Testosterone Blood Test

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:

• Decreased libido
• Erectile dysfunction
• Fatigue
• Depression and irritability
• Reduced muscle mass:
• Increased body fat
• Decreased bone mass
• Hair loss
• Hot flashes
• Sleep disturbances

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Learn more about your data security.