A hormone called testosterone is responsible for male features. It plays a part in controlling bone mass, fat distribution, muscular mass, strength, the creation of red blood cells, and the production of sperm in men.

It also helps to regulate sex drive. Men's testicles and, to a much lesser extent, women's ovaries both produce testosterone.

Although lower than normal amounts of testosterone can occur at any age and can result in low libido, erectile dysfunction, difficulties gaining and retaining muscular mass, and lack of energy, testosterone levels in males naturally fall after the age of 30.

Even though testosterone levels in women are significantly lower than in men, it is still vital for the same reasons—it affects libido, how fat and muscle are distributed, and how red blood cells are formed.

Because reference ranges are dependent on the population being tested, they will all somewhat vary between laboratories. 95% of men will fall inside the usual range, which has been determined.

We follow the British Society for Sexual Medicine's (BSSM) recommendations for greater consistency, which state that low testosterone can be diagnosed when levels are consistently below the reference range and that levels below 12 nmol/L may also be considered low, particularly in men who also experience symptoms of low testosterone or who have low levels of free testosterone.

Only 2-3% of the testosterone that is circulating in the blood is free and available to cells; the majority is attached to proteins, particularly SHBG and albumin.

The method used in this test determines the ratio of free or unbound testosterone to total testosterone, SHBG, and albumin.

Proteins are essential for muscle growth as well as the operation of cells and tissues. Blood proteins are measured to assist in the diagnosis of various illnesses, such as liver or kidney disease.

It is common practise to analyse proteins to determine how much of a specific hormone is bound to a protein or free and thus available to your cells. Proteins also transport other chemicals, such as hormones, throughout the blood.

Dehydration is a common cause of elevated proteins, but they can also be a sign of other health issues. A significant protein deficiency may be a sign of malnutrition or malabsorption.

A protein called albumin is mostly produced in the liver. It aids in generating the osmotic pressure necessary to keep water in the blood. It is crucial for tissue growth and repair and aids in the transportation of nutrients, medicines, and other chemicals via the blood.

By evaluating albumin levels in the blood, we can determine how much hormone is available to your tissues. Albumin also transports hormones throughout the body.

The majority of the sex hormones, including testosterone, oestrogen, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), are bound to Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), rendering them inactive in your cells.

The amount of free or unbound hormones, which are biologically active and available for usage, can be determined by measuring the level of SHBG in your blood.