Testosterone Test

This test measures the Total Testosterone levels in the blood.

What is testosterone?

Luteinizing Hormone LH is a pituitary hormone that stimulates and controls the production of testosterone hormone. Secretion of Testosterone into the blood circulation depends on the response of Luteinizing Hormone. Most of the Testosterone which is secreted into the blood binds to the Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and a little amount to the albumin. The remaining amount of testosterone which is not bounded and freely circulates in the blood is known as Free Testosterone. The total value of bound and unbound testosterone is total testosterone.

This hormone is responsible for male physical characteristics and known as a male sex hormone. This is mainly produced by the Leydig cells which are present in the male testicles. LH hormone helps testicles to produce testosterone. In women, testosterone is produced in less amount by ovaries. It is also produced by adrenal glands in both men and women.

Testosterone plays an important role in the facilitation of spermatogenesis (production of sperm). Testosterone stimulates the development of secondary sexual characteristics in men like the growth of the body hair, deepening of the voice, enlargement of the penis (sex organ in men), muscle development. In women, testosterone is converted to the main female sex hormone i.e:-Estradiol. Testosterone production is high in the early morning hours from about 4-am to 8-am and low in production from about 4-pm to 8-pm. Production of testosterone is high at the onset of puberty and starts to drop at the age near to 30.

Why this test is Performed?

The total testosterone test is performed to understand the functioning of testes. In men, this test is performed to diagnose the hypogonadism, hypopituitarism, impotence, Klinefelter syndrome, erectile dysfunction, testicular tumors, or hypothalamus and pituitary gland disorders. In women, it also helps to investigate the cause of unwanted hair growth, anovulation, tumors of the ovary, absence of menstruation, or masculine traits.

Your doctor may ask you to perform this test if you are suffering from symptoms such as underdeveloped muscles during puberty, lack of body hair, enlarged breasts, low energy levels, slow growth of hair, hair loss, loss of bone mass, underdeveloped male genitals (penis), irregular or missed periods, unusual body hair growth in women, heavy vaginal bleeding, or obesity. Your doctor may advise you to perform this test if you are suffering from infertility. This test is also being performed to estimate the effectiveness of the treatment and testosterone levels in the body. If you exhibit any symptoms of testicular dysfunction, your doctor may ask you to undergo this test which gives a better status of the condition. Mostly, this test is done along with other testosterone tests.

Precautions:

Smoking, chemotherapy, and radiation may change the levels of Total Testosterone in the blood. Hence, inform your doctor about your current status of health and the medications you take.

If the test result falls within the normal reference range, then no need for further medical intervention.

In the case of increased Total Testosterone in the blood than the normal reference range then it may be due to early puberty in young men, acne, high libido (hypersexuality), infertility (not getting pregnant), steroid abuse, tumors in testes, decreased sperm count, high blood pressure, high red blood cell count, aggression, treatment with testosterone medications, polycystic ovarian syndrome (enlarged ovaries with cysts).

If the level of Total Testosterone is less than the normal range then it may be due to hypogonadism (failure of the testes in men and ovaries in women), testicular failure, pituitary disorders, Klinefelter syndrome (genetic disorder), obesity, adrenal cancer, ovarian cancer, high levels of stress, or major surgery.