Testosterone: Results
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Results
A testosterone test checks the level of this male hormone (androgen) in the blood.
Normal
Normal values may vary from lab to lab. Your doctor will have your test results in 1 to 2 days.
| Age | Male |
|---|---|
7 months to 9 years | |
10–13 years | 1–619 ng/dL (0.04–21.48 nmol/L) |
14–15 years | 100–540 ng/dL (3.47–18.74 nmol/L) |
16–19 years | 200–970 ng/dL (6.94–33.66 nmol/L) |
20–39 years | 270–1,080 ng/dL (9.00–37.48 nmol/L) |
40–59 years | 350–890 ng/dL (12.15–30.88 nmol/ L) |
60 years and older | 350–720 ng/dL (12.15–24.98 nmol/L) |
| Age | Female |
|---|---|
1 month to puberty | Less than 10 ng/dL (less than 0.35 nmol/L) |
7–9 years | 1–12 ng/dL (0.04–0.42 nmol/L) |
10–13 years | 2–53 ng/dL (0.07–1.84 nmol/L) |
14–17 years | 8–53 ng/dL (0.28–1.84 nmol/L) |
Premenopausal | 10–70 ng/dL (0.35–2.43 nmol/L) |
Postmenopausal | 7–40 ng/dL (0.24–1.39 nmol/L) |
The testosterone level for a postmenopausal woman is about half the normal level for a healthy, nonpregnant woman. And a pregnant woman will have 3 to 4 times the amount of testosterone compared to a healthy, nonpregnant woman.
Normal free testosterone levels in men range from 44 to 244 pg/mL (0.68 to 3.76 pmol/L). In women, the free testosterone level may range from 0.6 to 9.2 pg/mL (0.01 to 0.14 pmol/L).
High values
- In men, a high level of testosterone may be caused by cancer of the testicles or adrenal glands.
- In boys younger than 10, a high level of testosterone may mean early (precocious) puberty, a tumor in the testicles, or an abnormal adrenal gland.
- In women, a high level of testosterone may be caused by cancer of the ovaries or adrenal glands or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Low values
- In men or boys who have gone through puberty, a low level of testosterone may be caused by a problem with the testicles, such as slow development of, an injury to, or a lack of testicles. It can also be caused from treatment with the female hormone estrogen, a problem with the pituitary gland, or many long-term (chronic) illnesses.
- A low testosterone level in men can also be caused by certain inherited diseases (such as Klinefelter syndrome or Down syndrome), liver disease (cirrhosis), or treatment for cancer of the prostate gland.
- Chronic alcohol use can cause a low testosterone level.
- In women, a low level of testosterone may be caused by an underactive pituitary gland, Addison's disease, loss of ovary function through disease or surgery, and some medicines (such as corticosteroids or estrogen).
| Last updated: | May 29, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Bets Davis, MFA |
| Reviewed By: | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine, David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology & Metabolism |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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