Low Testosterone in Women: What You Need to Know

Testosterone isn’t just a guy thing.

Women have it too, and it plays a much bigger role in our health than most people realize.

But when levels drop too low, it can lead to a whole mess of symptoms that impact everything from energy to mood to libido.

If you’ve been feeling off and can’t quite figure out why, low testosterone in women might be the culprit.

Let’s break down what testosterone does for women, what happens when it’s low, and what you can do to get your levels back on track.

In this article: 📝

Do women have testosterone?

Short answer? Yes! And it’s not just a tiny amount, either.

Testosterone is often branded as the “male hormone”, but women’s bodies produce it, too — just in lower amounts.

It’s made in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and even some peripheral tissues.

While estrogen takes center stage in female hormone health, testosterone quietly plays a supporting role in muscle strength, bone density, mood, and yes — your sex drive.

What does testosterone do for women?

So what’s the point of testosterone in women? A lot, actually.

• Energy levels: If you’re constantly exhausted, low testosterone could be a reason.
  
• Muscle and bone strength: Helps maintain lean muscle and keeps your bones strong (hello, osteoporosis prevention!).
  
• Libido and sexual function: Plays a key role in desire, arousal, and pleasure.
  
• Mood and mental clarity: Low testosterone has been linked to brain fog, depression, and irritability. [1]
  
• Metabolism: Affects fat distribution and muscle tone, which is why some women notice weight gain when levels drop.

But it depends on the balance of your estrogen levels, too — different hormone imbalances lead to distinct risks: [2]

• Low estrogen + low testosterone → Depression, osteoporosis, obesity
• High estrogen + low testosterone → Obesity, low libido
• High testosterone + low estrogen → Aggression, increased libido, depression, substance abuse
• High estrogen + high testosterone → Risk of type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, cardiovascular issues

What’s considered low testosterone for women?

There’s no universal cut-off for what’s “too low” for women, but in general, normal total testosterone levels for women range from 15 to 70 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). [3]

Anything below that, and you might start experiencing symptoms.

Testosterone levels naturally decline with age, but a significant drop can negatively impact energy, libido, and muscle mass.

Normal testosterone levels for women

Have your testosterone blood test results and want to cross-check them with the ‘normal’ levels?

Here’s our handy breakdown of testosterone level ranges for women by age: [4]

How can you check your testosterone levels?

Unfortunately, there isn’t an at-home testosterone test you can do to check whether your levels are low.

But you can speak to your doctor about getting a blood test — for women, testing should be done during the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle for the most accurate results. [5]

Symptoms of low testosterone in women

When testosterone levels drop too much, it can trigger a cascade of issues.

Many of these symptoms overlap with perimenopause, depression, or hormone imbalances, so low testosterone in women often goes undiagnosed. [6]

Wondering if your testosterone levels might be tanking? Here are some telltale signs:

• Fatigue that won’t quit: If coffee and naps aren’t cutting it, your hormones might be to blame.
  
• Low libido: If your sex drive has packed up and left, testosterone could be the missing ingredient. [7]
  
• Mood swings and depression: Feeling blah, irritable, or weepy for no clear reason?
  
• Brain fog: Difficulty focusing or remembering things? Testosterone helps with mental clarity.
  
• Low muscle mass and strength: Struggling to build or maintain muscle, even with regular exercise?
  
• Weight gain (especially around the middle): Low testosterone in women and weight gain often go hand in hand.
  
• Anemia: Women with low testosterone can have from 2.1 to 3.9 times higher risk of developing anemia compared to those with normal levels, since testosterone can influence hemoglobin levels. [8]
  
• Thinning hair: Noticed more shedding than usual? That hair loss might be down to your testosterone.

If you nodded along to multiple symptoms, it might be worth getting your levels checked.

What causes low testosterone in women?

A bunch of things can mess with your testosterone levels. Some of the most common culprits include:

• Aging: Naturally, testosterone declines with age (yep, menopause strikes again).
  
• Ovarian issues: Conditions like PCOS or ovarian failure can affect production.
  
• Hysterectomy or oophorectomy: Removing the ovaries can cause a steep drop in testosterone. [9]
  
• Hormonal contraception and HRT lower testosterone: Oral birth control and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) reduce testosterone levels by increasing sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), which can contribute to low libido, weight gain, and depression. [2]
  
• Chronic stress: High cortisol levels from stress can suppress testosterone production.
  
• Medications: Birth control pills, steroids, and certain antidepressants can lower testosterone.
  
• Adrenal insufficiency: If your adrenal glands aren’t functioning well, testosterone can take a hit.
  
• Having young children: It sounds strange, but according to findings in one study, women with children aged ≤3 years had 14% lower testosterone than childless women and 19% lower testosterone than mothers with only older children. But it’s more likely to be a case of correlation, not causation. [10]

How can a woman increase her testosterone?

If your testosterone is low, you don’t have to just accept it — there are ways to get it back up.

But, as always, it’s worth checking with your doctor first — your testosterone levels might not be the culprit.

1. Lifestyle changes

Strength training, such as lifting weights or resistance training, can naturally boost testosterone levels, making it a valuable addition to any routine. [11]

Prioritizing sleep is also crucial, as poor sleep disrupts hormone balance and can lead to lower (and higher) testosterone levels compared to the ‘ideal’ level. [12]

Additionally, managing stress is essential, as chronic stress negatively impacts hormone production, making relaxation techniques and self-care important for maintaining optimal testosterone levels. [13]

2. Diet tweaks

Certain foods may boost testosterone and sexual desire, including spinach, dark chocolate, peppers, green tea, oysters, and pumpkin seeds. [14]

On the flip side, cutting back on sugar is crucial, as excessive sugar consumption has been linked to lower testosterone levels (although those studies were only carried out with men). [15]

3. Testosterone supplements for women

Testosterone therapy is an option, but it’s controversial.

Some women swear by testosterone for women in the form of gels, patches, or injections, but there’s also the option of natural testosterone-boosting supplements.

Low-dose testosterone therapy appear to be safe — trials lasting up to two years showed no serious side effects when testosterone was used in controlled, low doses, to help with low libido. [16,17,18]

But always check with a doctor before starting any treatment — testosterone use in women is off-label, meaning it’s not FDA-approved, and other causes of low libido (like relationship issues, mental health, or medication side effects) should be ruled out before trying it. [19]

Low testosterone in women is real, and it’s more common than you might think.

If you’re experiencing symptoms, it’s worth digging deeper.

A simple blood test can confirm your levels, and there are plenty of ways to boost testosterone naturally.

Your hormones shouldn’t be running the show — you should.