Do Women Have Testosterone? Levels, Symptoms, and Testing

Women naturally produce testosterone. Although the concentration is much lower than it is in men, testosterone contributes to sexual function, bone and muscle biology, and normal physiology throughout life. It is produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands, with additional androgens converted in other tissues.

A testosterone result in a woman cannot be interpreted from one universal chart. Age, menstrual status, oral contraceptives, hormone therapy, pregnancy, health conditions, assay method, and the laboratory's own reference range all matter.

What does testosterone do in women?

Testosterone is one of several androgens in the female body. It interacts with estrogen and other hormones rather than working in isolation. In both sexes, testosterone is involved in sexual desire and in muscle and bone growth.¹

Women do not need to have a male-range testosterone level to receive these effects. Normal female physiology operates at much lower concentrations.

What is a normal testosterone level for women?

There is no single range that applies to every woman or every laboratory. Testosterone is difficult to measure accurately at the lower concentrations typical in women. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry is generally preferred when accurate low-level measurement is important.

One study using mass spectrometry in women ages 20 to 80 reported an overall total testosterone reference interval of 0.35 to 1.97 nmol/L, or about 10 to 57 ng/dL. Levels declined with age, and the study provided separate ranges by age and menopausal status.²

That study is useful context, not a diagnostic cutoff. Your result should be compared with the reference range printed by the laboratory that performed the test. Read our broader guide to testosterone levels by age and sex for more on assay differences.

Signs of high testosterone in women

Elevated androgen activity can be associated with:

• Increased coarse facial or body hair
• Acne or oily skin
• Scalp hair thinning
• Irregular or absent menstrual periods
• Difficulty becoming pregnant
• Deepening of the voice or increased muscle mass when elevation is marked

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common cause of androgen excess, but it is not the only cause. Medication exposure, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, ovarian or adrenal disorders, and rare tumors may also be considered. Rapidly developing symptoms, voice changes, or marked virilization deserve prompt evaluation.

The Endocrine Society recommends androgen testing in women with an abnormal hirsutism score. When the history suggests a hyperandrogenic disorder, early morning total and free testosterone measured with a reliable specialty assay may be appropriate.³

What does low testosterone mean in women?

Testosterone declines across adulthood, but a low number alone does not define a disease. Symptoms often attributed to low testosterone, including fatigue, low mood, reduced libido, and changes in body composition, can have many other causes.

The Endocrine Society recommends against diagnosing an androgen deficiency syndrome in otherwise healthy women because there is no well-defined syndrome and blood levels do not reliably match a specific set of symptoms.⁴

Possible contributors to low results include natural aging, ovarian removal, pituitary or adrenal disorders, some medicines, oral contraceptives, and other hormone treatments. The clinical meaning depends on why testing was performed.

When is testosterone therapy used in women?

The most widely endorsed evidence-based use is carefully dosed systemic testosterone for postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder after a formal biopsychosocial assessment. A global consensus statement endorsed by multiple medical societies concluded that evidence does not support testosterone treatment for general well-being, cognition, bone health, cardiovascular health, or prevention of disease.⁵

Important limits include:

• A testosterone blood level does not diagnose hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
• Treatment should keep levels within the physiological range for premenopausal women.
• Products that create supraphysiologic levels, including many pellets and high-dose formulations, are not recommended.
• Monitoring is needed for acne, excess hair growth, scalp hair loss, voice changes, and other androgen effects.
• Long-term safety data are limited.

Testosterone is not a general treatment for fatigue, weight loss, mood, infertility, or aging. Anyone considering therapy should work with a clinician experienced in female sexual medicine or endocrinology.

How testosterone is tested in women

A clinician first decides whether testing is likely to answer a specific question. The evaluation may include total testosterone, free testosterone or a calculated estimate, SHBG, DHEA-S, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and other tests depending on symptoms.

Timing can matter. Menstrual phase, oral contraceptive use, and hormone therapy may affect results. Do not stop any medication unless the ordering clinician tells you to. Our testosterone testing guide covers total testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, and assay quality.

When to talk with a clinician

Consider medical evaluation for rapid or significant facial hair growth, new scalp hair loss, severe acne, irregular periods, infertility, voice changes, or unexplained changes in muscle mass. Persistent low sexual desire that causes distress also deserves a broad evaluation that includes relationship factors, medications, mood, pain, sleep, menopause symptoms, and other health conditions.

Do not rely on a direct-to-consumer hormone panel alone. An abnormal result may require confirmation with a more accurate method and interpretation in the context of symptoms.

Frequently asked questions

Do women need testosterone?

Yes. Testosterone is a normal hormone in women and has physiological roles, but women require far lower concentrations than men.

Does low testosterone explain low libido in women?

Not by itself. Blood testosterone levels do not reliably diagnose the cause of low sexual desire. Medications, menopause symptoms, pain, mood, sleep, relationship factors, and other medical conditions may contribute.

Can a woman take a testosterone supplement?

Over-the-counter products marketed to boost testosterone are not a substitute for diagnosis. Prescription testosterone is appropriate only in selected situations with monitoring. High exposure can cause unwanted androgen effects.

Is high testosterone always PCOS?

No. PCOS is common, but other ovarian, adrenal, medication-related, and laboratory explanations are possible. The pattern and speed of symptoms help guide evaluation.

Bottom line

Women naturally have testosterone, but numbers must be interpreted with age, symptoms, medications, menstrual or menopausal status, assay method, and the laboratory range. High-androgen symptoms can warrant testing. A low result alone does not establish an androgen deficiency syndrome, and testosterone therapy is not a general wellness treatment.

Sources

1. MedlinePlus. Testosterone Levels Test.
2. Haring R, et al. Age-specific Reference Ranges for Serum Testosterone and Androstenedione Concentrations in Women Measured by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2012.
3. Endocrine Society. Evaluation and Treatment of Hirsutism in Premenopausal Women.
4. Endocrine Society. Androgen Therapy in Women: A Reappraisal.
5. Davis SR, et al. Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2019.

Evidence reviewed August 2026. This article is educational and is not a substitute for individualized medical diagnosis or treatment.