What Are Free Testosterone Levels?

Free Testosterone Levels

Most testosterone is connected to two types of proteins in the blood. One protein is called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). When the hormone is unattached altogether, this is called free testosterone. When it is attached, it is called total testosterone. Free testosterone depletes faster than total testosterone.

Free testosterone levels are the ranges of this unbound hormone that a person has in their system. They should be within normal range (as defined by the clinic the patient is using) in order to maintain optimal health without experiencing the negative symptoms of aging.

This hormone is very important for both men and women to have, with women needing less in their bloodstream than men need. Women produce it in their ovaries and men produce it in their testes.

Free testosterone is when the hormone is not bound to any proteins in the blood. It decreases faster than total testosterone; by about 50% in healthy men from the ages of 25 to 75.

When free testosterone levels are too low, this can create problems for a person, especially with their sexual traits. They may lose their sexual libido and desire for intimacy, develop erectile dysfunction (for men) or vaginal dryness (for women) or have unmanageable hot flashes and night sweats.

Low free testosterone levels can also create the following problems:

Low energy Minimal endurance Muscle loss
No stamina Weight gain High cholesterol levels
High triglyceride levels Wrinkles Haggard looking or sagging skin
Heart issues such as
stroke or heart attack
Mood swings Balding
Diabetes Emotional instability Hair thinning
Loss of bone density Forgetfulness Nails that do not grow
Risk for osteoporosis Memory loss; Trouble with healing
Sexual problems Lack of ability to focus
or to concentrate
Slow restoration of
cells and tissues in the
body
Depression A weak immune system Inability to recovery
quickly from workouts
Anxiety Slow metabolism  
Irritability Shrinking organs  

In order to find out if low free testosterone levels are causing your issues, you must get blood tested. HT Medical Center has professionals who will lead you through the entire protocol to get tested and to begin safe and effective testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) if you qualify.

How To Check Your Free Testosterone Levels

HT Medical Center clinical advisors set up appointments for our clients for the correct blood testing to be done in a local TRT clinic in their city. This is the only way to correctly check your free testosterone levels; through blood work. Then a physical exam must be completed and a medical history must be shared to check the patient’s health overall.

Testing will only be done with patients who are over 30 and who are not professional athletes. They must be experiencing symptoms of low T and not want TRT to gain muscle, improve their athletic performance or to improve their sexual ability and performance. They must be otherwise healthy adults in general.

Clinics will each have their own average reference ranges for testosterone levels. They will only vary slightly, but there is no one range that is considered the “only” range. Here is what HT Medical Center refers to when they are determining a male client’s average levels of free testosterone:

Age of Male Average Levels of Free Testosterone in Men
30 to 40 10.3 pg/mL
40 to 50 9.1 pg/mL
50 to 60 8.3 pg/mL
Over 60 6.9 pg/mL

Most sources agree that average free testosterone levels for women should fall between 0.1 – 6.4 pg/mL. Both men and women need this hormone for good health and well being.

For men, free testosterone levels are as follows:

High free testosterone levels:

  • 30 to 40 years old:  > 10.3 pg/mL
  • 40 to 50 years old:  > 9.1 pg/mL
  • 50 to 60 years old:  > 8.3 pg/mL
  • Over 60 years old:  > 6.9 pg/mL

Low free testosterone levels:

  • 30 to 40 years old:  < 10.3 pg/mL
  • 40 to 50 years old:  < 9.1 pg/mL
  • 50 to 60 years old:  < 8.3 pg/mL
  • Over 60 years old: < 6.9 pg/mL

Normal free testosterone levels:

  • 30 to 40 years old:  10.3 pg/mL
  • 40 to 50 years old:  9.1 pg/mL
  • 50 to 60 years old:  8.3 pg/mL
  • Over 60 years old:  6.9 pg/mL

Here is a chart that shows how high, low and normal should look in women and men over 30.

Average Free Testosterone Levels






Contact HT Medical Center to check your free testosterone levels.