This is called androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) and occurs when someone is genetically male but is insensitive to androgens (male sex hormones). The symptoms of low testosterone vary based on your age. It’s unlikely — and difficult to tell — that a male adult has higher-than-normal levels of testosterone. However, the majority of testosterone produced in the ovaries is converted to the primary female sex hormone, estradiol. Synthetic testosterone is the main drug of masculinizing hormone therapy. A variety of hormonal changes occur with PCOS, including low estrogen. This also happens if you have your ovaries removed or damaged before age 40, resulting in early menopause. When something goes wrong with your pituitary gland, less estrogen is made. Your pituitary gland is key to your ovaries making estrogen. This condition can cause your ovaries to slow or stop production of estrogen. In women, especially those who haven’t yet gone through menopause, the most common cause of excess testosterone is PCOS. You may also have more body and facial hair than the average woman. If your body produces too much testosterone, you may have irregular or absent periods. Depending on which lab performs your testosterone test, normal values may vary slightly from these. Estrogen levels also rise during a healthy pregnancy. Affected women may experience low libido, reduced bone strength, poor concentration or depression. Some men who have a testosterone deficiency have symptoms or conditions related to their low testosterone that will improve when they take testosterone replacement. All of this reduces the active (free) form of testosterone in the body. Among women, perhaps the most common cause of a high testosterone level is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In addition, what may seem like a symptom of testosterone excess (see below) may actually be unrelated to this hormone. Excess testosterone affects your body differently depending on your sex and age. The two charts below list the general normal ranges of testosterone based on age and sex. If any of these organs — your hypothalamus, pituitary gland or gonads — aren’t working normally, that can cause abnormal testosterone levels. Your body controls the levels of testosterone in your blood. Your adrenal glands also produce the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which your body transforms into testosterone and estrogen.