High Testosterone in Children

Testosterone is a hormone present in both males and females. Males produce it in the testes, while females produce it in the ovaries. Usually testosterone levels in boys is higher than in girls. However, both boys and girls can have higher than normal testosterone levels. (See Reference 1)

Considerations

• Normal testosterone levels in boys under 10 years old is less than 30 ng (nanograms per deciliter). For girls less than 10 years old it's 1-12 ng/dL. (See Reference 2)

Effects

• High testosterone in children will cause both boys and girls to show signs of puberty before the age of 10 years old. (See Reference 2)

Causes

• Causes of high testosterone in children include cancers of the testicles, ovaries or adrenal glands. (See Reference 2)

Identification

• To identify whether a child is experiencing high testosterone levels, a doctor will take a complete medical history and perform a physical exam. The doctor will also draw blood to determine the amount of testosterone in the blood. (See Reference 2)

Treatments

• Treatments for high testosterone in children are medications and chemotherapy. Surgery is recommended for children whose high testosterone levels are caused by cancer. (See Reference 3)