Free testosterone
Other names: TESTOSTERONE, FREE, Testost., Free, Calc, Testosterone,Free, Free Testosterone, Serum, CALC FREE TESTOSTERONE, FREE TESTOSTERONE,CALC
Testosterone is an androgen (male sex hormone) found in both men and women but in significantly larger quantities in men due to the testes. A small amount is made by our pituitary glands, and in women, by the ovaries. In pubescent boys, testosterone causes the voice to deepen, muscles to get bigger, sperm production to begin, and facial/ body hair to grow. Most of the testosterone in the blood is bound to a protein called sex hormone binding globulin. Testosterone that is not bound (“free” testosterone) may be checked if a man or a woman is having sexual problems, such as:
- Decreased sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction in men
- Infertility in men and women
- Delayed or accelerated puberty in boys
- Male features (deep voice, excessive hairiness) in women
In addition, certain conditions are known to affect free testosterone like hyperthyroidism and some types of kidney disease.
Age-specific Reference Ranges (for men):
- 0-9 years < 1 pg/mL
- 10-11 years < 4 pg/mL
- 12-13 years < 68 pg/mL
- 14-15 years = 2-95 pg/mL
- 16-17 years = 26-119 pg/mL
- 18 years and older = 32-168 pg/mL
Tanner-stages spefific Reference Ranges (for men):
- Tanner stage I < 3 pg/mL
- Tanner stage II < 15 pg/mL
- Tanner stage III < 68 pg/mL
- Tanner stage IV = 24-117 pg/mL
- Tanner stage V = 28-165 pg/mL
(To find out more about the different Tanner stages, please refer to: Tanner Stages)
What does it mean if your Free testosterone result is too high?
What could a slightly elevated free testosterone level mean in men?
Slightly elevated free testosterone levels in a male can have several implications, and the interpretation may vary depending on the specific value and the individual's overall health. Here are some potential meanings:
→ Normal Variation: It's important to note that testosterone levels can fluctuate naturally throughout the day and over time. Slight elevations may fall within the normal range of variation and may not necessarily indicate a medical issue.
→ Hormonal Imbalance: Elevated free testosterone can sometimes be a sign of a hormonal imbalance. This may be due to conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women or other hormonal disorders in both sexes.
→ Symptoms: The significance of elevated free testosterone often depends on the presence of symptoms. Some individuals with higher testosterone levels may experience symptoms such as increased facial or body hair growth, acne, or changes in mood and libido.
→ Underlying Health Conditions: Elevated free testosterone could be associated with certain medical conditions, such as adrenal tumors or hormonal disorders. Further tests and evaluation by a healthcare provider are usually necessary to identify and address any underlying issues.
→ Fertility: In some cases, elevated testosterone levels can impact fertility, affecting sperm production and quality.
It's crucial to consult a healthcare professional for a thorough evaluation if you have concerns about elevated free testosterone levels. They can provide personalized guidance and recommend appropriate interventions if necessary.
What could a highly elevated free testosterone level mean in men?
- Testicular tumors
- Adrenal tumors producing testosterone
- Use of anabolic steroids
- Early puberty
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia affecting the adrenal glands
Increased testosterone in women may be caused by:
- Ovarian or adrenal gland tumor
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia affecting the adrenal glands
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
What does it mean if your Free testosterone result is too low?
Understanding Low Free Testosterone in Males
Free testosterone is the unbound, biologically active form of testosterone in the blood. It plays a crucial role in many bodily functions, and low levels can have significant health implications for males.
Causes of Low Free Testosterone
Several factors can contribute to low free testosterone levels:
- Aging: Testosterone levels naturally decline with age, typically starting in the late 30s or early 40s .
- Hypogonadism: A condition where the testes produce insufficient testosterone due to primary (testicular failure) or secondary (pituitary or hypothalamic dysfunction) causes .
- Increased SHBG Levels: High SHBG binds more testosterone, reducing the free, active form .
- Chronic Health Conditions: Conditions like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome can lower free testosterone .
- Medications: Certain medications, such as glucocorticoids and opioids, may interfere with testosterone production or binding .
- Lifestyle Factors: Poor diet, lack of exercise, chronic stress, and inadequate sleep can negatively impact testosterone levels .
Symptoms of Low Free Testosterone
Common symptoms include:
- Reduced libido and erectile dysfunction
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Mood changes, including depression and irritability
- Loss of muscle mass and increased body fat
- Decreased bone density
- Reduced body and facial hair
Diagnosis
Diagnosing low free testosterone typically involves:
- Blood tests measuring free testosterone levels, often in the morning when levels are highest
- Checking total testosterone, SHBG, and albumin levels to calculate free testosterone
- Additional tests to evaluate underlying conditions, such as thyroid function tests or pituitary imaging
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity:
- Lifestyle Modifications:
- Maintain a healthy weight through balanced nutrition and regular exercise
- Reduce stress and prioritize sleep (7-9 hours per night)
- Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT):
- Administered via injections, gels, patches, or implants
- Requires close monitoring for side effects
- Addressing Underlying Causes:
- Treating conditions like obesity or diabetes may improve free testosterone levels
When to See a Doctor
If you experience symptoms of low testosterone or have risk factors, consult a healthcare provider. Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve quality of life and reduce the risk of complications .
Conclusion
Low free testosterone in males is a common but manageable condition. With appropriate diagnosis, lifestyle changes, and treatment, individuals can often restore testosterone levels and enhance their overall well-being. If you suspect low testosterone, seeking medical advice is the first step toward effective management.\
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
Frequently asked questions
Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
- Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
- Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
- Upload lab reports from any lab
- View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
- Track trends and monitor changes over time
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export and share your full lab history
- Access your results anytime, from any device
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 10000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
- The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
- GI-MAP,
- The NutrEval FMV®,
- The ION Profile,
- Amino Acids Profile,
- Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
- Organic Acids Test,
- Organix Comprehensive Profile,
- Toxic Metals,
- Complete Blood Count (CBC),
- Metabolic panel,
- Thyroid panel,
- Lipid Panel,
- Urinalysis,
- And many, many more.
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.