Male Hormones Test

Why Check Male Hormone Levels?

Some health conditions affecting men are related to changes in hormone levels, such as fertility, libido, erectile dysfunction and hair loss. In some cases, a gradual decline in hormone levels can cause emotional symptoms such as anxiety and/or depression and lack of energy.

The male hormone profile will help you gain an insight into your hormone levels and areas of your lifestyle that may need changing so as to improve them.

What Does It Test for?

Biomarkers:

• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
• Luteinising Hormone (LH)
• Testosterone
• Sex Hormone Bingind Globulin (SHBG)
• Free Androgen Index (FAI)
• Prolactin
• Albumin

The male hormone profile is done using a simple finger-prick blood test, which tests levels of

• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH): A hormone-related to the production of sperm and proteins that bind to male hormones
• Luteinising Hormone (LH): A hormone involved in the signalling of testosterone production
• Prolactin: A hormone that may be elevated if a tumour in the pituitary gland called prolactinoma is causing low testosterone.
• Symptoms of excess prolactin in men include:
  • Breast enlargement
  • Nipple discharge
  • Low sex drive
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Decrease in body hair
• Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG): Is a protein produced by the liver that transports the hormones testosterone (an androgen), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (an androgen), and oestradiol (an estrogen) in the blood as biologically inactive forms. Changes in SHBG levels can affect the amount of hormone that is available to be used by the body’s tissues. This test measures the level of SHBG in the blood and is most often used to help evaluate patients for testosterone deficiency or excess.
• Testosterone: Is the primary male hormone responsible for regulating sex differentiation, producing male sex characteristics, spermatogenesis, and fertility.
• Free Androgen Index (FAI): The Free Androgen Index (FAI) is calculated as the ratio of total testosterone to SHBG, which is one of the best measures of the activetestosterone level in the plasma.

Why Testosterone Matters?

Testosterone is a hormone produced primarily in the testicles and is regulated by LH. Testosterone levels generally peak during adolescence and early adulthood. As men age, testosterone level gradually declines — typically about 2% a year after age 30 or 40.

For older men, it's important to determine if a low testosterone level is due to normal ageing or if it is due to a disease (hypogonadism).

Testosterone is the major sex hormone in males and plays a number of important roles, such as:

• Bone growth and strength
• Fat distribution
• Muscle strength and mass
• Facial and body hair
• Red blood cell production
• Sex drive
• Sperm production

Symptoms of Low Testosterone?

Symptoms of testosterone deficiency in adult men include:

• Reduced body and facial hair
• Loss of muscle mass
• Low libido, impotence, small testicles, reduced sperm count and infertility
• Erectile dysfunction
• Increased breast size
• Hot flashes
• Irritability, poor concentration and depression
• Loss of body hair
• Brittle bones and an increased risk of fracture

Symptoms of High Testosterone

Problems associated with abnormally high testosterone levels in men include:

• Acne
• Aggressive or risk-taking behaviours
• Excessive body hair
• Headaches
• Liver problems
• Heart muscle damage and increased risk of heart attack
• High blood pressure and cholesterol
• High sex drive (libido)
• Low sperm counts, shrinking of the testicles and impotence
• Increased appetite
• Unexplained weight gain
• Insomnia
• Mood swings
• Prostate enlargement, which may cause difficulty passing urine
• Swelling of the legs and feet due to fluid retention

How Do I Order My Male Hormones Test?

• Male Hormones blood test requires a small blood sample(finger-prick) and makes checking your thyroid levels privately, fast, affordable, and convenient. All you need to do is collect your sample and send it directly to Tuli accredited lab for analysis. Accurate results will be available within 2 working days of receipt of your sample in the laboratory.

Will I Need To Do Anything To Prepare For The Test?

A fasting sample is required, collected before 10am and returned on the same day. Results will be available within 2 working days of receipt of your sample in the laboratory.