Men's hormone test: measure your testosterone

In men, testosterone plays a part in energy, muscle mass, libido and mood. Your level can change gradually with age, sleep, stress and lifestyle, which can make symptoms such as fatigue or reduced motivation hard to place.

A hormone test that only measures total testosterone does not tell the whole story. Men who have their hormones tested alongside SHBG and albumin get a more nuanced view of how much testosterone is actually available. For busy professionals, a measurement like this can be an efficient first step towards understanding vague symptoms.

This hormone blood test may suit men who:

• are curious about their testosterone and want to know how much of it is freely available
• have symptoms that could relate to hormonal shifts, such as fatigue, reduced energy or changes in body composition
• want to follow up a previously abnormal testosterone value
• want preventive insight into how their body is functioning right now

This panel measures four biomarkers in your blood:

• Total Testosterone: the overall amount of testosterone circulating in your blood, both bound and unbound. Read more on the page about Total Testosterone.
• Free Testosterone: the portion not bound to proteins, which is available to your tissues. See also Free Testosterone.
• SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin): a protein that binds testosterone, so more SHBG means less is freely available. Read more about SHBG.
• Albumin: a protein that helps transport testosterone and is used to calculate bioavailable testosterone.

Total testosterone gives a general view, but does not tell you everything. A man with normal total testosterone and elevated SHBG may still have lower free testosterone than expected. A lower SHBG can result in more free testosterone, even when the total value looks modest.

This hormone blood test therefore combines four values, so you have more context than a single testosterone measurement can give. Free testosterone reflects what is functionally available, while SHBG and albumin help fill in that picture. It remains a snapshot that you review together with a doctor.

For this test, blood is drawn at a certified sample point. In the Netherlands you can choose from 700+ locations, which you select yourself after ordering, at a time that suits you.

The draw is done by trained staff and usually takes only a few minutes. You do not need to see your GP first: you arrange this blood test without a referral entirely yourself.

This test can be useful when you:

• want to measure your testosterone and understand how much of it is freely available
• have symptoms such as ongoing fatigue, reduced energy or mood changes that may fit hormonal shifts
• want to record a baseline to compare against later
• previously measured only total testosterone and now want more context from SHBG and free testosterone

Many men want to have their hormones tested in a low-threshold way. Testosterone is usually highest in the morning, so a draw between 7 and 10 AM often gives a representative result.

Your result shows each marker with a reference range and a short explanation. What counts as a healthy value depends on lab, age and timing, so a single number says little.

A total testosterone that appears within range can, with elevated SHBG, still go together with lower free testosterone than expected. That is why testing your hormones is most valuable when you view all four values in context, together with a doctor who knows your symptoms and history.

Your results are online within a few working days, with your values, their reference ranges and a plain-language explanation for each marker. If a value falls outside the expected range, this is highlighted.

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