Best For Personalized Results: Cerascreen At
- Sample collection method: saliva
- Sends results in: 34 days
The Cerascreen At-Home Testosterone Test Kit requires a person to take a saliva swab in the morning and complete an online questionnaire. The company claims this will ensure individuals receive personalized results, recommendations, and tips.
Cerascreen advises that CLIA-certified partner labs carry out the required testing. Individuals should receive their results via email within 34 working days.
Cerascreen writes that a doctor will review their results, and a person can get a free healthcare appointment to discuss them.
Currently, Cerascreen advises this test is not available for those in the following states:
Additionally, this screening may not suit those with infections, pregnant or nursing people, or anyone under 18.
Cerascreen also advises that it does not currently accept insurance payments. However, a person may consider contacting their insurer to confirm if they can pay and claim. There is no advice on whether it accepts FSA or HSA payments.
The pros and cons a person can consider include:
Pros
Testosterone Deficiency Screening Details
Testosterone level testing is done with a simple finger-stick blood test. Your results letter will indicate your level of testosterone in nanograms per deciliter of blood, and will indicate if your level is abnormal low, normal, or abnormal high. The normal range is 193-836 ng/dL. The results letter will also direct you to seek follow-up screening with your doctor, if necessary. Testosterone levels in the blood can vary significantly, even on the same day, and testosterone production begins to decline in men around the age of 30.2 Low testosterone screening may not indicate that any treatment is necessary, even if the results are lower than normal.
You Suffer From Low Energy And Foul Moods
Testosterone regulates a mans health in many ways, including energy levels and overall sense of wellbeing. If your energy levels have become noticeably worse than it was a short while ago, or you find yourself prone to bouts of moodiness, endocrine disruption could be the likely culprit.
A study published by the Journal Of Therapeutics And Clinical Risk Management in 2009 found that exogenous testosterone administration improved relative energy levels in hypogonadal men, or those with abnormally low endogenous levels of the hormone.
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How Do You Test For Low Testosterone
Screening for low testosterone can be done with the Everlywell at-home test. This low testosterone test measures free testosteroneâinstead of total testosteroneâand only requires a simple saliva collection done in the morning . After collecting your sample, you send it to a lab for analysis. Youâll get your secure, online test result just a few days later.
When To See A Doctor About Testosterone
Low testosterone often goes undiagnosed because its symptoms are similar to other conditions. Experts advise that patients see their doctors if theyre experiencing less interest in sex, or erectile dysfunction for men. Your primary care doctor can treat low T but you can also seek out a specialist such as an endocrinologist or urologist.
Additionally, boys who are experiencing early or delayed puberty should see their pediatrician or another health care provider. Generally, puberty for boys begins between ages 9 and 14. Testing may be ordered for those who fall outside that range.
Women who are experiencing problems with fertility, menstrual irregularities, hirsutism , acne, voice changes, or other possible high T symptoms should talk to their primary care doctor, gynecologist, or an endocrinologist to further investigate for associated conditions .
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How Can Doctors Determine Your Testosterone Level
Medical professionals will test for low testosterone only if you have clinical symptoms such as loss of body hair, sexual dysfunction, hot flashes, or increased breast tissue in males.
If your medical professional believes there may be an imbalance in your testosterone level, they can order a total serum testosterone lab test. To complete this test, you will need to have your blood drawn between 810 a.m.
If your lab results are low, you will need to repeat the test another day. During that test, your doctor may measure other hormone levels as well.
In some cases, a brain MRI can show whether there is a problem with your pituitary gland that may be causing low testosterone levels.
Free Vs Total Testosterone Test
The testosterone circulating in the blood gets itself attached to two proteins: albumin and sex hormone-binding globulin . Some of the testosterone is unattached, called free testosterone. Free testosterone and albumin-bound testosterone are also known as bioavailable testosterone as it is easily available to be used for body processes and functions.
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What Is The Better Time For Testosterone Testing
It is important to know when to test testosterone levels in order to get an accurate reading. The last thing anyone wants to do is to have to keep paying for the same procedure over and over because the appropriate guidelines were not followed and the results did not provide clear answers.
Testing for testosterone levels at the right time of day is crucial. Testosterone is at its highest point in the bloodstream between 7 and 9 am. Factors such as food, coffee, and juice can interfere with the readings, so fasting is a requirement from midnight of the night before the test until after the blood specimen has been drawn.
Do not eat or drink anything at all before the blood test for testosterone levels, and if any medications must be taken before the testing, discuss this with the hormone replacement specialist at the time the appointment is scheduled.
Blood Test For Testosterone Levels
A testosterone level blood test is performed when there is a suspicion of Low T. Adults who have this simple procedure performed are typically doing so for any of the following reasons:
- Male or female infertility
- Disorders of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus
- Testicular tumors
- Hirsutism excessive facial and body hair in women
- Preexisting conditions of diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, dementia, or heart disease in association with symptoms of Low T, such as weight gain, muscle loss, hair loss, fatigue, reduced drive, decreased bone density, anemia, high cholesterol
The testosterone test will alert the physician to any problem associated with a decline in testosterone production. Because the symptoms of Low T can be easily confused with some other hormone deficiencies and medical conditions, a number of different blood panels, or markers, will be run at the same time.
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How To Test Your Testosterone Levels
Supplements that help to increase your testosterone levels are big business. To be precise, such supplements are a multi-billion dollar industry, which shows that they are in high demand. But the question remains- do they really work?
They may, or they may not, but much of this depends on one fundamental piece of information- your current testosterone levels. What? Youve never had your testosterone levels checked? The results of doing so could have far reaching implications, since if you dont know where you currently are, how will you know where to go?
This is especially true when it comes to your attempts at increasing testosterone. There is the real possibility that you arent seeing benefit from consumption of testosterone boosters because your levels are already optimal or on the flipside, because the supplement is under dosed and you need something stronger to compensate for your low serum levels of this hormone.
When Should You Check Testosterone Levels
In the majority of men, testosterone levels begin to naturally decline from the age of 40 this decline tends to be pretty gradual at around 1% per year. For those deficient in the hormone, testosterone replacement therapy may be considered.
In saying that, if you suspect you may have a hormonal imbalance or would simply like to know more about your testosterone levels, you can get an idea of your hormonal health with a testosterone test.
The most reliable way to check testosterone levels from home is with an at-home Testosterone Test. The process is simple:
LetsGetCheckeds Testosterone Test offers a complete insight into your testosterone levels by measuring the amount of testosterone in your blood. Once your sample arrives in our certified laboratory, confidential results will be available from your secure online account within 2 to 5 days.
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Typical Testosterone Levels In Men
Its important to speak with your doctor after receiving your results to better understand what they mean for you and your health. If your doctor has any concerns, they may consider a full diagnosis and treatment plan.
Levels between 300 and 800 nanograms per deciliter are the most common levels.
According to the American Urology Association, in men, levels below 300 ng/dL should be classified as low T or hypogonadism.
Testosterone levels typically decrease with age, so its not unusual to have lower levels at an older age. In fact, 50% of men over age 80 may have low T levels.
Ask your doctor about testosterone tests if you suspect you have below-standard hormone levels or if you notice developmental issues in your children. A wide range of treatments are available.
Some treatments include testosterone pellet implants and an oral testosterone supplement approved by the Food and Drug Administration .
The most common treatment for low testosterone is testosterone replacement therapy . TRT is given as an injection, a skin patch, or a topical gel containing testosterone that replaces the testosterone missing from your body.
Though this treatment is common, TRT is known to have some risks and side effects, including:
Taking A Testosterone Test
Once the requisition has been received, patients visit their nearest lab for a blood test. A testosterone test should be scheduled early in the morning, between 7 and 10 AM, when levels are at their highest. Some tests may also require that patients stop using testosterone creams or vitamin supplements for 24 hours before the test. Review all provided directions carefully before the test.
The testosterone test consists of a blood draw. Blood is typically drawn from a vein on the inside of the elbow. The process usually lasts a couple of minutes.
After the test, blood samples will be sent to Private MD Labs for review. The results will be uploaded to a secure patient portal in about seven business days. All samples are analyzed at a CLIA Certified laboratory.
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Best For Affordability: Everlywell Testosterone Test
- Sample collection method: saliva
- Sends results in: 57 days
This Everlywell Testosterone Test requires a saliva sample. A person must register their kit when it arrives and provide a saliva sample within 30 minutes of waking up.
Users should then return it to one of Everlywells CLIA-certified labs using the pre-paid shipping label. This certification requires that labs meet high federal and state standards.
This test measures free testosterone. Everlywell writes this is because a person can sometimes have a healthy total testosterone level in their blood but abnormal free levels in their saliva. Doctors may then look at a persons symptoms to determine whether their total or free testosterone levels are causing them.
Individuals will receive their personalized results online within a few days after an in-state physician reviews them.
The company does not currently accept insurance but takes FSA and HSA payments.
A person can consider the following pros and cons:
Pros
Low Levels Of Testosterone In Women
Testosterone is produced by the ovaries and the adrenal glands in females, where it is then released into the bloodstream. Low testosterone levels in women may occur during primary or secondary ovarian failure. Oophorectomy may bring a significant decrease in testosterone levels.
According to some reports, menopause typically brings a decline in the production of testosterone. Since this hormone provides a woman with sexual desire, it is understandable that her libido would begin to fall in response. Decreased vaginal lubrication is also responsible for changing desires in terms of intimacy and sexuality. Intercourse may become painful and unenjoyable during this time.
When experiencing a decline in testosterone levels, women often suffer from many of the same symptoms as men with Low T, including:
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Pcod In Women And Testosterone: Are They Related
PCOD is a common hormonal imbalance that affects 1 in 5 women in India. It leads to the irregularity of the menstrual cycle, acne, hair loss, excessive facial hair, coarse skin, and problems in conceiving. Many women with PCOD are found to have an imbalance in certain hormones, increased levels of testosterone being important. Usually, testosterone values in PCOD will be less than or equal to 150 ng/dL . Testosterone values of 200 ng/dL may warrant your physician to consider the cause to be an ovarian or adrenal tumor.
However, it is not the sole diagnostic criteria for PCOD. Depending on your results, you might also need one of these other tests:
- Androstenedione : To detect how well your adrenal glands or ovaries are functioning.
- DHEAS Test: To diagnose any problems in your adrenal glands.
- Estrogen level: To detect more about infertility or menopause.
- Follicle-stimulating hormone or luteinizing hormone : To evaluate fertility in women. Book LH-FSH ratio test here.
- Prolactin test: To look for possible causes of breast discharge, missing periods, or decreased sex drive in women.
Any Special Preparations Needed What Might Affect Testosterone Test Results
There arent any special test preparations required. The sample is typically taken in the morning. As per experts, getting the test done late in the day may give your testosterone level lesser than it really is.However, some medicines including antifungals and hormone medicines can impact your test results. These include antifungal medicines such as ketoconazole and hormone medicines.
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How To Test Testosterone Levels
Watch out for warning signs and symptoms, such as acne breakouts, insomnia, sexual or erectile dysfunction, low libido, and drastic weight changes. If you notice any of these, do not hesitate to undergo a complete testosterone test.
A testosterone test consists of a regular blood examination. Your health care provider may advise you to take the test in the morning when your testosterone levels are at their peak.
To ensure the results are accurate, patients may have to temporarily discontinue the use of prescription medication, such as:
- Androgen/Estrogen Therapy Treatments
While the testosterone blood test is the most common way of testing testosterone levels to date, you can also assess them through the saliva.
How Do You Know If You Have Low Testosterone
The only way to know your testosterone level is with a blood test. You may talk to your healthcare provider about a testosterone level test if you have symptoms of low testosterone. Not everyone with low testosterone has symptoms but these can include low sex drive, hair loss, fertility problems or erectile dysfunction.
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How Do You Check Your Testosterone Level With Your Fingers
There is some evidence that the difference in length between the ring finger and index finger may indicate the level of testosterone in the body. If the ring finger is longer than the index finger, some believe, this indicates lower testosterone.
However, this method is no substitute for medical testing. Anyone who suspects that they have low testosterone should contact a doctor.
How Much Does A Testosterone Test Cost
Testosterone test costs can vary. If you go to your doctor, the test cost may vary depending on your insurance coverage.
If you opt for an at-home test, a singular testosterone test may cost between $50 and $70.
Some companies like LetsGetChecked and Everlywell offer full hormone tests that measure testosterone, as well as other hormones like cortisol and DHEA. But these tests are more expensive and can range from $130 to $200.
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What Is Being Tested
Testosterone is the main sex hormone produced in men. It helps make sperm, and it influences mens sex drive. It also helps create facial and body hair, and plays a part in the development of muscles. Men make testosterone mainly in their testes, but also in their adrenal glands.
Women make a much smaller amount of testosterone in their ovaries, adrenal glands and other body tissues. Some of this breaks down to form a type of oestrogen called oestradiol.
Some testosterone is found in the blood both of men and women. A blood test for testosterone will show how much is in your body.
Measure Your Body Fat
Men with higher amounts of body fatfrequently report lower testosterone levels and associated symptoms, owing tothe fact that the conversion of testosterone into estradiol increasessignificantly, as referenced by a study published in the Asian Journal ofAndrology in 2014.
Much of the production of this femalehormone occurs in fat cells where the highest density of the aromatase enzymeis present. In effect, fat cells are considered estrogen factories notbeneficial to your androgen profile.
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