Testing Your Testosterone

/

Without wading too deeply into philosophy and gender studies, it's your testosterone that makes you man. That's the main sex hormone, produced predominantly by your testicles, and progenitor of the characteristics most would describe as “manly.” Without testosterone,  you wouldn't be as hairy, your voice wouldn't be as deep, you wouldn't be able to have kids, nor would you want to – your sex drivewould be greatly decreased.

Making sure that your testosterone is grade 'A' hi-test ultra-premiumis not a routine check you can make down at the Urgent Care facility, unfortunately. Instead, the “total testosterone test” is used to diagnose and evaluate conditions such as:

  • Delayed or early puberty in boys
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Erectile dysfunction in men
  • Infertility
  • Testicular tumors
  • Hypothalamus or pituitary disorders

The test measures testosterone that is bound to proteins in the bloodas well as free testosterone. Less than 4 percent of your testosterone circulates as free. About two-thirds is bound to sex hormone-binding globulin, a glycoprotein that binds to the male (and female) sex hormone. Less than a third of your testosterone is bound to albumin, the main protein of human blood plasma.

A very low score for your total testosterone test is an indicator of hypogonadism – that is, your body isn't making sufficient amounts of testosterone. This may be as a result of genetic diseases such as Klinefelter syndrome; a chronic disease, such as diabetes; or acquired damage to the testes as might be caused by physical injury, alcoholism, liver disease or the mumps.

Men who consistently score low total testosterone test scores, regardless of the cause, may be prescribed testosterone replacement therapy by their doctors.

On the flip side, a total testosterone test may reveal increased testosterone levels. This might be indicative of:

  • Testicular tumors
  • Adrenal tumors that are producing testosterone
  • Use of anabolic steroids
  • Early puberty of unknown cause in boys
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia in babies and children

 

Sources: Lab Tests Online