Oestrogen in men: how much is normal?
Usually below 120 to 159 pmol/L, depending on the NHS lab. Men do need some. Too little is bad too: in one trial of healthy men, blocking it added body fat and cut sex drive.
On this page
How much oestrogen is normal for a man?
The test measures oestradiol, the main oestrogen. Five NHS labs we checked set the top of the male range between 120 and 159 pmol/L.
Each lab uses its own test kit, so the limit differs. A result of 140 is inside the range in Leeds but above it in Bristol.
- Below 41.4 pmol/LSussex calls this low. Many tests read it poorly.
- 41.4 to just under 120 pmol/LInside the range at all five labs.
- 120 to just under 159 pmol/LAbove some labs, inside others. Check your report.
- 159 pmol/L or aboveAbove all five labs. Ask your GP what it means.
Sources: NHS Sussex; NHS Gloucestershire; NHS Leeds; NHS South Tees; NHS North Bristol
| NHS lab | Upper limit for men (pmol/L) |
|---|---|
| North Bristol | Below 120 |
| South Tees | Below 146 |
| Leeds | Below 150 |
| Gloucestershire | Below 159 |
| Sussex | 41.4 to 159 |
Sources: NHS North Bristol; NHS South Tees; NHS Leeds; NHS Gloucestershire; NHS Sussex
Low results are harder to trust. In a study of 3,174 European men aged 40 to 79, the standard lab test used spotted only 13 in 100 truly low results. It did far better at spotting high ones.
Labs say a result should be read alongside your history and an examination. So check the range on your own report, then ask your GP what your number means for you.
What does oestrogen do in men?
Most of it starts as testosterone. An enzyme called aromatase turns some testosterone into oestradiol. Your testicles and adrenal glands, which sit on top of your kidneys, make a little too.
It isn’t a trace amount. Men have more oestradiol in their blood than women after the menopause.
| Part of the body | What oestrogen does |
|---|---|
| Bones | Helps bones grow and stay strong. |
| Body fat | Helps keep body fat in check. |
| Sex drive and erections | Works with testosterone to keep both going. |
| Brain | Helps set how much testosterone your testicles make. |
| Blood sugar | Plays a part in how your body handles sugar. |
| Body temperature | Helps keep hot flushes away. |
Sources: Eur J Endocrinol 2019; NEJM 2013
Because it is made from testosterone, low testosterone usually means low oestrogen too. So if you have signs of low testosterone, ask about both hormones together.
What does high oestrogen do in men?
The main sign is breast growth, called gynaecomastia. Reviews link it to oestrogen outweighing testosterone in the breast tissue. Our gynaecomastia blood test guide explains the checks.
The NHS says it’s common and may not need treatment. One or both sides can grow, and the nipples may look swollen or feel sore.
Extra chest fat can look the same. Doctors call that pseudogynaecomastia: fat, with no extra breast tissue. The advice for it is weight loss.
| Cause | Examples |
|---|---|
| Life stage | Puberty, or hormone changes after 50. |
| Weight | Being overweight. |
| Medicines | Digoxin and amiodarone (heart), spironolactone (a water tablet), antipsychotics, and medicines that block testosterone. |
| Drugs and alcohol | Anabolic steroids, cannabis and alcohol. |
| Health conditions | Overactive thyroid, kidney disease, liver scarring (cirrhosis) and low testosterone. |
Sources: NHS; NHS Cornwall
Medicines cause about 1 in 4 cases in adult men. Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without your prescriber.
Using steroids? The NHS lists breast development among their effects in men, along with shrunken testicles and a lower sperm count.
If you notice breast changes, see a GP. The list is at the end of this page.
Should men lower their oestrogen?
Not on your own. The trial at the top of this page shows why.
Researchers switched off the hormones of 400 healthy men aged 20 to 50 for 16 weeks. About half also took anastrozole, a drug that stops testosterone turning into oestrogen.
With oestrogen blocked, men gained more body fat, and their sex drive and erections got worse. The authors found low oestrogen mainly drove the rise in body fat.
Think of oestrogen like salt in cooking. Too much spoils the dish, but none at all spoils it too. So lower isn’t better.
Bones pay as well. UK sexual medicine experts say these blockers are linked to lower oestrogen and thinner bones, and need close long-term checks.
Thinking of a supplement sold as an oestrogen blocker? Read our DIM supplement guide and talk to your GP first.
How is oestrogen tested in men?
With a blood test for oestradiol, usually alongside other tests. For breast growth, one NHS guideline lists kidney, liver and thyroid tests, plus testosterone, prolactin and the hormones that control testosterone.
Before your oestrogen blood test
- Book a morning slot, so your testosterone can be taken at about 9am.
- If you take high-dose biotin (over 5 mg a day), wait at least 8 hours after your last dose.
- Tell your GP about any steroid medicines or anabolic steroids, as they may affect the result.
- Tell your GP if you keep rabbits, as this may affect the result.
- Ask for your report with the lab’s own range for men on it.
Sources: NHS Sussex; NHS Cornwall
Got a low result? Ask how it was measured, because standard tests read low levels poorly. Some labs, such as Leeds, also run a more sensitive test.
Our oestradiol blood test guide covers the test in more detail.
To read the rest of your hormone results, see our testosterone blood test and SHBG blood test guides.
When to speak to a GP
Book an appointment if you:
- Are worried about the size or look of your breasts, or have breast or nipple pain that is not going away.
- Have a lump or swelling in your chest or armpit.
- Have discharge or bleeding from 1 or both nipples.
- Notice a rash, dimpling like orange peel or redness on your breast or nipple, or a nipple turning inwards.
Lumps are common and often have other causes. The NHS says it’s still important to get checked by a GP. Breast cancer in men is rare and usually found after 50.
For the bigger picture, see what testosterone does for men.