A Comprehensive Guide On How To Check Testosterone Levels How Low Testosterone Affects Your Body and Mind: A Complete Guide NS Blog Free testosterone is the amount of testosterone that is not bound to proteins and is available for use by the body. Bioavailable testosterone is a combination of free testosterone and testosterone that is weakly bound to other proteins. SHBG is a protein that binds to testosterone and can affect its availability in the body. Maybe you’re feeling sluggish, struggling to add muscle, or your sex drive isn’t what it used to be. Or maybe you just want a baseline, to have something to measure against if issues arise. Whatever your reason, testing gives you hard data—the first step in taking control of your health. Instead, the blood test looks for your total testosterone levels, which counts free T as well as that bound to the proteins sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and albumin. If you feel like your testosterone levels might be too high or too low, talk to your healthcare provider. If you need treatment, your provider can also help you understand the risks and benefits of different therapies. You may talk to your healthcare provider about a testosterone level test if you have symptoms of low testosterone. When men hit the age of 40, they go through what many people call “andropause”, which is the period when testosterone production in the body drops noticeably. Due to this drop in testosterone product, many men notice undesirable effects on their daily lives. They notice a drop in energy levels, a tendency to put on weight more easily, and losing muscle mass. These include cutting back on drinking or smoking, reducing stress and increasing physical activity. Low testosterone can be caused by numerous things, with illness, injuries, stress and genetic conditions all playing a role in how the hormone is produced. If this is the case then fear not, as one medical expert has outlined everyday symptoms of low testosterone and how you can amend it. Which is why concerns about low levels of testosterone may be a source of anxiety for men. However, total testosterone levels alone may not provide a complete picture of your hormonal health. Testosterone is primarily bound to proteins in the blood, and only a small amount is available as free testosterone. Free testosterone is the biologically active form of the hormone that is responsible for its effects on the body. Therefore, it is important to measure both total testosterone and free testosterone to accurately evaluate your hormone status. In addition to testosterone testing, your healthcare provider may also order other blood tests to assess your overall hormonal health. These tests may include measurements of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol (an estrogen hormone). In summary, if you suspect you may have low testosterone or an imbalance in your hormone levels, it is important to get tested. Testing typically involves a series of blood tests, including a total testosterone test, free testosterone test,