Normal and Average Testosterone Level Chart by Age and Sex
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2023/10/02 - Updated: 2024/09/17
Publication Type: Charts, Graphs, Tables
Topic: Medical Calculators and Charts - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: Testosterone level charts for males and females showing average readings of total, bioavailable, and free testosterone. In males, the testes produce testosterone, while the ovaries produce testosterone in females. Additionally, both sexes produce small amounts of testosterone in the adrenal glands.
Introduction
Testosterone, an androgen hormone, is essential for both males and females. While commonly recognized as a primary male sex hormone, females also require certain levels of testosterone. In females, a significant portion of testosterone converts into the sex hormone estradiol.
Main Item
Measuring Testosterone
- In the US, testosterone is measured in nanograms per decilitre of blood (ng/dL).
- In the UK, testosterone is mainly measured in nanomoles per litre (nmol/L) for total testosterone (all the testosterone in your blood).
- Free testosterone, the testosterone that is available for your body to use, is measured in picomoles per litre (pmol/L).
Males and Testosterone
In males, the testes produce testosterone, while the ovaries produce testosterone in females. Additionally, both sexes produce small amounts of testosterone in the adrenal glands.
Typically, adult males have a testosterone concentration between 265 and 923 nanograms per deciliter in their blood, whereas adult females have considerably lower levels. Testosterone levels can vary widely between individuals and throughout a person's life. Generally, males have substantially higher testosterone levels than females.
Testosterone serves as the primary male sex hormone and anabolic steroid in males. In humans, it plays a crucial role in the development of male reproductive tissues, such as the testes and prostate. Additionally, testosterone promotes secondary sexual characteristics like increased muscle and bone mass and the growth of body hair. It is associated with increased aggression, violence, criminal behavior, sex drive, and courtship behaviors aimed at impressing partners.
Females and Testosterone
In women, testosterone levels are higher before and after intercourse compared to before and after cuddling. Administration of testosterone has a time lag effect on genital arousal in women. Furthermore, a continuous increase in vaginal sexual arousal can result in heightened genital sensations and sexual appetitive behaviors.
When females have a higher baseline level of testosterone, they experience greater increases in sexual arousal levels but smaller increases in testosterone, suggesting a ceiling effect on testosterone levels in females. Sexual thoughts can influence testosterone levels but not cortisol levels in the female body. Additionally, hormonal contraceptives may impact the variation in testosterone response to sexual thoughts.
Health and Well-being
In both sexes, testosterone contributes to overall health and well-being. It significantly affects mood, cognition, social and sexual behavior, metabolism, energy output, the cardiovascular system, and the prevention of osteoporosis. Insufficient testosterone levels in men can lead to abnormalities, including frailty, adipose fat accumulation, anxiety, depression, sexual performance issues, and bone loss.
Testosterone Chart By Age for Males and Females
The following tables outline female and male average testosterone levels by age in chart format.
Jump to:
Bioavailable Testosterone Chart
| Stage | Age range | Male | Female | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Values | SI units | Values | SI units | ||
| Infant | Premature (26 - 28 weeks) | 59 - 125 ng/dL | 2.047 - 4.337 nmol/L | 5 - 16 ng/dL | 0.173 - 0.555 nmol/L |
| Premature (31 - 35 weeks) | 37 - 198 ng/dL | 1.284 - 6.871 nmol/L | 5 - 22 ng/dL | 0.173 - 0.763 nmol/L | |
| Newborn | 75 - 400 ng/dL | 2.602 - 13.877 nmol/L | 20 - 64 ng/dL | 0.694 - 2.220 nmol/L | |
| Child | 1 - 6 years | ND | ND | ND | ND |
| 7 - 9 years | 0 - 8 ng/dL | 0 - 0.277 nmol/L | 1 - 12 ng/dL | 0.035 - 0.416 nmol/L | |
| Just before puberty | 3 - 10 ng/dL | 0.104 - 0.347 nmol/L | <10 ng/dL | <0.347 nmol/L | |
| Puberty | 10 - 11 years | 1 - 48 ng/dL | 0.035 - 1.666 nmol/L | 2 - 35 ng/dL | 0.069 - 1.214 nmol/L |
| 12 - 13 years | 5 - 619 ng/dL | 0.173 - 21.480 nmol/L | 5 - 53 ng/dL | 0.173 - 1.839 nmol/L | |
| 14 - 15 years | 100 - 320 ng/dL | 3.47 - 11.10 nmol/L | 8 - 41 ng/dL | 0.278 - 1.423 nmol/L | |
| 16 - 17 years | 200 - 970 ng/dL | 6.94 - 33.66 nmol/L | 8 - 53 ng/dL | 0.278 - 1.839 nmol/L | |
| Adult | ≥18 years | 350 - 1080 ng/dL | 12.15 - 37.48 nmol/L | - | - |
| 20 - 39 years | 400 - 1080 ng/dL | 13.88 - 37.48 nmol/L | - | - | |
| 40 - 59 years | 350 - 890 ng/dL | 12.15 - 30.88 nmol/L | - | - | |
| ≥60 years | 350 - 720 ng/dL | 12.15 - 24.98 nmol/L | - | - | |
| Premenopausal | - | - | 10 - 54 ng/dL | 0.347 - 1.873 nmol/L | |
| Postmenopausal | - | - | 7 - 40 ng/dL | 0.243 - 1.388 nmol/L | |
| Stage | Age range | Male | Female | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Values | SI units | Values | SI units | ||
| Child | 1 - 6 years | 0.2 - 1.3 ng/dL | 0.007 - 0.045 nmol/L | 0.2 - 1.3 ng/dL | 0.007 - 0.045 nmol/L |
| 7 - 9 years | 0.2 - 2.3 ng/dL | 0.007 - 0.079 nmol/L | 0.2 - 4.2 ng/dL | 0.007 - 0.146 nmol/L | |
| Puberty | 10 - 11 years | 0.2 - 14.8 ng/dL | 0.007 - 0.513 nmol/L | 0.4 - 19.3 ng/dL | 0.014 - 0.670 nmol/L |
| 12 - 13 years | 0.3 - 232.8 ng/dL | 0.010 - 8.082 nmol/L | 1.1 - 15.6 ng/dL | 0.038 - 0.541 nmol/L | |
| 14 - 15 years | 7.9 - 274.5 ng/dL | 0.274 - 9.525 nmol/L | 2.5 - 18.8 ng/dL | 0.087 - 0.652 nmol/L | |
| 16 - 17 years | 24.1 - 416.5 ng/dL | 0.836 - 14.452 nmol/L | 2.7 - 23.8 ng/dL | 0.094 - 0.826 nmol/L | |
| Adult | ≥18 years | ND | ND | - | - |
| Premenopausal | - | - | 1.9 - 22.8 ng/dL | 0.066 - 0.791 nmol/L | |
| Postmenopausal | - | - | 1.6 - 19.1 ng/dL | 0.055 - 0.662 nmol/L | |
| Stage | Age range | Male | Female | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Values | SI units | Values | SI units | ||
| Child | 1 - 6 years | 0.1 - 0.6 pg/mL | 0.3 - 2.1 pmol/L | 0.1 - 0.6 pg/mL | 0.3 - 2.1 pmol/L |
| 7 - 9 years | 0.1 - 0.8 pg/mL | 0.3 - 2.8 pmol/L | 0.1 - 1.6 pg/mL | 0.3 - 5.6 pmol/L | |
| Puberty | 10 - 11 years | 0.1 - 5.2 pg/mL | 0.3 - 18.0 pmol/L | 0.1 - 2.9 pg/mL | 0.3 - 10.1 pmol/L |
| 12 - 13 years | 0.4 - 79.6 pg/mL | 1.4 - 276.2 pmol/L | 0.6 - 5.6 pg/mL | 2.1 - 19.4 pmol/L | |
| 14 - 15 years | 2.7 - 112.3 pg/mL | 9.4 - 389.7 pmol/L | 1.0 - 6.2 pg/mL | 3.5 - 21.5 pmol/L | |
| 16 - 17 years | 31.5 - 159 pg/mL | 109.3 - 551.7 pmol/L | 1.0 - 8.3 pg/mL | 3.5 - 28.8 pmol/L | |
| Adult | ≥18 years | 44 - 244 pg/mL | 153 - 847 pmol/L | - | - |
| Premenopausal | - | - | 0.8 - 9.2 pg/mL | 2.8 - 31.9 pmol/L | |
| Postmenopausal | - | - | 0.6 - 6.7 pg/mL | 2.1 - 23.2 pmol/L | |
Legend:
ND - No Data
ng/dL - nanograms (ng) per deciliter (dL)
pg/mL - picograms per milliliter (pg/mL)
pmol/L - Picomoles per Liter
SI - International System of Units
NOTE: To convert pmol/L to ng/ML divide the pmol/L by 2.247, the resultant value will equal nanograms per milliliter.
Source: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ (31 October 2012). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures - E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 1059-1062. ISBN 978-1-4557-4502-9.
Printable Testosterone Level Charts
We also have printable bioavailable, total and free testosterone level charts you can print for your own use.
Making of the Male Brain - Testosterone and Estrogen
Author Credentials: Ian was born and grew up in Australia. Since then, he has traveled and lived in numerous locations and currently resides in Montreal, Canada. Ian is the founder, a writer, and editor in chief for Disabled World. Ian believes in the Social Model of Disability, a belief developed by disabled people in the 1970s. The social model changes the focus away from people's impairments and towards removing barriers that disabled people face daily. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and achievements, check out his bio.