Is Knowing Your Total Testosterone Enough?
- Angela Acquafredda, MSN, FNP-C
- Jun 18, 2024
- 1 min read
Understanding lab values is important when diagnosing testosterone deficiency also known as hypogonadism. Knowing only your total testosterone level is very vague because a "normal" number is different for every person. Another test we look at when diagnosing testosterone deficiency if free testosterone levels. Understanding the difference between total testosterone and free testosterone and how it influences everything from energy levels to muscle strength and libido is essential to treatment and key indicators in your overall health.
Total Testosterone vs. Free Testosterone
So, what is the difference between these two tests?
Total Testosterone measures all of the testosterone in your blood stream, whether it is free or bound up to proteins such as albumin and Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG). See blog post about SHBG here: https://www.elitetrtclinic.com/post/what-is-sex-hormone-binding-globulin
Free Testosterone is the active, unbound form of testosterone that is readily available for your body to use when it needs it. Typically, we like this level to be 2-3% of what your total testosterone level is.
It is important to have these lab values within a certain range for symptom resolution and to optimize your overall health. To answer the initial question "Is Total Testosterone Enough?" The answer is no. It's not just about the total number.
Use this testosterone calculator if you would like to learn more about your testosterone levels.
