As part of the TransPRIDE study, we’ve measured several hormones and a marker for prostate cancer called PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen). This page explains what each result means, what’s considered a typical range, and what might happen if a result is outside that range.
📌 Important note:
Everyone’s body is different. What’s “normal” for one person may not be for another — and hormone levels can vary depending on age, gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), and other health conditions.
🧪 What we measured
- PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen)
PSA is a protein made by the prostate.
It tends to increase with age and so the expected levels of change the older you are:
| Age (years) | PSA levels |
| 40-49 | Up to 2.5 ng/ul |
| 50-59 | Up to 3.5 ng/ul |
| 60-69 | Up to 4.5 ng/ul |
| 70-79 | Up to 6.5 ng/ul |
| 80 years and over | Judgement of the clinical team |
Feminising GAHT lowers PSA but we don’t have a good idea of expected levels by age. That is why we are doing this study.
Studies in the past have found that people taking feminising GAHT have levels up to 1 ng/ul. So in this study, we are asking anyone with a level higher than 1 ng/ul to repeat the test to make sure this result is accurate. If the level remains high, we will refer you to a specialist to check for prostate problems.
- Oestradiol
This is a form of oestrogen. If you are taking feminising hormone therapy in the form of oestradiol, your levels should be somewhere between 400 and 750 pmol/l.
Ranges may vary depending on your dose and timing of your last dose.
Levels higher than 750 pmol/l for a long time can lead to blood clots so we will contact you if your levels are higher than this.
Levels lower than 200 pmol/l may affect bone density, energy and heart health and if you have had gender-affirming genital surgery we will contact you to discuss this.
Low levels of oestradiol may be normal for you if you are taking low-dose oestradiol or none at all.
- Testosterone
A key hormone that’s usually suppressed by feminising hormone therapy or following orchidectomy.
Levels will vary depending on whether you are on testosterone suppression of any kind (a GnRH analogue or “blocker”, or drugs like Finasteride) or not. In people on a blocker, we will expect their levels to be < 3nmol/l. If your level is higher than this, we will contact you to discuss your hormones and check that you don’t need any additional tests.
- FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) & 5. LH (Luteinising Hormone)
These hormones help regulate reproductive function.
Levels can vary widely, especially in people on GAHT or post-orchidectomy. Once GAHT is well established, LH tends to be below 1 IU/l and FSH below 1.5 IU/l. However, after gender affirming genital surgery, LH and FSA tend to be above 12 IU/l.
What happens if a result is outside the expected range?
If anything in your results looks unexpected, a member of the study team at your clinic will contact you within two working days. This may involve:
• A repeat blood or urine test
• Checking for infections or other causes
• A referral to a specialist if needed
Please remember your results are reviewed in the context of your overall health, medical history, and gender-affirming care.
What about Spit tests in assessing prostate cancer risk?
There has been some publicity in the news regarding a genetic risk measurement tool, coined by the media as ‘The Spit Test’. Currently, this is only available through a research study and research findings so far have shown it is good way of identifying people who have a high genetic risk of prostate cancer and therefore should have more frequent PSA testing from age 40. ‘The Spit Test’ is not available on the NHS and it is by no means a replacement for the PSA blood test
Contact details
General queries or complaints about the study should be directed to:
bartsctu-transpride-study@qmul.ac.uk