Testosterone Total Test (Women)
Women make testosterone too, in smaller amounts than men, and it plays a part in energy, libido, mood, muscle, and skin. This test measures the total amount of that hormone circulating in a blood sample.
About this test
In women, testosterone comes from the ovaries and the adrenal glands, and some is converted from other hormones in fat and skin tissue. It circulates mostly attached to sex hormone binding globulin and albumin, with only a small unbound share.
Collection is a routine blood draw at a Quest patient service center. Because androgens interact with the menstrual cycle and with the daily hormone rhythm, clinicians often suggest a morning sample and may ask for it at a particular point in the cycle depending on what they are exploring.
Who might consider this test?
- It is also frequently included when someone is working through a fertility question or reviewing hormone health during perimenopause.
- Others order it as part of a broader hormone check-in, alongside other markers, to see the pattern rather than one piece of it.
Test details
| Quest code | 15983 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry |
| Sample type | 1 mL serum |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Additional details
What this test measures in women
The measurement captures every form of testosterone present in the sample: the amount held by sex hormone binding globulin, the amount loosely carried by albumin, and the small free share. Because women's concentrations are naturally much lower than men's, the assay is chosen for sensitivity at that lower end.
It is worth knowing what this single measurement does not describe. It does not report how much androgen is reaching tissues, and it does not say where the hormone is being produced. Those are separate questions that other markers help address, which is why clinicians look at more than one result when the answer matters.
Cycle timing and preparation
Hormone levels shift across the menstrual cycle, and testosterone in women typically runs a little higher around mid-cycle. For that reason a clinician may specify a day range for collection so results are comparable over time. If your cycle is irregular or absent, mention that when discussing results, since it changes how the timing is interpreted.
No preparation instructions are listed for this test, though people follow any instructions their ordering clinician provides. Follow whatever instructions your ordering clinician provides, and note any hormonal medication, contraception, or over-the-counter supplement you are taking, since several can influence androgen measurements.
Markers often reviewed alongside it
Clinicians frequently pair total testosterone with sex hormone binding globulin, DHEA sulfate, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and sometimes thyroid markers. Each adds a piece: how much carrier protein is present, whether the adrenal glands are contributing, and whether pituitary signaling or thyroid activity is part of the pattern.
Grouped together, these results tell a fuller story about hormone balance than any single value does. A clinician weighs them with your symptoms, cycle history, and medications before suggesting whether anything warrants a closer look.
What ordering looks like
You order online, pay the listed cash price, and visit a Quest patient service center for the draw — a Quest patient service center, . There is no insurance paperwork and no separate consultation fee, and results reach you securely once the laboratory finishes.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Why would a woman have her testosterone measured?
Testosterone influences energy, libido, muscle, skin, and hair in women as well as men. It is commonly measured when someone is exploring irregular cycles, acne, unwanted hair growth, hair thinning, low libido, or fertility questions with a clinician.
How much does a testosterone test for women cost?
The cash price appears next to the order button on this page and covers the test and the physician's order. No insurance is billed and there is no separate doctor's visit charge.
Does it matter when in my cycle I get tested?
It can. Hormone levels vary across the menstrual cycle, so a clinician may suggest a particular window and a morning collection so that results can be compared fairly over time.
Is this the same test men order?
It measures the same hormone, but the female version uses an assay suited to the lower concentrations usually seen in women's samples, which allows a more meaningful measurement at that range.
Do I need to see a doctor before ordering?
No. The physician's order is arranged when you purchase, so you can go directly to a patient service center for the blood draw.