Hormone Test

Testosterone Blood Test

Name: Testosterone Blood Test: Normal Range & Low | HealthReview
Creator: Suman Konda
Published: 2026-07-05

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone but is also important in women. A blood test measures total and free testosterone to check for hormonal imbalances, fertility issues or conditions like PCOS.

Written and clinically reviewed by Suman Konda, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist · Based on peer-reviewed sources · Editorial policy · Not medical advice

Last reviewed and updated: 01 August 2026 · How we check our content

What is a testosterone test?

A testosterone blood test measures the level of testosterone circulating in your blood. Total testosterone measures both bound (attached to proteins) and free testosterone. Free testosterone is the biologically active portion. Testing is done in the morning (7-10am) when levels peak. In men, testosterone is primarily produced by the testes. In women, it is produced in smaller amounts by the ovaries and adrenal glands.

Testosterone normal range

Group	Total Testosterone (ng/dL)	Interpretation
Adult men	300 – 1,000	Normal
Adult men (low)	< 300	Low T: hypogonadism
Adult women	15 – 70	Normal
Women (high)	> 70 – 80	Elevated: investigate PCOS/adrenal cause
Prepubertal children	< 10	Low (normal for age)

LOW Testosterone in Men: Hypogonadism

Low testosterone (hypogonadism) causes: reduced libido and sexual dysfunction, fatigue and low energy, decreased muscle mass, increased body fat (especially belly fat), mood changes and depression, reduced bone density (osteoporosis risk), decreased beard and body hair growth. Causes include: primary hypogonadism (testes problem, e.g., Klinefelter syndrome, testicular injury, mumps orchitis), secondary hypogonadism (pituitary or hypothalamic problem, e.g., pituitary tumour, opioid use), obesity, type 2 diabetes, chronic illness, and ageing (testosterone naturally declines ~1% per year after 30).

HIGH Testosterone in Women: Hyperandrogenaemia

High testosterone in women most commonly indicates PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), which affects 5-10% of reproductive-age women. Other causes: congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), adrenal or ovarian tumours (rare). Symptoms: acne, hirsutism (excess facial and body hair), irregular or absent periods, scalp hair thinning, and in severe cases deepening of voice.

Other tests done with testosterone

Test	Why ordered
LH and FSH	Distinguish primary (testes) from secondary (pituitary) hypogonadism
SHBG	Sex hormone binding globulin; helps calculate free testosterone
Prolactin	High prolactin suppresses testosterone
DHEA-S	Adrenal androgen; elevated in adrenal causes of high testosterone
Thyroid (TSH)	Thyroid disease affects sex hormone levels

Questions to ask your doctor

Is my testosterone result truly low or within normal for my age?
Do I need LH, FSH and prolactin tested too?
Am I a candidate for testosterone replacement therapy?
Could my medication (opioids, steroids, antidepressants) be lowering my testosterone?
If I am a woman with high testosterone, do I need an ultrasound for PCOS?

Frequently asked questions

Does the trend matter more than one Testosterone reading?

For long-term monitoring it generally does. A figure that has drifted across several tests says more than a single measurement, and a stable result sitting slightly outside the range is often simply that person's baseline.

What is worth asking a doctor about an abnormal Testosterone?

Whether it needs repeating, whether a medicine or recent illness explains it, how far outside the range it actually falls, and whether it changes management or simply needs watching. Those four questions cover most of what matters.

Is a slightly abnormal Testosterone a reason to worry?

Rarely on its own. Reference intervals are built to contain the middle 95% of a healthy population, so mild deviations are common in well people. The size of the deviation, its direction over time and your symptoms decide whether it means anything.

References

The clinical information on this page is drawn from peer-reviewed sources indexed by the US National Library of Medicine. Links go to the source so you can read it yourself.

Male Hypogonadism. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. NCBI Bookshelf NBK532933