Testosterone
The headline androgen — but only useful when read alongside SHBG, LH and FSH.
What it is
Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, produced mostly in the Leydig cells of the testes under signal from luteinising hormone (LH). Roughly 98% of circulating testosterone is bound to proteins (mainly SHBG and albumin); the remaining ~2% is the free, biologically active fraction.
Why it matters
Testosterone drives libido, muscle mass, bone density, mood and — together with FSH — spermatogenesis. A single total-T number rarely answers the clinical question on its own. The same total-T value can mean very different things depending on SHBG and the LH context.
Adult male reference range
Total testosterone in adult men typically sits between 264–916 ng/dL (9.2–31.8 nmol/L). Calculated free testosterone runs ~9–30 ng/dL. Values are diurnal and highest before 10 am.
Role on the panel
On the Hormone Panel 01, Total + Free Testosterone are read against SHBG, LH and FSH so you see whether a low value reflects a binding-protein artefact, a primary testicular issue, or a pituitary signal problem.
When it reads low
Low testosterone with elevated LH suggests primary hypogonadism (testicular). Low testosterone with low or normal LH suggests a secondary (pituitary or hypothalamic) cause. Always retest before acting.
When it reads high
Elevated testosterone in a non-supplementing man is uncommon and warrants investigation — exogenous androgen use, adrenal pathology and rare tumours can drive it.
Common questions about this marker.
Order the Hormone Panel 01.
All six markers, one finger-prick, ISO-certified German lab. Physician review and a plain-language report in 3–5 working days.