Male Hormone Blood Test (4 Biomarkers including Total Testosterone & SHBG)

Biomarkers/Parameters tested with this male hormone test kit:

Testosterone

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)

Oestradiol

Prolactin

Note that we currently do not report Free Testosterone values, but these can be calculated using many freely available online calculators. 

Simply collect a sample of blood at home using a finger prick and send the provided tube to our lab for analysis. You will get a lab test report within 1-3 days of sample receipt.

Male hormones, such as testosterone, contribute significantly to various bodily functions and play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy sex drive and preserving muscle strength and mass. Insufficient levels of testosterone can lead to symptoms like lack of energy, fatigue, hair loss, diminished sex drive, erectile dysfunction, anxiety or depression, and increased body fat. In most men, testosterone levels naturally begin to decline with age. Other potential factors contributing to low testosterone encompass alcohol abuse, obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, certain medications, and excessive training. While assessing testosterone levels is important, our comprehensive male hormone test goes beyond, measuring not only testosterone levels but also the hormones that facilitate the transportation and regulation of testosterone production.

Most testosterone in the blood binds to proteins like albumin and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), but some remain free (unattached), which is known as bioavailable testosterone. This bioavailable testosterone, including both free and albumin-bound types, is easily accessible for the body's use.

When a healthcare provider suspects low or high testosterone levels, they typically start by measuring total testosterone. If results indicate low levels, a free testosterone test may be performed for further insight. To read more about free testosterone and its measurement read this summary. 

In the UK, management of menopause is primarily handled by general practitioners (GPs). However, the same level of oversight is not commonly observed for Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome (TDS), also referred to as late-onset hypogonadism (LOH), androgen deficiency in the aging male (ADAM), or andropause. Testosterone levels can begin to decline in men as young as 40 years old, decreasing at a rate of approximately 1% per year. Nonetheless, not all men will experience low testosterone levels. While the precise prevalence of low testosterone in men remains uncertain, it is estimated to affect around 25% of the aging male population and is frequently associated with declining health and underlying medical conditions. To read more about testosterone deficiency syndrome and testosterone replacement therapy, please refer to a summary of an article by Cervoni.