While testosterone is the main male hormone, women's bodies also need the right amount for optimal health. While research is still limited, low doses of testosterone may be useful for post-menopausal care, decreased libido, gender-affirming care, and more. If you're worried that your testosterone levels are low and would like to get tested for low testosterone levels, then a simple home blood test to measure your testosterone levels is a good place to start. Testosterone is necessary for fetal development during pregnancy because it helps control the development of the male reproductive system. Be sure to take the sample in the morning (ideally between 7 and 10 in the morning), as testosterone levels are highest at this time of day.
Learn more about testosterone boosters or supplements that aim to promote testosterone production and what they can do to reduce libido. Keep in mind that testosterone levels tend to decrease by about 1% a year after age 30 and that there is debate about what is considered low testosterone levels or low testosterone levels. The most common type of testosterone test is the total testosterone test, which measures free testosterone in the blood and protein-bound testosterone. If you have symptoms of testosterone deficiency, of course, check your levels and consult your doctor.
As you age, the level of testosterone in your body naturally decreases, causing a variety of changes. If people don't have problems related to puberty, growth, development, fertility, or metabolic disorders, they are likely to have an adequate level of testosterone. But testosterone levels vary significantly between men, so knowing how to tell if testosterone is high or low isn't always simple. In these cases, a complete analysis of sex hormones, including free testosterone (FT), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), is useful. Although people know it primarily as a male sex hormone, women also need certain levels of testosterone.
