A testosterone blood test is conducted to measure the blood level of the male sex hormone testosterone. These blood tests are commonly used to help diagnose conditions that produce too much or too little testosterone.
Testosterone is a vital part of sexual development and is mainly produced by the testes in males and, in significantly smaller amounts, in the ovaries in women. The adrenal glands also produce testosterone in both men and women.
During puberty, testosterone helps build men’s muscles, deepen their voice and more. Later on in life, it helps produce sperm and increases virility in men.
Within women, smaller amounts of testosterone help maintain hormonal balance and regulate other bodily functions.
In children, a testosterone blood test can indicate early, or late puberty in boys, damage or disease of the testes, ovaries, adrenal glands, or pituitary gland, or it can be used to test for steroid use.
Along with helping to diagnose early or late puberty, damage to testes, ovaries, adrenal glands and pituitary glands, and testing for steroid use, a testosterone blood test can also be used to evaluate fertility or menstrual problems and sexual function in girls.
In adult men, a testosterone test can help diagnose the reason for sexual problems, such as reduced sex drive or erectile dysfunction. It may also help diagnose fertility problems in men or indicate a problem with the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. In women, this test can indicate the reason behind missing periods, male patterns of hair growth, PCOS and more.
The average healthy range for testosterone levels in men is 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) and between 15 and 70 ng/dL for women. However, it is normal for your testosterone levels to change throughout your life, as testosterone levels can decrease naturally due to your age or other health conditions.
While there are no special preparations needed for this testosterone blood test, you may be advised to perform the test in the morning, when testosterone levels are usually highest. The testosterone blood test is very low risk, with minimal side-effects experienced with regular blood tests.
Should you wish to book a testosterone blood test or any of our other blood tests, please get in touch with us via our contact form, or give us a call.
