Testosterone

Results

A testosterone test checks the level of this male hormone (androgen) in the blood.

Normal

Normal values may vary from lab to lab. Your doctor will have your test results in 1 to 2 days.

Total Testosterone

Age	Male	Female
7 months to 9 years	Less than 30 ng/dL	Less than 30 ng/dL
10 to 13 years	Less than 300 ng/dL	Less than 40 ng/dL
14 to 15 years	170 to 540 ng/dL	Less than 60 ng/dL
16 to 19 years	250 to 910 ng/dL	Less than 70 ng/dL
20 years and older	280 to 1080 ng/dL	Less than 70 ng/dL

Normal free testosterone level is 0.3 to 2 pg/mL.

High values

• In men, a high level of testosterone may be caused by cancer of the testicles or adrenal glands.
• In boys younger than 10, a high level of testosterone may mean early (precocious) puberty, a tumour in the testicles, or an abnormal adrenal gland.
• In women, a high level of testosterone may be caused by cancer of the ovaries or adrenal glands or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Low values

• In men or boys who have gone through puberty, a low level of testosterone may be caused by a problem with the testicles, such as slow development of, an injury to, or a lack of testicles. It can also be caused from treatment with the female hormone estrogen, a problem with the pituitary gland, or many long-term (chronic) illnesses.
• A low testosterone level in men can also be caused by certain inherited diseases (such as Klinefelter syndrome or Down syndrome), liver disease (cirrhosis), or treatment for cancer of the prostate gland.
• Chronic alcohol use can cause a low testosterone level.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: August 18, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology & Metabolism
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