Reviewed by: Evelia Johnsen, MSN, FNP-C

Last reviewed: October 13, 2026

Ask most people what testosterone does, and you'll hear about muscle, beards, and men's health. So do women have testosterone at all? Yes, and in fact, your ovaries and adrenal glands make it every day, just in smaller amounts than a man's body does.That testosterone plays a significant role in your energy, mood, libido, muscle tone, and even bone strength, and when your levels drop below what your body needs, the effects can be subtle at first, then hard to ignore.

This is exactly where things tend to get overlooked. Symptoms mimic stress, aging, or the early stages of perimenopause, so women are often told to wait it out or manage it with diet and exercise. Sometimes that helps. Sometimes it doesn't because the underlying issue is hormonal, and no amount of willpower or extra sleep can change a lab value.

Why Levels Drop

A woman's testosterone naturally declines with age, starting well before menopause. By the time many women reach their 40s, their levels have already fallen significantly from their 20s. Other contributors include ovarian surgery, certain medications like oral contraceptives, adrenal conditions, and chronic stress that keeps cortisol elevated at the expense of total hormone health. Do females have testosterone regardless of these factors? Always, but the amount your body makes and uses can shift for reasons that have nothing to do with getting older.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Females

The signs and symptoms of low testosterone in females often show up gradually, which is part of why they get dismissed. A dip in sex drive is one of the more commonly reported symptoms of low testosterone in women, but it's rarely the only one. Many women also notice a drop in motivation, reduced mental clarity, and a harder time building or maintaining muscle even with consistent training.

Other low testosterone symptoms in women include persistent fatigue that sleep doesn't fix, a mood that feels flatter than usual, and a general sense of just not feeling like yourself. These signs of low testosterone in women can overlap with thyroid issues, iron deficiency, and depression, which is exactly why guessing isn't a reliable path forward.

Is It Low Testosterone or Menopause?

This is the question we hear most often in Savannah and Statesboro alike. Perimenopause and menopause bring their own set of changes, driven mainly by shifting estrogen and progesterone. Low testosterone in women can happen at the same time, or independently of it, and the symptoms genuinely overlap enough to confuse even attentive patients.

The distinction matters because the two aren't treated the same way. A woman in her late 30s with low libido and flat energy may be dealing with a testosterone issue years before menopause even begins. Treating it as "just getting older" means missing something that labs can actually identify and address.

How We Diagnose It

At Savannah Age Management Medicine, we don't guess. Diagnosing low testosterone in women starts with bloodwork, not a checklist of symptoms alone. We look at total and free testosterone, along with other relevant markers, to build an accurate picture of where your testosterone levels actually stand relative to what's typical for your age group.

Because hormone levels shift throughout the month and can be affected by timing, stress, and even the time of day, we rely on frequent labwork rather than a single snapshot. This is also how we monitor your low testosterone once treatment begins, adjusting as your body responds instead of setting a dose and walking away from it.

Schedule a hormone evaluation to understand what your labs and symptoms are actually telling you before deciding on next steps.

Can It Be Treated?

For some women, individualized testosterone therapy may be an appropriate part of a broader hormone plan, always based on lab results and a full review of your health history. We don't use pellets, and we don't offer one dose for everyone. Every plan is reviewed and adjusted by a provider over time, with regular follow-up labs to track your response.

This isn't a guaranteed fix for every symptom, and it isn't right for every patient. What we can offer is a clinical, lab-driven process instead of a guess, along with honest conversations about what testosterone therapy can and can't do for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions we hear most from women exploring this topic.

Do women have testosterone?

Yes. Women produce testosterone in the ovaries and adrenal glands, though in much smaller amounts than men.

What causes low testosterone in women?

Natural aging, ovarian surgery, certain medications, and adrenal or metabolic conditions can all play a role.

What are the signs and symptoms of low testosterone in women?

Low libido, fatigue, low mood, reduced muscle tone, and trouble concentrating are common reports.

Is low testosterone in women the same as menopause?

No. They can occur together, but they're driven by different hormones and aren't always connected.

How is low testosterone diagnosed in women?

Low testosterone in women is diagnosed through bloodwork measuring total and free testosterone along with other relevant hormone markers.

Can low testosterone in women be treated?

It may be treatable through an individualized plan based on your labs, symptoms, and health history.

Is testosterone therapy safe for women?

Safety depends on your individual health profile, which is why our team reviews every case before recommending treatment.

If any of this sounds familiar, you don't have to keep guessing. Book a consultation with our Savannah team to find out if testosterone therapy is right for you, and get real answers backed by real labwork instead of assumptions.