Normal Hormone Levels

By Lisa Wells, RN

Below are listed the normal blood levels of IGF-1, testosterone, the estrogens, estradiol, estriol, estrone, progesterone, and DHEA.

Please note, all hormones decrease with age so most of the levels listed below are what modern Western medicine considers normal for age. This means they take into account the fact that without intervention the hormone levels in the body will continue to decline with age. Of course the decrease of these important hormones as we age plays a major role in the effects of aging.

Rather than focus on what is generally considered normal for age we in anti-aging and functional medicine focus more on the hormone levels that are required in order for the body of each individual patient to function optimally. Many times this means having a blood test level that is at the mid to high end of the normal ranges below.

IGF-1 Levels Used For Checking Growth Hormone

Once released by the pituitary gland human growth hormone remains in the bloodstream for only a few minutes before being taken in by the liver. For this reason measuring an accurate HGH blood level requires an involved and time consuming stimulation test that has certain risk factors.

Because IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor #1) is released in response to HGH and remains stable in the bloodstream longer it is the test normally used for checking HGH in adults.

IGF-1 Levels (Somatomedin C)
Age	Males - ng/ml	Females - ng/ml
2 months - 5 years	17 - 248	17 - 248
6 - 8 years	88 - 474	88 - 474
9 - 11 years	110 - 565	117 - 771
12 - 15 years	202 - 957	261 - 1096
16 - 24 years	182 - 780	182 - 780
25 - 39 years	114 - 492	114 - 492
40 - 54 years	90 - 360	90 - 360
> 55 years	71 - 290	71 - 290

Testosterone (Total)
Males	ZRT Lab Reference Range	Males	Reference Range
Age	pg/ml	Age	ng/dL
All Ages	44 - 148	20 - 30	280 - 1205
16 - 30	72 - 148	30 - 40	350 - 1010
31 - 50	58 - 120	40 - 50	255 - 1025
51 - 70	44 - 94	50 - 60	255 - 950
> 70	30 - 77	60 - 70	120 - 870
		70 - 80	38 - 850
		80 - 90	28 - 390
		Females
		Age	ng/dL
		adults	2 - 45

Estradiol
Females	ZRT Lab Reference Range - pg/ml
Premenopausal	1.3 - 3.3
Postmenopausal	0.5 - 1.7
Males	ZRT Lab Reference Range - pg/ml
	0.5 - 2.2
Females	Quest Diagnostics Reference Range - pg/ml
Untreated Postmenopausal	< 31
Treated Postmenopausal	< 94
Oral Contraceptives	< 103
Ovulating, Follicular	< 161
Ovulating, Follicular 2 to 3 days	< 85
Ovulating, Peri-ovulatory +/- 3 days	< 34 - 400
Ovulating, Luteal	27 - 246

Estriol
Females	ZRT Lab Reference Range - pg/ml
Premenopausal	< 7
Postmenopausal	< 7
Males
	0 - 3
Estrone
Females	ZRT Lab Reference Range - pg/ml
	1.6 - 5
Males
	0 - 3
Estrogens
Females	Reference Range - pmol/l
Prepubertal	12 - 57
Follicular Phase	29 - 525
Luteal Phase	126 - 478
Postmenopausal	23 - 103
Males
Prepubertal	12 - 55
Adult	38 - 139

Progesterone
Females	ZRT Lab Range - pg/ml	ng/ml	pmol/l
Luteal Phase	75 - 270	4 - 20	11.6 - 58
Follicular Phase	12 - 100	0.3 - 0.8	0.9 - 2.3
Postmenopausal	12 - 100
Males
	15 - 100	0.12 - 0.3	0.3 - 0.9
Quest Diagnostics	ng/ml	Quest Diagnostics	ng/ml
= or > 18 Years Old		Pregnancy
Follicular Phase	< 1.0	1st Trimester	4.1 - 34.0
Luteal Phase	2.6 - 21.5	2nd Trimester	24.0 - 76.0
Postmenopausal	< 0.5	3rd Trimester	52.0 - 302.0

Below you will see two tables of values for DHEA sulfate. The first shows the difference in what modern medicine considers normal for age and what functional and anti-aging medicine considers optimum for bodily function. The 2nd table shows a breakdown of what the U.S. NIH considers normal. Notice the wide range in the values of the NIH and the difference in the standard and optimum ranges.

DHEA-S
	Standard Range ug/dL	Optimum Range ug/dL
Males	280 - 640	400 - 500
Females	65 - 380	350 - 430

DHEA-S
National Institute of Health
Age	Males	Females
	Standard Range ug/dL	Standard Range ug/dL
18 - 19	108 - 441 ug/dL	145 - 395 ug/dL
20 - 29	280 - 640	65 - 380
30 - 39	120 - 520	45 - 270
40 - 49	95 - 530	32 - 240
50 - 59	70 - 310	26 - 200
60 - 69	42 - 290	13 - 130
69 +	28 - 175	17 - 90

Please note: The reference ranges at different labs may vary and may be different than the ranges posted here. Your own lab report should show the correct normal ranges for your specific tests. Please consult your private healthcare provider.

Important Information About the Hormones That Decrease With Age

Lisa Wells, RN

Bibliography

Clemmons, David R, "Clinical Utility of Measurements of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1," Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology & Metabolism volume 2, August 2006, pages 436–446.

Tillmann, V, Patel, L, Gill, MS, Whatmore, AJ, et al, "Monitoring Serum Insulin‐Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF Binding Protein-3 (IGFBP-3), IGF-1/IGFBP-3 Molar Ratio and Leptin During Growth Hormone Treatment For Disordered Growth," Clinical Endocrinology, September 2000, Vol 53, Issue 3, Pages 329-336.

Cutfield, WS, Lundgren, F, "Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 and Growth Responses during the First Year of Growth Hormone Treatment in KIGS Patients with Idiopathic Growth Hormone Deficiency, Acquired Growth Hormone Deficiency, Turner Syndrome and Born Small for Gestational Age," Hormone Research in Pediatrics, 2009;71(suppl 1):39-45.