Measure your testosterone and understand what your value means

Measuring your testosterone can help you understand where certain symptoms come from. Think of low energy, a reduced sex drive, trouble building muscle or a shifting mood.

A low testosterone level can fit those symptoms, but it is rarely the only explanation. A testosterone test gives you a snapshot of this hormone.

That is not a diagnosis. It is a data point you take to a doctor alongside your symptoms and other values.

For many men, a measurement like this feels like a concrete first step.

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 declines gradually with age. Men over forty in particular have their testosterone measured, even without clear symptoms.

This test measures one biomarker in your blood:

• Total testosterone: all the testosterone in your blood, both bound to proteins and free.

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.

In the Netherlands, testosterone is expressed in nmol/l. Reference values differ by age and by sex. This hormone occurs in both men and women.

These bands come from the method sheet for the Roche Elecsys Testosterone II assay. Laboratories run different analysers. Your own lab report may therefore quote different limits.

Your testosterone value says something about your hormonal balance. Factors such as age, sleep, stress and weight all play a part.

Testosterone fluctuates during the day and is usually highest in the morning. A single measurement is therefore always a snapshot.

A doctor looks at the wider context: your value, your symptoms and sometimes additional values.

A low testosterone level rarely has a single cause. Poor sleep, excess weight, prolonged stress and illness all suppress production.

Anabolic steroids also suppress your own production. That suppression can persist for months after someone stops.

Low testosterone linked to lifestyle can shift when that lifestyle changes. Always discuss this with a doctor.

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. The draw is done by trained staff and usually takes a few minutes. Your blood then goes to the lab.

Because testosterone is usually highest in the morning, a draw is advised in the morning. That is often between 7 and 10 am.

This makes your result easier to compare with reference values. The test is also useful if you simply want to record a baseline.

Your result shows your testosterone with a reference range and a short explanation. What counts as healthy varies by lab, age and time of sampling.

An abnormal result is not a diagnosis in itself. With an abnormal value, a doctor often asks for a second morning measurement.

Only a doctor can properly interpret your result together with your symptoms.

Your results are available online within a few working days. You log in to your account and view them whenever it suits you.

You see your testosterone value, its reference range and a clear explanation. Every result includes an assessment by a BIG-registered doctor.

For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.