Order a testosterone test and measure your level

Measuring your testosterone can help you understand where certain symptoms come from, such as low energy, a reduced libido, trouble building muscle or a shifting mood.

A testosterone test gives you a snapshot of this hormone. It is not a diagnosis, but a data point you can discuss with a doctor alongside your symptoms and other values.

For many men, a measurement like this feels like a concrete first step towards understanding how they feel.

This test may suit men who:

• notice a change in their energy, libido or concentration
• struggle with muscle building or recovery after training
• want to record a baseline of their hormones
• simply want to know where they stand

Testosterone can decline gradually with age, so some men choose to have their testosterone measured even without clear symptoms.

This test measures one biomarker in your blood:

• Total testosterone: the total amount of testosterone in your blood, both the part bound to proteins and the free part.

Note: this test measures the total value and not your free testosterone separately. The free, active part is determined with a separate test. You can read more on the page about total testosterone.

Your testosterone value can say something about how your body produces this hormone. A lower or higher value can be linked to symptoms, but on its own it does not tell the whole story.

Because testosterone fluctuates during the day and is usually highest in the morning, a single measurement is always a snapshot. A doctor therefore considers the wider context: your value, your symptoms and sometimes additional values.

For this test, blood is drawn at a certified sample point. There are 700+ locations across the Netherlands, which you choose yourself after ordering.

You do not need to see your GP first; you pick a location and a time that suit you. The draw is done by trained staff and usually takes only a few minutes. After the draw, your blood goes to the lab where your values are determined.

Because testosterone is usually highest in the morning, a blood draw is generally advised in the morning, often between 7 and 10 am. This makes your result easier to compare with reference values.

The test can be useful if you have symptoms that might relate to this hormone, or if you simply want to record a baseline to compare against later.

Your result shows your testosterone alongside a reference range and a short explanation. What counts as a healthy value varies by lab, age and time of sampling, so numbers alone say little.

A lower value may point to reduced production, but does not automatically fit a condition. Only a doctor can properly interpret your result together with your symptoms.

For a testosterone measurement you usually do not need to fast, although your doctor or the lab may sometimes advise it. Ideally, book your appointment in the morning, as your value is usually highest then.

If you use medication or supplements that can affect your hormones, ask your doctor whether that could influence your result.

Your results are available online within a few working days. You log in to your account and view your results whenever it suits you. You see your testosterone value, its reference range and a clear explanation.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.