands, surgery may be required to remove it.

→ Avoid Certain Medications and Supplements: Some over-the-counter supplements and medications can increase testosterone levels, so it's important to review all current medications with a healthcare provider.

→ Stress Reduction: High stress can lead to an increase in certain hormones, including testosterone. Stress reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, and other relaxation exercises may be beneficial.

→ Limit Alcohol and Caffeine: These substances can affect hormone levels and should be consumed in moderation.

It's crucial for any woman experiencing elevated testosterone levels to work closely with a healthcare provider to identify the cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan. Self-treatment is not advised due to the complex nature of hormonal regulation and the potential for serious underlying conditions.

What does it mean if your Testosterone, Serum (Female) result is too low?

Like estrogen and progesterone, testosterone normally declines with age. However, because women make testosterone in the ovaries and the adrenal glands, a low level of testosterone could indicate a problem with the function of either organ. Estrogen replacement therapy can also lower the level of testosterone.

If your testosterone level is low for your age and menstrual status, then you could be experiencing symptoms of low testosterone including:

- Decreased libido
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Depressed mood
- Weight gain

Testosterone also has some health-protective roles after menopause and low levels can increase some areas of health risk including:

- Bone loss/osteoporosis
- Muscle wasting/sarcopenia
- Obesity
- Depression
- Heart disease

Potential ways to increase testosterone:

There may also be some ways to boost testosterone naturally, including:

- eating a more balanced diet focused on fresh foods

- avoiding overeating

- avoiding obesity

- doing regular exercise

- getting plenty of sleep each night

Some foods can boost testosterone because they are high in certain vitamins or minerals, such as vitamin D or zinc, which are associated with increasing testosterone. The following foods can boost testosterone levels:

- Asparagus
- Beans (white/kidney/black)
- Pomegranate juice

Depending on your age, consider testosterone HRT or supplements that support low testosterone symptoms include Zinc, Maca, Tribulus, and Shatavari. If there are no symptoms of low testosterone, also carefully look at the 5a-metabolism and testosterone's downstream metabolites, 5a-androstanediol and 5b-androstanediol to confirm a low androgenic state.

If you are of Asian descent: 

There is a very common genetic variant in this population that, if present, disallows much of testosterone from being converted into the water-soluble form found in urine. Actual testosterone levels, if this genetic variant is present, would be better assessed in a blood serum test (ideally total and free testosterone). This variant metabolism has no known clinical impact and impacts testosterone, 5a-DHT and 5b-androstanediol. It is not known to impact epi-testosterone, 5a-androstanediol or ther androgens as they are metabolized by a different enzyme.

If your testosterone level is very low (less than 1 ng per mg):

Androgens (DHEA and testosterone) in women help with muscle and weight maintenance, memory and brain function, mood, libido and a sense of wellbeing. If testosterone is very low, or low but without symptoms of androgen deficiency, it is best to test serum levels to confirm before starting a treatment program due to the potential of falsely low urinary testosterone. Lifestyle and diet modifications alone could be helpful to increase androgens such as:

- weightlifting

- high intensity interval training

- DHEA or TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) if appropriate and indicated. 

- Tribulus, shatavari, maca

- Mitochondrial support and/or zinc

Frequently asked questions

Unlock Your Health Journey with Healthmatters.io! Ever wished for a one-stop digital health haven for all your lab tests? Look no further! Healthmatters.io is your personalized health dashboard, bringing together test reports from any lab. Say goodbye to scattered results—organize and centralize your lab data effortlessly. Dive into the details of each biomarker and gain insights into the meaning behind your medical test data.

Join the community of thousands who've transformed the way they understand their lab results. Experience the joy of having all your lab data neatly organized, regardless of where or when the tests were done.

For our professional users, Healthmatters.io is a game-changer. Revel in the intuitive tools that not only streamline analysis but also save valuable time when delving into your client's lab report history. It's not just a dashboard; it's your gateway to a smarter, more informed health journey!

Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:

  • The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
  • GI-MAP,
  • The NutrEval FMV®,
  • The ION Profile,
  • Amino Acids Profile,
  • Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
  • Organic Acids Test,
  • Organix Comprehensive Profile,
  • Toxic Metals,
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC),
  • Metabolic panel,
  • Thyroid panel,
  • Lipid Panel,
  • Urinalysis,
  • And many, many more.

You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.

If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.

While we do talk about popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too. It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters. We can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.

Still on the hunt for a specific biomarker? Just tell us, and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account!

There are two ways to add your test reports to your healthmatters.io account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."

Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.

For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you. We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.

Our special data entry service makes it easy to add your results to your private dashboard. Just attach an image or a file of your lab test results, and our skilled data entry team will do the work for you. It's all done by humans, ensuring that your data is entered accurately and with personal care for each client.

Depending on your account, the data entry service can be included for free or come at an additional cost of $15 per report.

For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.

Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.

Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.

The Unlimited plan is a one-time purchase for $250, and it covers your account for a lifetime with no additional payments.

For the Complete plan, the cost is $15 per month. You have the flexibility to cancel it anytime through your account settings, ensuring no further payments. To avoid charges, remember to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Once canceled, the subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle.

Additionally, you can upgrade to the yearly Advanced plan from within your account. The annual cost is $79, and it comes with a data entry service for five reports.

You can always upgrade to a lifetime version with a prorated price from a monthly or yearly subscription.

Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.

Unlocking the insights from your lab tests has never been this intuitive! We've crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into a treasure trove of testing data.

1. Graph View:

Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.

2. All Tests View

Get a quick grasp of your test reports in minutes! Explore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.

3. Table View:

For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.

Experience the power of clear, organized data visualization with Healthmatters.io — your key to understanding and taking charge of your health journey!

Yes, you can download information from your account. We can compile your labs into a CSV file. To download all your labs, you can go to Account Settings, and at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to download your information.

Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.

A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.

The professional or business account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.


We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.