What Are Normal Testosterone Levels?
For any adult who desires a better understanding of what are normal testosterone levels, medical researchers and other specialists believe that it is valuable to become familiar with what testosterone levels are composed of and how they affect bodily function.
Testosterone exists as two different types within the body’s bloodstream, “unbound” or free, and “bound.”
Unlike bound testosterone, the free type is not chemically attached to proteins so it remains active and accessible for binding to what are known as androgen receptor sites on the body’s cellular structure. In determining what is normal testosterone level in any given patient, medical professionals rely on the test data that is provided by measuring the levels of both unbound (free) and bound testosterone.
This test is known as a serum total testosterone test because it measures the sum total of free and bound testosterone in the bloodstream and confirms whether the patient has what is a normal testosterone level for that particular age group. Because levels of total testosterone will vary based on certain individual factors, the indicators of what are normal testosterone levels generally fall within a range of 300 to 1100 nanograms per deciliter.
What Is Normal Testosterone Level?
Regarding the body’s process of masculinization, which is the term that medical professionals use to describe the normal development of male primary or secondary characteristics in men, determining what is a normal testosterone level is only a part of the total picture. Hence, having what are judged to be below normal testosterone levels has to be viewed within a framework that includes overall healthiness, the presence or absence of symptoms, and level of emotional satisfaction.
However, in supervising a series of therapeutic program of testosterone injections to alleviate Low T, doctors monitor and use these levels as guidelines in determining how the patient is responding to the prescribed dosage. Because they know the range of what is normal testosterone level versus what is judged to be either clinically low or excessively high, physicians are able to use replacement therapy to help the individual patient arrive at his optimum level and just as important, be able to maintain it. Knowing the level of deficiency and as well as how to maintain healthy testosterone levels are two of the most empowering pieces of information that a man who has been weakened by Low T can receive.
Normal Testosterone Levels in Males
Although most people do not want to hear the word abnormal applied to any of their medical test results, in the matter of receiving a Low T diagnosis, most adults are relieved to know what has been behind the arrival of numerous unwanted symptoms.
When an adult finds out that his present levels are not measuring up to normal testosterone levels in males, it is an excellent opportunity to take matters in hand and begin a replenishment program that will successfully and safely restore them. It is also an opportunity to evaluate to what degree Low T has impacted his lifestyle choices and options.
By reaching what are normal testosterone levels for men, many patients who are using a medically prescribed program of testosterone injections find that they are able to reclaim the vitality, stamina and passion that they enjoyed during late adolescence and early adult years, not coincidentally the years when a male’s naturally produced is at its highest levels.
Yet it is prudent to be aware that numerically, what is normal testosterone level will be vary to some degree in each individual adult. Doctors are always mindful of this whenever they are prescribing and supervising a treatment program for an adult who is exhibiting the indications of Low T.
| Age | Number of subjects | Total Testosterone | Free Testosterone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 45 | 617 | 12.3 |
| 35-44 | 22 | 668 | 10.3 |
| 45-54 | 23 | 606 | 9.1 |
| 55-64 | 43 | 562 | 8.3 |
| 65-74 | 47 | 534 | 6.9 |
| 75-84 | 48 | 471 | 6.0 |
| 85-100 | 21 | 376 | 5.4 |
Normal Testosterone Levels in Females
With a range of between 15 to 70 ng/dl, what are normal testosterone levels in women are obviously substantially lower than those found in adult males. However, when a female’s ovarian production results in above normal testosterone levels, which often coincide with the arrival of menopause, she can experience symptoms that include excess hair growth, reduced breast size, decreased sex drive, and other physiological changes.
Endocrinologists and other HRT physicians, who are experienced in restoring normal testosterone levels in females, can help the patient alleviate these unwanted symptoms with a program designed to achieve hormonal balance. Despite the biological fact that there is a large disparity between what are normal testosterone levels for women and those of men, the problems caused by having either insufficient or excessive amounts of particular hormones are surprisingly similar in scope.
Normal T levels for women
| Age: | T Level (ng/dL): |
|---|---|
| 0-5 months | 20-80 |
| 6 mos.-9 yrs. | <7-20 |
| 10-11 yrs. | <7-44 |
| 12-16 yrs. | <7-75 |
| 17-18 yrs. | 20-75 |
| 19+ yrs. | 8-60 |
| Avg. Adult Female | 15-70 |
| 30+ yrs. | -1% per year |
Below Normal Testosterone Levels
A study released by Northwestern University in 2011 determined that there was emerging evidence that suggested modern men have lower amount of what are normal testosterone levels than their fathers had. The study, which was authored by anthropology professionals, concluded that the apparent decrease in testosterone levels actually assists in facilitating men’s contemporary roles as fathers, husbands and caregivers, thus acting as a critical component in reproductive success. However, there is another side to this generational decline in what are normal testosterone levels for men at the present time.
Additional research further suggests that exposure to environmental toxins and a rise in adult obesity also contribute to a drop in what is a normal testosterone level for today’s men. It has been estimated that approximately 30% of men who are between the ages of 40 and 79 are affected to some extent by having levels that fall below 300 ng/dl. At these low levels, men can expect to have symptoms such as muscular atrophy, weight gain, disinterest in sexual intimacy, and chronic fatigue.
Above Normal Testosterone Levels
For healthy males who are below age forty, the current medical standard defines what are normal testosterone levels for men in that age group as between 500 to 700 ng/dl. Yet some physicians believe that the current standards are lower than they should be, and that an optimal target range of between 800 to 1,000 ng/dl is more appropriate. These doctors have cited studies showing that men possessing a testosterone level that ranks in the upper 25% of the normal range have a lower risk for chronic disease, while still avoiding any of the possible side effects that can accompany testosterone levels that become excessively high.
The potential issues that are caused by having an overly high male hormone supply have been alluded to recently as having a correlation to a higher cardiac risk. The benefits of maintaining what are normal testosterone levels in women and also in men far exceed the challenges of having either abnormally high or abnormally low levels.
How To Maintain Healthy Testosterone Levels
Whether it is a female experiencing menopause symptom who wants to learn what are normal testosterone levels for women, or a male who wants to know for sure if he has Low T or not, there are qualified and experienced medical specialists located nationwide who can provide testing and treatment. Having hormonal levels checked is certainly a reasonable decision for any adult to make, and understanding what are normal testosterone levels in women and men is good information to have as the years come and go.
If it turns out that maintaining healthy testosterone levels will require using doctor prescribed TRT, then the man or woman who understands how it works and what to anticipate is going to have a distinct advantage. Knowing what are normal testosterone levels for women and for men can help adults to better understand the effects that time, environment and lifestyle all have on being capable of maintaining lifelong healthiness and vigor.