The experts in endocrinology at Cleveland Clinic are here to provide the best care. If they’re consistently high or low, you may experience unpleasant symptoms worth discussing with your provider. Testosterone is an essential part of reproductive health. In female adults, high levels of testosterone may be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). High levels of testosterone in female infants may lead to enlargement of their clitoris that can look almost like a penis. Excess testosterone affects your body differently depending on your sex and age. However, the majority of testosterone produced in the ovaries is converted to the primary female sex hormone, estradiol. For adult females, testosterone enhances libido. Testosterone levels are naturally much higher in males. High cortisol levels from stress can lower testosterone. Vitamin D is a micronutrient that plays a key role in many aspects of health. Sudden elevations in cortisol can quickly reduce testosterone. However, a gradual decrease is a normal part of aging. Some men experience symptoms even when total testosterone is normal, which is why measuring both free and total testosterone levels offer deeper insights. Symptoms such as fatigue or depression seem to be due to other things than low testosterone levels, such as age, lifestyle, comorbidities and the amount of abdominal fat. To investigate the complex connections between testosterone levels and health, data from large studies in the USA and Sweden were used. For females, the test is mostly used for symptoms of high T levels. They measure testosterone using a blood test, with results provided in nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). At any point, there’s a range that doctors consider normal. Testosterone is present in the womb and essential to normal fetal development, including the development of the male reproductive system. Testosterone levels tend to decline as a person gets older. Testosterone is a hormone produced by both men and women.
