Free testosterone blood test
In short
A typical adult free testosterone result is under 10.8 pg/mL for women (age 20–49), under 9.2 pg/mL for women (age 50+), 50.5 to 207 pg/mL for men (age 20–29), 46.5 to 190 pg/mL for men (age 30–39), 42.6 to 171 pg/mL for men (age 40–49), 38.7 to 156 pg/mL for men (age 50–59), 34.7 to 139 pg/mL for men (age 60–69), 30.8 to 122 pg/mL for men (age 70–79) and 26.9 to 105 pg/mL for men (age 80–89). In women, a high free testosterone is most often linked to PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), a common hormone condition. In men, male hormone treatment is a common reason. Always read your result against the range printed on your own report.
The part of testosterone that is free for the body to use.
Most testosterone rides on carrier proteins, mainly SHBG and albumin, and only a small share floats free. Free testosterone is most useful when total testosterone is borderline or SHBG is unusual. Labs measure or calculate it in very different ways, so ranges differ a lot between labs.
Is my Free testosterone high or low?
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Typical range
| For | Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Female · age 20–49 | under 10.8 | pg/mL |
| Female · age 50+ | under 9.2 | pg/mL |
| Male · age 20–29 | 50.5–207 | pg/mL |
| Male · age 30–39 | 46.5–190 | pg/mL |
| Male · age 40–49 | 42.6–171 | pg/mL |
| Male · age 50–59 | 38.7–156 | pg/mL |
| Male · age 60–69 | 34.7–139 | pg/mL |
| Male · age 70–79 | 30.8–122 | pg/mL |
| Male · age 80–89 | 26.9–105 | pg/mL |
| Female · age 20–49 | under 37 | pmol/L |
| Female · age 50+ | under 32 | pmol/L |
| Male · age 20–29 | 175–718 | pmol/L |
| Male · age 30–39 | 161–659 | pmol/L |
| Male · age 40–49 | 148–593 | pmol/L |
| Male · age 50–59 | 134–541 | pmol/L |
| Male · age 60–69 | 120–482 | pmol/L |
| Male · age 70–79 | 107–423 | pmol/L |
| Male · age 80–89 | 93–364 | pmol/L |
Typical ranges for adults. Labs differ a little, so the range printed next to your result is the one to go by.
If your Free testosterone is high
In women, a high free testosterone is most often linked to PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), a common hormone condition. In men, male hormone treatment is a common reason.
Common reasons
- Low SHBG, often with extra weight or insulin resistance (poor response to insulin)
- PCOS, a common hormone condition, in women
- Male hormone treatment or muscle-building steroids
- An underactive thyroid, which lowers SHBG
- Less often: a rare inherited hormone condition, or a hormone-making tumor
If your Free testosterone is low
A low result is often rechecked on another morning, because levels swing from day to day. High SHBG, from birth control pills or an overactive thyroid, can also lower it.
Common reasons
- Blood drawn later in the day, when levels are naturally lower
- Getting older, as SHBG rises and the free share falls
- Birth control pills, estrogen therapy or thyroid medicine, which raise SHBG
- Extra body weight, type 2 diabetes or a recent illness
- Very hard training or eating too little
- An overactive thyroid, which raises SHBG
- Less often: liver scarring (cirrhosis), or a testicle, ovary or pituitary (brain gland) problem
What can throw it off
Levels peak in the morning, and anything that changes SHBG, such as birth control pills or thyroid problems, shifts the free share.
Questions to take to your appointment
- 1Was this measured directly or calculated, and which range fits my lab's method?
- 2Do my total testosterone and SHBG tell the same story?
- 3Should it be repeated on another morning?
Read together with
Doctors rarely read Free testosterone alone. These usually sit next to it.
Quick answers
What is the free testosterone blood test?
Free testosterone: The part of testosterone that is free for the body to use. Most testosterone rides on carrier proteins, mainly SHBG and albumin, and only a small share floats free. Free testosterone is most useful when total testosterone is borderline or SHBG is unusual. Labs measure or calculate it in very different ways, so ranges differ a lot between labs.
What is a normal free testosterone level?
For most adults, free testosterone is typically under 10.8 pg/mL for women (age 20–49), under 9.2 pg/mL for women (age 50+), 50.5 to 207 pg/mL for men (age 20–29), 46.5 to 190 pg/mL for men (age 30–39), 42.6 to 171 pg/mL for men (age 40–49), 38.7 to 156 pg/mL for men (age 50–59), 34.7 to 139 pg/mL for men (age 60–69), 30.8 to 122 pg/mL for men (age 70–79) and 26.9 to 105 pg/mL for men (age 80–89). Some countries print it in pmol/L, so check the unit first. Labs differ a little, so the range printed next to your result is the one to go by.
What does a high free testosterone mean?
In women, a high free testosterone is most often linked to PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), a common hormone condition. In men, male hormone treatment is a common reason. Common reasons include low SHBG, often with extra weight or insulin resistance (poor response to insulin); PCOS, a common hormone condition, in women; male hormone treatment or muscle-building steroids; and an underactive thyroid, which lowers SHBG. A doctor reads it together with your other results and how you feel.
What does a low free testosterone mean?
A low result is often rechecked on another morning, because levels swing from day to day. High SHBG, from birth control pills or an overactive thyroid, can also lower it. Common reasons include blood drawn later in the day, when levels are naturally lower; getting older, as SHBG rises and the free share falls; birth control pills, estrogen therapy or thyroid medicine, which raise SHBG; and extra body weight, type 2 diabetes or a recent illness.
What can affect my free testosterone result?
Levels peak in the morning, and anything that changes SHBG, such as birth control pills or thyroid problems, shifts the free share.
What should I ask my doctor about my free testosterone?
Questions worth taking to the appointment: Was this measured directly or calculated, and which range fits my lab's method? Do my total testosterone and SHBG tell the same story? Should it be repeated on another morning?
What this page can’t do
It reads each number on its own.
Doctors read results together — ALT with AST, ferritin with hemoglobin, TSH with free T4. A pattern says more than any single flag.
It doesn't know you.
Your age, your medicines, how you feel and your last result all change what a number means.
It doesn't remember.
Close this page and your results are gone. That's on purpose: nothing was ever sent to us.
We also make Vita: Health Coach, an app for those parts. It reads your whole report with your medicines and history in mind, answers follow-up questions in plain words, and keeps your reports in one place — for you and for the people you look after.
Vita: Health Coach on the App StoreSources
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — Testosterone, total and free, serum
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — SI unit conversion
- MedlinePlus — Testosterone levels test
Stuck on a word? See the medical words. How we choose our sources. More about Vita Health Coach.