Testosterone Levels by Age: Normal Levels for Males and Females

Generational decline in testosterone levels observed

At its peak, during your adolescent years, a normal range for your testosterone is anywhere between 300 and 1,200 ng/dL. When you’re entering your mid-30s, you’ll start to see it declining by at least one percent per year. A marked increase in testosterone leads to a medical condition known as a polycystic ovarian syndrome – also known as PCOS.

Make sure your doctor is qualified to talk about hormone testing and treatment, as a lot of primary care doctors aren’t heavily trained in this topic in medical school and prefer not to address it with patients. But the likelihood is you’ll have other symptoms, which would indicate it’s definitely time to consult with your healthcare provider. The researchers also broke the data down into normal levels of free testosterone toxicity symptoms and bioavailable testosterone. After attaining puberty, between ages 20 to 40 – it is in between 375 to 1075 ng / dL. This age group has the maximum level of testosterone – all through a man’s life. Level of testosterone production soon tapers off as you grow older. Also, some research shows that testosterone therapy can increase your risk of heart disease.

Men who are no longer interested in conceiving may benefit from safe, monitored testosterone replacement therapy. Some patients with genetic issues that cause subfertility, such as Klinefelter’s syndrome, may also benefit. Everyone can benefit from an unbiased, listening ear now and then. I’ve referred many patients to see a therapist whose concerns resolve without testosterone therapy. Low-T clinics also tend to overtreat, making blanket recommendations around the patient’s total testosterone and not their individual health needs.

Your hypothalamus and pituitary gland control the amount of testosterone your gonads (testicles or ovaries) produce and release. Synthetic testosterone is the main drug of masculinizing hormone therapy. However, when you hear people use the term “anabolic steroids” they are generally referring to synthetic (made in a lab) variations of testosterone that are injected into your body. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Men who are truly testosterone deficient should receive replacement therapy. The Institute of Medicine estimates that four to five million men are in this category but that only 5% of them are receiving testosterone. Your doctor might order it if you have symptoms of low or high testosterone.

You may not realize it, but you have two different types of testosterone in your body. Females who develop PCOS could treat their symptoms by maintaining a moderate weight. A doctor could also recommend hormonal contraception and fertility treatment. To diagnose low or high testosterone, a healthcare professional will ask about a person’s medical history and perform a physical examination and order tests. People of all sexes may also experience hair growth on the face and body, greasy skin, and a range of other symptoms. A testosterone deficiency in the womb can affect the development of a male fetus. It can also affect puberty and may slow or stop a person’s growth or development.

In hypogonadism, where the body’s natural testosterone production is impaired, TRT can restore normal hormonal balance. Regular monitoring by healthcare professionals is essential to prevent adverse effects and adjust dosages. While the serum testosterone level test is a reliable method for assessing hormone levels, it does have certain limitations and risks.

Because hormone levels change rapidly during puberty and development can occur at different ages for different people, the Tanner scale is a more accurate way to judge changes during puberty than using age. The following tables show typical levels of total testosterone in children and adolescents. In males, the testes produce testosterone, while the ovaries produce testosterone in females.

In this article, we look at how testosterone levels change with age, how to check your testosterone levels, and when it’s worth exploring further. You will generally receive results showing your testosterone levels within several days. Your results may be uploaded to an online health portal for viewing or sent to you in the mail.

You will receive it directly through the post, and we test for important values, including total testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG and Albumin levels. While helpful in some ways, ‘normal’ testosterone levels can be misleading. A man who had very high testosterone levels when a younger man may have genuine and devastating symptoms but fall within the healthy range given by labs.