From the Research
In a 25-year-old male, the normal estradiol (estrogen) level typically ranges from 10 to 40 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL) or 37 to 147 picomoles per liter (pmol/L). This is based on the most recent and highest quality study available, which provides a comprehensive understanding of estrogen levels in healthy men 1. Men naturally produce small amounts of estrogen, primarily through the conversion of testosterone to estradiol by an enzyme called aromatase. This process occurs mainly in adipose tissue, liver, and testes. Estrogen in males plays important roles in:
- Bone health
- Cardiovascular function
- Brain function
- Sexual health, including libido and sperm production
If estrogen levels fall outside this range, it may indicate conditions such as hypogonadism, liver disease, obesity, or certain tumors. Testing for estrogen levels in males is typically done through a blood test, usually in the morning when hormone levels are most stable. If abnormal levels are detected, additional testing may be needed to determine the underlying cause. The study by 1 provides age-specific serum estradiol concentrations in healthy men, which could be used for targeting estradiol during testosterone supplementation and for general good health. Another study by 2 used a sensitive and robust analytical method to establish sex-specific reference ranges for estrone and estradiol throughout life, and found that estrogen levels vary with age and pubertal stage in boys and girls. However, the study by 1 is more relevant to the question, as it provides specific data on estradiol levels in healthy men.