Home / Hormone Tests / Testosterone Blood Test
Testosterone is a steroid hormone which is predominantly made in the male testes. The hormone is stimulated and controlled by luteinising hormone (LH) which is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. Women also produce a small amount of testosterone in their ovaries and adrenal glands.
Free testosterone is the amount of testosterone which is not bound to either sex hormone binding globulin or albumin. Instead, it is freely travelling around the body in the blood without being bound to another protein.
Testosterone has an important role in the human body, affecting the brain, bone and muscle mass, fat distribution, the heart and blood vessels, energy levels and sexual function.
In early adulthood, testosterone is essential for growth and the regulation of the prostate gland. For men, testosterone is important for regulating libido (sex drive), muscle growth and strength, and the production of sperm.
Stress, diet, age, exercise and alcohol can all have an impact on your testosterone levels. Testosterone levels start to naturally decline in men from around age 40, with men in their 70s having 40% less testosterone than men in their 20s. Eating the right foods and regularly exercising can help increase testosterone levels, as well as getting enough sleep. You learn more about the link between testosterone and exercise in our blogs.
You can check your testosterone levels at home, with our finger-prick blood test kit. We also offer clinic services, where a healthcare professional will draw the blood from your vein. The kit includes everything you need to quickly and easily collect a small blood sample and send it to our NHS labs for analysis. Our doctors will review your results and provide a comment to help you better understand your levels (you can opt out of this during checkout if you’d prefer).
This is what our customers ask us most about this test. For more information, try our help centre.
What causes low testosterone?
Low testosterone can happen naturally, as levels start to slowly decline in men from their early 30s. But, other factors can cause testosterone levels to drop, such as overtraining, stress, medication and lifestyle choices such as lack of exercise, poor diet, and alcohol consumption.
Low testosterone, also known as hypogonadism, comes with various symptoms, including:
What causes high testosterone?
In men, high testosterone levels can be caused by testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) or a number of health conditions including: androgen resistance, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and testicular cancer.
In women, high levels of testosterone can result in irregular or absent periods, frontal balding, acne, more than average body hair, increased muscle mass, and a deeper voice. This can be caused by a number of health conditions including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
We advise consulting with your GP if your results are high so this can be investigated further.
Does overtraining impact testosterone?
Whilst exercise can have a positive effect on your testosterone levels, repeat overtraining and not enough recovery time can cause testosterone levels to drop and cortisol levels (the “stress hormone”) to rise. It’s important to ensure that you schedule adequate recovery into your training plan to give your body a chance to both absorb your training and replenish your biomarkers.
Why is testosterone important for men?
In men, testosterone is the leading sex hormone, driving male growth and appearance. This androgen hormone impacts libido, muscular characteristics, bone health, sperm production, and is believed to have some impact on normal mood. Testosterone works in unison with the other key male hormones.
Can I use this test when on TRT?
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) will cause you to have synthetic hormone levels. The Testosterone test will be able to show the levels of this hormone in your body, but it is worth remembering that this will not show you how your body is performing at producing testosterone. High doses of TRT can cause your levels to go above the detectable levels of the analysis technology.
How can I increase my testosterone levels?
There are a number of ways to increase your testosterone naturally. These include: getting plenty of good quality sleep on a regular basis, HIIT workouts and weight training, increasing your vitamin D levels (consider taking a supplement), minimising your cortisol and stress levels, and eating a healthy balance of protein, carbs, and fats.
In the event of unusually low levels of testosterone, you can also consult with your doctor for treatment options.
Is this test suitable for women?
Yes, This test is suitable for both men and women.
Whilst testosterone is usually identified as a “male hormone”, premenopausal women produce both oestrogen and testosterone. You can learn more about the role testosterone plays in the female body in our blog.
How soon will the test arrive?
If you order your test before midday on a Monday to Friday then your kit will be dispatched the same day. All our kits are sent out via Royal Mail first class post, so it should be with you within 1-2 working days.
How secure is my data?
We have strict processes in place to ensure the protection of your data. Following GDPR the company also operates under tight legal rules about the sharing of data which ensures that data is only shared if it is crucial to the delivery of our service. For example, our doctors see customer results at the time of review, however, after review, access to results is withdrawn.
Can I have someone take my blood for me?
Yes. We offer two options if you do not want to do our finger prick test. The first is a home appointment where a nurse comes to your home to take a blood sample. The second is to visit a Phlebotomy clinic near you that offers a blood sample service.
A blood sample will be taken from your vein and we will provide you with everything you need to give to the nurse to allow them to take the sample.
The nurse will give you the blood sample to return to us using the pre-paid envelope provided.
Does a doctor review my results?
We have a team of doctors and nurses who look at all results and will comment on any results that are outside of the normal range for your age.
Can I download the results to share with my GP?
Yes, you can download your results from your health dashboard as a PDF to share with your GP.
We are dedicated to supporting you on improving your health
Dr Thom Phillips
Clinical Lead
BSc. (Hons) MSc. MB BCh. MRCGP. Dip SEM. PGCert (Diabetes)
Renee McGregor
Nutrition Lead
BSc (hons) PGDIP (DIET) PGCERT(sportsnutr) RD BASES
Dr Michael Cornes
Scientific Officer
Consultant clinical scientist, FRCPath, BSc Biochemistry, MSc Clinical Biochemistry, PhD Biochemistry
Getting the insights you need to improve your health has never been easier.
No need to wait for a GP appointment, choose from our wide range of tests which come with everything you need to take your sample and return to our lab.
Take your finger prick blood sample at home, or choose to have your blood taken at a Superdrug health clinic or a nurse at home. Return to our NHS lab using our prepaid envelope.
View your results on your secure health dashboard within 2 working days of our lab receiving your sample. Read personalised comments from our GPs.
With more in-depth results, you will be able to identify areas that need improving. Make the changes and track your progress.
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Additional markers can be added by personalising this test
Biomarkers are specific compounds we can detect in your blood sample that reflect different things about your health. Your test will tell you your levels for each of the above biomarkers, and whether they are in a normal range.
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When you purchase this test subscription plan, we will automatically send you another test kit in a few months. Don’t worry – you have full control over when this will be, and you can change/cancel it anytime.
When you first purchase this test, you can choose your subscription options in the checkout. We do this, because we recommend taking multiple tests over time to track how your health markers change. You’ll be charged per test kit (rather than monthly, for example).
One test will show you what areas you need to focus on, continued testing will help you learn how your training, diet and lifestyle is impacting your health.
We recommend a follow up test 3 months after your first test, followed by a test every 6 months depending on your results, but its up to you!
Yes, you can tailor/customise subsequent tests (via your app) to focus on just the areas that need improving.
You can choose your preferred collection method when you checkout
You can do this test at home without the need for a doctor. We’ll send you everything you need to collect your sample and post it back to us. And it’s all included in the cost. We’ve put together a video that covers the process, making it easy to check and track your health from home.
We’ll arrange for a medical professional to visit your home and collect your sample. This is great if you’re unsure on how it all works or have trouble collecting a sample. No need to book a doctor’s appointment or visit a clinic, we’ll send you everything you need to collect a sample and post it back to our labs.
Once you’ve ordered your test, look out for an email from our phlebotomy partners containing information and a link to book your appointment. We’ll send you everything the clinic will need to complete the sample and post it back to our labs.
If none of the above options work for you, you can arrange your own medical professional to collect your sample. There is no additional charge for this. Once you’ve ordered your test, we’ll send you everything you and your chosen medical professional will need to collect a sample and post it back to our labs.
Still unsure how it works? You can find more information on collection methods and the service we provide in our ‘How it Works’ section.
No need to wait for a GP appointment, choose from our wide range of tests which come with everything you need to take your sample and return to our lab.
Take your finger prick blood sample at home, or choose to have your blood taken at a Superdrug health clinic or a nurse at home. Return to our NHS lab using our prepaid envelope.
View your results on your secure health dashboard within 2 working days of our lab receiving your sample. Read personalised comments from our GPs.
With more in-depth results, you will be able to identify areas that need improving. Make the changes and track your progress.