Hormones are chemical messengers made by glands (like the thyroid, adrenals or ovaries/testes) that travel in the blood to regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction and stress responses.

Doctors commonly test hormone levels when symptoms suggest an endocrine issue (for example, fatigue, weight change, fertility problems or menopause symptoms). “Normal” ranges can differ by age, sex and life stage, and even between different laboratories. In Australia, public pathology services publish typical reference intervals.

Below, we summarise the usual ranges for key hormones in adult men, pre-menopausal women, and postmenopausal women, drawing on Australian sources (e.g., state pathology labs and pathology manuals). Wherever possible we cite local data.

Each section below covers a hormone category. Reference ranges are given in SI units (commonly used in Australian labs) and are from Australian pathology resources (e.g. Sonic Healthcare/Austin Pathology guidelines or the NSW Health Pathology manual.

Ranges may vary by lab and patient age, and women’s values often fluctuate through the menstrual cycle.

Thyroid hormones

The thyroid gland at the neck makes hormones that control metabolism. The most common blood tests are TSH (thyroid‑stimulating hormone) and the free thyroid hormones fT4 (free thyroxine) and fT3 (free triiodothyronine). TSH is produced by the pituitary and tells the thyroid how much hormone to make.

• TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone): In Australian adults, the typical reference interval is about 0.27–4.2 mIU/L. (Some labs use 0.4–4.0 mIU/L or similar.) A higher TSH suggests an under‑active thyroid (hypothyroidism), while a low TSH may indicate an over‑active thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
• Free T4 (thyroxine): Normal free T4 is roughly 12–22 pmol/L in adults. (Total T4 is rarely used; free T4 is the biologically active portion.)
• Free T3 (triiodothyronine): Normal free T3 is about 3.1–6.8 pmol/L in adults. T3 is more active but circulates at lower levels than T4.

Laboratories often list the same ranges for men and women (adult thyroid ranges do not differ by sex). Australian pathology guides note that precise cut-offs can vary by assay method. In practice, doctors interpret thyroid tests together: e.g. a high TSH plus low fT4 is frank hypothyroidism, while a low TSH plus high fT4/fT3 is hyperthyroidism.

Table 1: Australian adult thyroid hormone reference ranges.

All values above are from NSW Health Pathology reference intervals. Other Australian labs use very similar ranges.

Wondering what your thyroid tests actually mean? Discover how TSH, T3, and T4 measurements shed light on thyroid function and your metabolism.

Sex (reproductive) hormones

This category includes oestrogen (oestradiol) and progesterone (the main female sex steroids) and testosterone (the main male androgen, also present in women). These hormones vary greatly by sex and, in women, by menstrual cycle or menopause status. Doctors measure them when evaluating menstrual irregularities, fertility or menopause. Below we list typical ranges for adult men, cycling women and post‑menopausal women, citing Australian pathology data where available.

• Oestradiol (17β‑oestradiol): In women of reproductive age, oestradiol varies through the cycle. Typical lab reference intervals (Austin Pathology) are roughly 100–400 pmol/L in the early (follicular) phase of the cycle, rising to 1000+ pmol/L at the mid‑cycle (ovulatory) peak. In the luteal phase (after ovulation), levels are intermediate (around 134–903 pmol/L After menopause, oestradiol levels fall dramatically – typically <92 pmol/L in post‑menopausal women. Adult men have much lower oestradiol; Australian data give an upper limit around <116 pmol/L for men. (Note: some older UK sources list slightly different numbers, but the Austin values above reflect modern Australian labs.)

• Progesterone: Progesterone is very low in women until ovulation. In adult women, follicular-phase levels are around 1.0–4.8 nmol/L, while in the mid-luteal phase they rise to ~16–59 nmol/L. After menopause, progesterone falls to very low levels (≤2.5 nmol/L). Men (and prepubertal children) have only trace progesterone; Austin Pathology gives a normal range of 0.6–5.2 nmol/L for adult men, but men’s levels tend to be at the low end of that range. Doctors usually compare a woman’s progesterone to her expected cycle day (e.g. mid-luteal levels should exceed a threshold to confirm ovulation).

• Testosterone (total): In men, normal total testosterone is roughly 9.0–28.3 nmol/L (some labs say 10–30 nmol/L). In adult women, total testosterone is much lower. Pathology data (Austin) give a normal adult female total testosterone as <2.6 nmol/L (often around 0.5–2.0 nmol/L).

In practice, doctors interpret women’s testosterone by age: pre-menopausal women often measure 0.6–3.0 nmol/L (Austin value for teens), whereas post-menopausal women may average closer to 0.6–1.0 nmol/L.

Elevated testosterone in women can suggest conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In men, levels below ~8–10 nmol/L are sometimes considered low testosterone (hypogonadism), though criteria vary.

Table 2: Sex steroid reference ranges (adult)

Ranges for women above are cycle-dependent. Data are from Australian pathology sources. Note that laboratories will label each test result “follicular,” “mid-cycle,” etc., or “post-menopausal” as shown above. Physicians interpret results in the context of age and cycle day. No single “normal range” fits all phases of the menstrual cycle.

Looking for natural support with hormone balance? See our guide on the best supplements in Australia and how they can fit into your overall health plan.

Pituitary hormones (LH, FSH, prolactin)

The pituitary gland in the brain releases LH (luteinising hormone) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), which control the ovaries and testes. It also secretes prolactin, which regulates milk production.

These hormones are commonly tested in fertility evaluations, menstrual or libido problems, and to diagnose pituitary or gonadal disorders.

• LH and FSH: In men and women together, LH and FSH levels have broad reference ranges that overlap, but their patterns differ by sex and age. According to Australian pathology guidelines (RCPA), adult men normally have LH around 2–10 IU/L and FSH 1–5 IU/L. Adult women have LH 2–15 IU/L and FSH 1–8 IU/L during their reproductive years. After menopause, ovarian failure causes high LH and FSH: LH rises to roughly 15–100 IU/L and FSH to above 18 IU/L. (For example, an FSH >25–30 IU/L is a common menopausal threshold.) During the menstrual cycle, LH and FSH surge at mid-cycle (LH especially) – but typical non-peak ranges are as above.
• Prolactin: Normal prolactin levels vary by age and sex. Australian pathology data (Austin Pathology) give approximate reference intervals: in adult men ~56–278 mIU/L, in adult women age 19–50 ~71–566 mIU/L, and in women >50 ~58–416 mIU/L. (Some labs use µg/L; 1 µg/L ≈ 21.2 mIU/L.). 

Prolactin rises during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so normal postmenopausal or non-pregnant values are much lower than in childbearing years. Elevated prolactin can cause menstrual disturbances or breast milk secretion and is checked if those symptoms or pituitary tumors are suspected.

Table 3: Pituitary/gonadotropin reference ranges (adult)

Values for LH/FSH are broad references (see RCPA notes). Prolactin ranges are from Austin Pathology. Prolactin is reported in mIU/L in these tables; Australian labs may also report µg/L (divide by 21.2 to convert mIU/L to µg/L).

Adrenal hormones (cortisol, DHEA)

The adrenal glands (above the kidneys) produce cortisol (a stress hormone) and adrenal androgens like DHEA. These are also commonly tested:

• Cortisol: Cortisol has a strong diurnal rhythm, peaking in the early morning. For a standard morning (6–10am) serum cortisol, Australian labs cite a reference range around 185–624 nmol/L. (Some use slightly different cut-offs, e.g. 200–650 nmol/L). A single morning cortisol below ~140–170 nmol/L may raise concern for adrenal insufficiency, whereas much higher values (in the thousands) suggest Cushing’s syndrome. Doctors will interpret in context (time of day, illness, use of steroids).

• DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone): Most labs measure the sulphated form (DHEA-S). Reference ranges are age‑dependent (higher in younger adults, falling with age). The Royal College of Pathologists notes that adult premenopausal women typically have DHEA-S around 1–11 µmol/L.

Men have similar or somewhat higher adult ranges (some sources say up to ~15–20 µmol/L for men). If a single lab’s range is needed: one large hospital uses ~0.5–4.0 µmol/L for adult women and ~0.2–6.0 µmol/L for adult men, depending on age (noting values fall by the 60s). Elevated DHEA-S can indicate an adrenal tumor or congenital adrenal hyperplasia; low levels are of unclear significance.

Table 4: Adrenal hormones (typical adult reference ranges)

Australian sources (e.g. RCPA and Austin Pathology) provide these ranges. “F” and “M” indicate adult female or male reference values. Note the wide ranges reflect natural decline of DHEA-S with age.

Menopause and hormonal changes

Menopause (average age ~51 in Australia) causes major shifts in several hormones. As the ovaries fail, oestrogen and progesterone drop sharply and FSH/LH rise. Typical changes include:

• FSH: Climbs into the mid‑tens to hundreds IU/L. RCPA lists post‑menopausal FSH >18 IU/L, and in practice values often exceed 30–50 IU/L.
• LH: Also rises (15–100 IU/L).
• Oestradiol: Falls to very low (often <50–100 pmol/L). The Austin values above give post-menopausal estradiol <92 pmol/L.
• Progesterone: Falls to near-zero (≤2.5 nmol/L).
• Testosterone: In many women, total testosterone declines modestly with age, but typical post-menopausal values are still around 0.5–1.5 nmol/L (well below the <2.6 nmol/L upper limit in adult women).
• Estrone (E1): A weaker estrogen (often measured in older women) becomes the dominant form after menopause, with typical ranges 40–200 pmol/L (not shown in tables above).

Clinically, a high FSH (plus low oestradiol) in a 40s‑year‑old woman confirms menopause. Most Australian labs use similar menopausal cut-offs (e.g. FSH >25 IU/L). It’s important to note that during the menopausal transition (peri-menopause), hormones fluctuate unpredictably, so a single test may not be definitive.

Feeling overwhelmed by hormonal shifts? Learn how healthy hormones support your wellbeing and what to do about it in our guide on hormone balance.

How Vively can help with hormone health

Understanding hormone levels is important, but numbers on a test can feel confusing without context. Vively helps you make sense of your results and connect them to your everyday health.

With Vively, you can:

• Get your Wellness Score: Vively’s Metabolic Health Score brings your results together in one simple number, helping you understand where you stand and what to improve.
• Use continuous glucose monitoring (CGM): Since hormones and glucose regulation are closely linked, CGM insights can highlight how your lifestyle and diet impact balance.
• Receive personalised recommendations: Whether it’s managing energy, sleep, or stress, you’ll get practical steps to support healthy hormone function.
• Monitor changes over time: Instead of relying on one-off tests, you can see trends and measure progress in your overall metabolic health.

By combining lab tests with real-time insights, Vively helps you go beyond “normal ranges” to truly understand how your hormones influence energy, mood, weight, and long-term wellbeing.

Conclusion

In summary, normal hormone ranges depend on sex and age. Australian pathology guides and lab handbooks provide specific reference intervals: for example, TSH is roughly 0.3–4.2 mIU/L in all adults, while testosterone is ~9–28 nmol/L in men but <2.6 nmol/L in women. Women’s reproductive hormones (oestrogen, progesterone, FSH, LH) vary with menstrual phase or menopause. Adrenal cortisol is high in the morning (185–624 nmol/L).

The tables above consolidate these ranges by category. Keep in mind that each laboratory in Australia will list its own “normal” intervals on patient reports (based on local studies and assay methods). The cited values here come from Australian pathology sources and give a general picture.

Doctors always interpret hormone results in context (symptoms, timing, medications, etc.), so an “abnormal” flag doesn’t automatically mean disease. But knowing the typical Australian reference ranges helps understand the meaning of test results for men, women and menopausal women.