Only a testosterone test can measure how much of the hormone is in your body and determine whether your level is within a healthy range. Costs for testosterone testing may include charges for an office or clinic visit, a fee for the technician to draw your blood, and laboratory fees when the sample is analyzed. If the results of an at-home test are abnormal or if you are having symptoms, your doctor might want to order another testosterone test. They may also suggest a physical exam or other types of tests to assess your overall health. Several at-home collection test kits for checking testosterone levels are available without a prescription.
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.
Test results generally take between 5-7 business days after your sample has been received by the lab. The Testosterone, Free (Direct), Serum with Total Test will determine the level of testosterone (free and total) in your blood. For this reason, there is still no consensus on the ‘normal range’ of free testosterone; different guidelines recognise different free testosterone ranges as normal range of testosterone in females or abnormal. A general rule of thumb is that free testosterone less than 50–65 pg/mL is considered low.
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.
Too little can cause fatigue, irritability, depression, erectile dysfunction and reduced muscle mass. Depending on your initial test results, your doctor may recommend additional tests to pinpoint the cause of abnormal testosterone levels. It’s a question that resonates with many, and the answer is as varied as the individuals inquiring. For younger males, average levels typically reside in the 400s ng/dL, while adult females see a range between ng/dL. It’s a hormonal balancing act that shifts with the sands of time, starting strong in youth and gradually declining after the age of 30. These figures are not just numbers but signposts of health, signaling when it might be time to delve deeper into one’s hormonal health.
Blood tests are a very common and essential part of medical testing. There’s very little risk to getting a testosterone blood test. You may have slight tenderness or a bruise at the site of the blood draw. A testosterone test is a blood test that measures your levels of testosterone, a hormone. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. In certain cases, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test.
It is possible to treat males for low testosterone levels with an injection or prescription gel. People using this treatment over the long term could experience potentially severe side effects, such as an increased risk of heart problems. Anabolic steroids have similar properties to testosterone, and some people use them to build muscle or gain weight. However, steroids can affect testosterone levels in both males and females. At-home test kits for checking your testosterone levels are available without a prescription. The kits provide everything you need to collect a blood or saliva (spit) sample to send to a lab for testing. Two blood tests are required to ensure an accurate diagnosis of low testosterone.
Ashwagandha, Licorice, and Rhodiola are examples of adaptogenic herbs. At-home testosterone tests should not be used to determine if you need testosterone shots or to see if you have infertility or PCOS. The technician will insert a needle into a vein, and blood will be drawn into a tube.
Testosterone tests can also monitor the health of transgender men who were assigned female at birth but identify as male. Some transgender men may take hormone therapy to change their physical appearance to match their gender identity. Doctors may monitor testosterone levels in this group of men to ensure testosterone levels are maintained at a certain level.
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.
