A testosterone test enables you to check the level of testosterone present in your blood. The doctor uses it for diagnosing certain conditions which occur due to very little or too much testosterone. This is the hormone which produces in the testes of a man.
The testosterone builds the muscles of a man at the time of puberty, puts hair on the chest, deepens the voice, and allows the penis to grow. The hormone helps in the production of sperm and increases sex drive in the life of a man.
Women make testosterone in small amounts and produce it in the ovaries. It maintains the hormone balance and controls other functions of the body.
What the testosterone test measures
Testosterone travels through your body in the two ways:
- Free which is not attached to the proteins
- Attached to sex hormone-binding globulin or SHBG and proteins albumin
You get an entire testosterone test in the form of a screening test. This calculates the attached and free testosterone. The doctor looks at free testosterone levels only for diagnosing certain conditions.
In the case of men, the testosterone blood test helps to know the reason for sexual complications such as – erectile dysfunction and less sex drive. When you have a hard time making your partner pregnant, the test may tell whether the testosterone level is low. A low testosterone level indicates there is some problem with the hypothalamus or pituitary gland to control the testosterone your body makes.
For the females, the test may identify reasons why you miss your periods, do not have the periods, pass through the difficult phase for conceiving or suffer from male patterns of hair growth on the face or chest. The doctors may use it for diagnosing polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS which levels improved testosterone. This is a hormone problem that may be the reason for irregular periods and make it difficult to conceive. The testosterone test in London is a part of certain adrenal tumors.
Reasons to perform this test
Your doctor may ask to conduct this test when the symptoms are low or high testosterone.
Some symptoms of low testosterone in men are:
- Loss of muscle mass
- Swollen breasts
- Weak bones are known as osteoporosis
- Hair loss
- Trouble in keeping or getting an erection
- Depression or fatigue
- Low sex drive
- Trouble in concentration
Some things that may lead to low testosterone can cause low sperm count. If the sperm count is low, your doctor might ask to perform the test.
In women, they include:
- Vaginal dryness
- Menstrual or skipped periods
- Low sex drive
- Weak bones called osteoporosis
- Fertility problems
Signs of high testosterone in women are:
- Loss of hair on the head
- Deep voice
- Dark skin areas
- Excess hair on the body or face
- Oily skin and acne
- Skipped or no periods
- Enlarged clitoris
What happens while performing the test
This blood test is conducted in the early morning when your testosterone levels are the highest. A tube of blood is taken from the vein in your finger or arm. Tell the doctor if you take any medicines or herbal remedies. Some medicines may affect the test results as the testosterone levels differ from day today. If there is a high or low level, then you will have to repeat the test.
What do the results tell your doctor?
The result will enable you to know if you have low, high, or normal testosterone. The normal testosterone level depends on your age and gender.
The results for normal total testosterone in the case of men:
- Ages from 19 to 49 – 249 – 836 nanogram each deciliter (ng/dL)
- Ages 50 and more — 193 – 740 ng/dL
The results for normal total testosterone in women:
- Ages from 19 to 49 — 8 – 48 ng/dL
- Ages 50 and more — 2 – 41 ng/dL
Based on the results, you may have to conduct one of these tests:
- Androstenedione or AD – It evaluates how properly the testicles, adrenal glands, or ovaries work.
- Estrogens – It calculates the level of estrogen which can diagnose menopause or infertility.
- Biopsy – The doctor removes a tissue sample from the testicles to detect if you have cancer.
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or luteinizing hormone (LH) – They assess puberty in girls and fertility in women.
- 17-hydroxyprogesterone – It identifies congenital adrenal hyperplasia which may affect the production of hormones.
- Prolactin – It diagnoses infertility, missing periods, low sex drive in the case of men, and discharge from the breast.
- DHEAS – It detects tumors or other problems in the adrenal glands.
Use the Internet when searching for a “testosterone blood test near me.” This will enable you to find a clinic in your area and perform testosterone blood tests over there.
