Testosterone Test: Free & SHBG, High vs Low vs. Normal Levels

Blood Test: Testosterone for Parents

Testosterone is the main androgen, meaning it stimulates the development of male characteristics. It helps with bone health and libido but high levels can lead to unwanted fat gain or mood changes. Testing for hormone imbalances is essential for identifying potential underlying conditions and determining appropriate treatment options. The test can only indicate rather than diagnose health issues. If you’re worried and suspect you might have an underlying health condition, we advise speaking to your regular doctor first. If you get any unexpected or unusual test results, this should also be flagged and discussed in more detail with your doctor.

Take control of your health and unlock the power of testosterone testing today. The measure of testosterone can help diagnose conditions such as hypogonadism, infertility, and certain types of hormonal imbalances. The test also can check for damage or disease of the testes, ovaries, adrenal glands, or pituitary gland, and check for steroid use.

This article explores the purpose, types, and implications of testosterone testing. Testosterone tests cannot diagnose any medical condition but can point a healthcare provider in the direction of a medical concern if testosterone levels are abnormally high or low. On their own, results are not diagnostic of any medical condition, but having an abnormally high or low testosterone level may indicate a medical condition in need of treatment. These include testicular dysfunction, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), adrenal tumors, and Cushing’s disease. Low testosterone levels may also account for problems with fertility or sexual function. This test measures the level of the hormone testosterone in your blood.

This test measures the amount of the male hormone, testosterone, in the blood. It is essential for maintaining overall health, sex drive, fertility, and muscle mass. The test is used to diagnose conditions caused by too much or too little testosterone, such as reduced sex drive, infertility, erectile dysfunction, and thinning of the bones. The test can females have high testosterone also help find the reason for missing periods, not having periods, having a hard time getting pregnant, or experiencing male patterns of hair growth. Tongkat ali is a botanical traditionally used for men’s health, including fertility and sexual functioning. A meta-analysis of nine studies suggested Tongkat may help support testosterone levels. The dosage of Tongkat ranged from 100 to 600mg/day for three days to six months.

You’ll get your secure, online test result just a few days later. This test tracks the testosterone levels in your blood, a hormone essential for sex drive, muscle mass, fertility, and mood. At this time there are no age-specific testosterone reference ranges for males or females. But there are ranges over a lifetime by which testosterone levels are measured and compared at any age. Speaking with a doctor or medical professional is a good place to start if you have concerns about your testosterone levels. There are several companies offering simple, at-home testosterone tests that can deliver results in just a few days. While these tests can be good for initial screening, a physician-ordered blood test will offer the most accurate results.

Other doctors may not require you to fast before testosterone testing. It’s natural to be concerned about lower testosterone levels. Females who develop PCOS could treat their symptoms by maintaining a moderate weight. A doctor could also recommend hormonal contraception and fertility treatment.

At around week seven in utero, the sex-related gene on the Y chromosome initiates the development of the testicles in male infants. Your adrenal glands also produce the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which your body transforms into testosterone and estrogen. Testosterone is a hormone that your gonads (sex organs) mainly produce. More specifically, both testicles and ovaries produce testosterone. Luteinizing hormone (LH) is a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that helps regulate the reproductive system by stimulating Leydig cells to produce testosterone. Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a protein that regulates the amount of testosterone available in the body by binding to testosterone in your blood.

This test can establish whether you have low testosterone levels. It may also reveal whether underlying conditions, health issues, aging, or lifestyle choices are affecting your testosterone production. A testosterone levels test measures the amount of testosterone in a sample of your blood. Testosterone is known as a “male” sex hormone, but females have testosterone in smaller amounts. During puberty (in the teen years), testosterone helps boys develop male features like body and facial hair, a deeper voice, and muscle strength. Too much testosterone in men can cause shrinking of the testicles, impotence, an increased risk of heart attack and prostate enlargement with difficulty urinating.

It is usually done on an outpatient basis, and you can resume your normal activities following testing. If you were told to fast before testing, you may wish to bring a light snack to eat once the test is complete. Another less common test is for bioavailable testosterone, which can be used more readily by the body. This is all testosterone that is not bound to SHBG, including free and albumin-bound testosterone. Bioavailable testosterone is also commonly reported in ng/dL. Testosterone tests are performed to determine the amount of testosterone in a blood sample.