Low testosterone in women: what a low result can mean
If you searched “low testosterone in women”, you may be wondering whether a hormone explains low desire, tiredness or a general sense that something is off. A blood test can show your testosterone level. What it can tell you is more limited than most people expect.
Total testosterone
The lowest-priced test here that gives you a testosterone number.
$49
See this test at HealthLabsPrice checked October 2026. Not available in ND, RI, NY, NJ, MD and HI. We earn a commission on sales.
Low is normal for women
MedlinePlus says that in females low testosterone levels are normal, and that it is normal for testosterone to decrease with age. The 2019 global consensus statement says testosterone concentrations decline during the reproductive years, and appear to be maintained in women beyond age 65.
For a sense of scale, in a study of 985 women aged 20 to 80 (the Study of Health in Pomerania), the middle 95% of total testosterone results ran from 0.35 to 1.97 nmol/L, which is about 10 to 57 ng/dL (Haring et al., 2012). Labs and methods differ, so use the range printed on your own report.
What a low result can mean
A low result on its own does not diagnose anything. MedlinePlus lists three kinds of cause for extremely low levels in women:
- An adrenal gland disorder
- A pituitary gland disorder
- A disorder of the ovaries
Other things can also bring a result down:
- Age. See above.
- The combined birth control pill. A 2025 review reports that combined pills increase SHBG and lower both total and free testosterone.
- Medicines. MedlinePlus says certain medicines can affect testosterone levels, so tell whoever reads your result about everything you take. Do not stop a medicine unless your clinician tells you to.
Low testosterone and sexual desire
Low desire is one of the main reasons women look into testosterone, so the consensus statement is worth knowing. It says:
- The link between natural testosterone levels and sexual function in women is uncertain.
- No cutoff blood level can be used to tell women who have sexual dysfunction from women who do not.
- A blood total testosterone level should not be used to diagnose hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). The diagnosis rests on a full clinical assessment, and other contributing factors have to be identified.
In other words, for sexual desire a normal number does not rule out a problem and a low number does not prove one. If low desire is bothering you, a clinician can assess the whole picture, which a single hormone level cannot.
Which test to order
If you decide to check anyway, start with total testosterone. It is the most common type of testosterone test, according to MedlinePlus. If you want free testosterone as well, the free and total test gives both on one order. See testosterone tests for women for the differences. The seller’s page says fasting is not required for these orders. MedlinePlus says some people are asked to fast and that testosterone draws are usually done in the morning, so follow your lab order if you have one.
Sold by HealthLabs. Prices checked October 2026. Not available in ND, RI, NY, NJ, MD and HI. We earn a commission on sales.
When to see a clinician
See a clinician if your result is far below the range on your report, or if you have symptoms that bother you, whatever the number says. Bring the result along with your cycle history and a list of the medicines you take. They can look at causes a hormone test does not show.
Total testosterone
$49
See this test at HealthLabsPrice checked October 2026. Not available in ND, RI, NY, NJ, MD and HI. We earn a commission on sales.
Keep reading
- Testosterone test for women: which one to order
Women make testosterone too. See what the test measures, total versus free, a published range for women, and which blood test is the lowest-priced fit.
- High testosterone in women: what a high result can mean
A high testosterone result in a woman can have several causes, from PCOS to adrenal or ovarian conditions. See what it can mean and when to see a clinician.
- High SHBG in women: causes and what the result means
High SHBG in a woman has several possible causes, including the birth control pill and an overactive thyroid. See what it means for testosterone and what to do next.
Sources
- Testosterone Levels Test (MedlinePlus)
- Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women (J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2019)
- Age-specific reference ranges for serum testosterone and androstenedione concentrations in women (Haring et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2012)
- New Insights in the Diagnostic Potential of Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG): Clinical Approach (Biomedicines, 2025)