Men produce estrogen naturally by converting testosterone through an enzyme called aromatase, and the normal range for estradiol (the most active form of estrogen) in men is 20 to 50 pg/mL. If your levels fall below that range, the most reliable path to raising them depends on why they’re low in the first place. The options range from addressing testosterone levels and body composition to direct medical treatment for rare genetic conditions.
Why Men Need Estrogen
Estrogen isn’t just a “female hormone.” In men, it plays a direct role in bone density, sexual function, skin health, and body composition. When estradiol drops below about 20 pg/mL, the effects become measurable. A large study of older men found that those with estradiol below 10 pg/mL were 4.8 times more likely to have osteoporosis at the hip compared to men with normal levels. Even men in the borderline range of 10 to 20 pg/mL had roughly double the osteoporosis risk of those above 20.
Low estrogen in men can also show up as reduced sex drive, increased body fat, dry skin, physical weakness, and migraines. Because these symptoms overlap with low testosterone and other conditions, they’re easy to miss or attribute to something else entirely.
How Men Produce Estrogen
Men don’t have ovaries, so nearly all their estrogen comes from a different route. The aromatase enzyme, found in fat tissue, bone, brain, and other organs, converts testosterone into estradiol and converts another androgen (androstenedione) into estrone. This means your estrogen level is fundamentally tied to two things: how much testosterone is available for conversion, and how much aromatase activity is happening in your body.
This is why low testosterone and low estrogen often travel together. If there’s less testosterone circulating, there’s less raw material for aromatase to work with, and estradiol drops as a consequence.
Raising Testosterone to Raise Estrogen
Because estrogen in men is a downstream product of testosterone, the most common clinical approach to low estradiol is addressing testosterone levels first. When testosterone rises into a healthy range, aromatase converts a portion of it into estradiol, and estrogen levels typically follow.
Research on transgender men (assigned female at birth, taking testosterone) confirms this mechanism clearly. When exogenous testosterone brought their levels into the normal male range, their estradiol settled into the normal male range as well, without any additional estrogen supplementation needed. The conversion happened automatically through aromatase activity.
If your testosterone is already in a normal range but your estradiol is still low, the issue likely involves aromatase function itself rather than a lack of precursor hormones. That’s a different clinical picture that requires more targeted investigation.
The Role of Body Fat
Fat tissue is one of the most active sites of aromatase activity in the body. This creates a direct, well-documented relationship between body composition and estrogen levels. Men with more adipose tissue convert more testosterone to estradiol. Men with very low body fat have less aromatase activity and may produce less estrogen as a result.
This cuts both ways. In obese men, aromatase activity can become excessive, driving estradiol too high while simultaneously depleting testosterone. But in lean men, particularly those who are underweight or who maintain very low body fat through extreme dieting or endurance exercise, estrogen production can drop below the threshold needed for bone health and other functions. If you’re very lean and showing symptoms of low estrogen, gaining a moderate amount of body fat may help restore normal aromatase activity.
DHEA Supplements Don’t Appear to Work
DHEA is a hormone precursor that the body can theoretically convert into both testosterone and estrogen, which is why it’s sometimes marketed as a way to boost sex hormone levels. However, a controlled study of healthy men taking either 50 mg or 200 mg of DHEA daily for three months found no increase in estradiol. Levels actually trended slightly downward in every group, including placebo. DHEA, DHEAS, and luteinizing hormone rose, but testosterone and estradiol did not budge. Based on this evidence, DHEA supplementation is not a reliable strategy for raising estrogen in men.
Aromatase Deficiency: A Rare Genetic Cause
A small number of men have a genetic condition called aromatase deficiency, caused by mutations in the CYP19A1 gene. Without functional aromatase, the body simply cannot convert androgens into estrogen at any stage of life. These men tend to be unusually tall because estrogen normally signals the long bones to stop growing during adolescence. They also develop osteoporosis, delayed bone maturation, and may have reduced sex drive or abnormal sperm production.
For men with confirmed aromatase deficiency, the only effective treatment is direct estrogen replacement prescribed by an endocrinologist. This is a lifelong medical condition that requires monitoring, not something addressable through diet or lifestyle changes. If you suspect this applies to you, genetic testing and hormone panels can confirm the diagnosis.
Medical Estrogen Replacement
In cases where estrogen cannot be raised indirectly through testosterone optimization or lifestyle changes, direct estradiol supplementation is an option. This is most relevant for men with aromatase deficiency, men who have had both testes removed, or men undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy (male-to-female transition). The specific form, dose, and monitoring schedule varies based on the clinical reason, and this is territory where working with an endocrinologist matters. Estrogen levels that are too high in men carry their own risks, including blood clots and breast tissue growth, so the goal is precise targeting rather than simply pushing levels up.
Practical Steps if You Suspect Low Estrogen
Start with bloodwork. A serum estradiol test (measured in pg/mL) will tell you exactly where you stand against the 20 to 50 pg/mL reference range for men. Most doctors will also check total and free testosterone at the same time, since the two hormones are so closely linked through aromatase conversion.
If your testosterone is low, addressing that first is the standard approach, since estradiol often normalizes on its own once testosterone reaches a healthy level. If you’re very lean, consider whether extreme body composition might be limiting your aromatase activity. If both testosterone and estradiol are normal but you’re still experiencing symptoms like bone loss or low libido, other causes need to be explored.
Avoid the temptation to self-treat with over-the-counter supplements claiming to boost estrogen. The evidence for DHEA is negative, and phytoestrogens from soy or other plant sources interact with estrogen receptors in complex ways that don’t reliably raise serum estradiol levels in men. The mechanisms that actually work are hormonal, and they require accurate lab values to guide safely.