Measure Your Free Testosterone Level

About Testosterone

Testosterone is commonly thought of as a “male sex hormone," and certainly male characteristics are the result of testosterone production in the body. However, women also produce testosterone and need healthy levels of it for hormone balance. From libido to facial hair to muscle mass to voice depth to energy levels and more, this sex hormone is vital for men, and low levels of testosterone or “low T,” may cause troubling health challenges.

For those men who are interested in understanding their testosterone levels, we offer an at-home testosterone panel as well as other lab tests like the Men’s Health Test and the Metabolism Test.

Your results will provide detailed information on whether your testosterone level is normal, low, or high compared to reference ranges in your age group.

EverlyWell will provide evidence-based guidance about lifestyle changes you can make that can positively impact your results and more importantly your health. It's always a great idea to share your results with your doctor, and this testosterone panel gives you a head start.

Common signs of low testosterone

• Depression
• Lowered Self-Confidence
• Poor Concentration
• Bad Sleep
• Lowered Energy Levels
• Body Fat Increase & Muscle Mass Decrease
• Low Sex Drive
• Osteoporosis/brittle bones/bone breaks

Symptoms of low testosterone in men

• Depressed mood
• Poor concentration
• Increased body fat
• Decreased physical performance
• Reduced muscle mass
• Reduced sexual desire
• Decreased spontaneous erections
• Hair loss

What’s the difference between a testosterone blood test and a saliva test?

Both blood tests and saliva tests are well-established techniques for clinically measuring testosterone levels in men and women. But there are a few differences between these two testing methods:

• Sample type - Testosterone is circulated throughout your body by the bloodstream, and a fraction of it enters your saliva. Blood tests measure testosterone levels in a sample of blood, but saliva tests use a sample of saliva.
• Collection process - Blood samples are often collected through a blood draw (venipuncture), while saliva samples are often much easier to collect: you just spit into a tube, for example.
• Units of measure - Blood tests use nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). Saliva tests (like EverlyWell’s Testosterone Test) use picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). For comparison, 1 ng/dL = 10 pg/mL, so the numerical results from two different tests that use different types of samples (and different units of measurement) will look completely different. It doesn’t mean either test is inaccurate.

So how is testosterone measured by this test?

The EverlyWell at-home Testosterone Test uses a saliva sample – not a blood sample – and reports results in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). This test measures your free testosterone levels, instead of total testosterone.

What’s the difference between a total testosterone test and a free testosterone test?

Some of the testosterone in the body circulates freely, but much of it is bound to other proteins in the bloodstream like sex hormone-binding globulin (or SHBG). Testosterone that circulates freely (unbound) is known as free testosterone. (In general, higher SHBG levels correspond to lower levels of free testosterone.)

Total testosterone, on the other hand, represents the total amount of testosterone in the blood – both free and bound. So your total testosterone levels should be higher than your free testosterone levels.

While a total testosterone panel measures your total testosterone, the EverlyWell Testosterone Test measures your free testosterone. Research shows that free T levels can be a better predictor of testosterone deficiency symptoms compared to total testosterone levels.

For example, in one study, “free testosterone correlated with erectile dysfunction severity among young men with normal total testosterone.” (Source: International Journal of Impotence Research, 2019)

Learn more: Testing Your Testosterone Levels? Know The Difference Between Free T And Total T

Why is testosterone considered a male sex hormone?

Testosterone is widely regarded as a “male sex hormone.” This is because testosterone drives the development of many sexual characteristics in men, such as testes and sperm – as well as secondary characteristics like male hair patterns on the body.

However, testosterone is also a very important hormone for women. For example, testosterone in women can contribute to the maintenance and growth of bones, increases in muscle mass, decreases in body fat, and more.

Learn more about testosterone levels in men: Low Testosterone Levels in Men: Causes and Symptoms

Learn more about testosterone levels in women: Unhealthy Testosterone Levels In Women: Causes and Symptoms

Can this test help me see if my testosterone supplements (like gels or implants) are working?

This test can help you monitor your testosterone levels, so it’s an easy, reliable way to track the effectiveness of different kinds of testosterone therapy you may be undergoing.

How is testosterone related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women?

Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with high levels of testosterone in women. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, experience a hormone imbalance. PCOS affects up to 1 in 10 women between the ages of 15 and 44. Symptoms can include irregular menstrual periods, abnormal amounts of hair on the face or chin, acne, hair loss and male-pattern baldness, weight gain, and more.