Male Hormone Blood Test

£79.00

Check your levels of male and adrenal hormones that could be affecting your sex drive, mood, muscle mass, and energy levels, with our at-home male hormone blood test.

Results estimated in 2 working days

View 10 Biomarkers

How do you want to take your sample?

Please choose one option below
  • Collect your own finger-prick blood sample at home   Free

    We’ll send you everything you need to collect your blood sample from your finger at home.
  • Book a venous draw at a clinic   +£35.00

  • Book a venous draw at home with a nurse +£59.00

  • Self-arrange a professional sample collection Free

Male Hormone Blood Test

Find your nearest clinic
Key: You are here Appointment required Walk-in service

Is it for you?

Are you experiencing symptoms such as reduced interest in sex, erectile dysfunction, or reduced muscle mass, and want to investigate the cause? Maybe you’re trying or planning to have children and want to explore whether a hormonal imbalance could be affecting your fertility.

Our male hormone test gives you a comprehensive breakdown of the major male hormones and checks whether your levels are in the normal range for your age. Regular testing lets you monitor your hormone levels and understand how they change over time.

Biomarker table

Adrenal hormones

DHEA sulphate

Learn more

DHEAS is the sulphated form of DHEA, a hormone which is produced by the adrenal glands and is responsible for male characteristics in both men and women. DHEAS gradually declines from the age of 30 onwards.

Hormones

FSH

Learn more

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is produced in the pituitary gland and is important for women in the production of eggs by the ovaries and for men in the production of sperm. In the first half of the menstrual cycle in women, FSH stimulates the enlargement of follicles within the ovaries. Each of these follicles will help to increase oestradiol levels. One follicle will become dominant and will be released by the ovary (ovulation), after which follicle stimulating hormone levels drop during the second half of the menstrual cycle. In men, FSH acts on the seminiferous tubules of the testicles where they stimulate immature sperm cells to develop into mature sperm.

LH

Learn more

Luteinising Hormone (LH) is produced by the pituitary gland and is important for male and female fertility. In women it governs the menstrual cycle, peaking before ovulation. In men it stimulates the production of testosterone.

Oestradiol

Learn more

Oestradiol is a female steroid hormone, produced in the ovaries of women and to a much lesser extent in the testes of men. It is the strongest of three oestrogens and is responsible for the female reproductive system as well as the growth of breast tissue and bone thickness. In pre-menopausal women, oestradiol levels vary throughout the monthly cycle, peaking at ovulation. In women, oestradiol levels decline with age, culminating with the menopause when the ovaries stop producing eggs. Low oestradiol can cause many symptoms associated with the menopause, including hot flushes, night sweats and mood swings. Low oestradiol can also cause osteoporosis.

Testosterone

Learn more

Testosterone is a hormone that causes male characteristics. For men, it helps to regulate sex drive and has a role in controlling bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass, strength and the production of red blood cells and sperm. Testosterone is produced in the testicles of men and, in much smaller amounts, in the ovaries of women. Testosterone levels in men naturally decline after the age of 30, although lower than normal levels can occur at any age and can cause low libido, erectile dysfunction, difficulty in gaining and maintaining muscle mass and lack of energy. Although women have much lower amounts of testosterone than men, it is important for much the same reasons, playing a role in libido, the distribution of muscle and fat and the formation of red blood cells. All laboratories will slightly differ in the reference ranges they apply because they are based on the population they are testing. The normal range is set so that 95% of men will fall into it. For greater consistency, we use the guidance from the British Society for Sexual Medicine (BSSM) which advises that low testosterone can be diagnosed when testosterone is consistently below the reference range, and that levels below 12 nmol/L could also be considered low, especially in men who also report symptoms of low testosterone or who have low levels of free testosterone.

Free testosterone - calc

Learn more

Most testosterone circulating in the blood is bound to proteins, in particular SHBG and albumin; only 2-3 % of testosterone is free and available to cells. This test uses an algorithm to calculate the level of free or unbound testosterone in relation to total testosterone, SHBG and albumin.

Free androgen index

Learn more

The free androgen index (FAI) is a calculation used to determine the amount of testosterone which is free (unbound) in the bloodstream. Most testosterone is bound to proteins sex hormone binding globulin and albumin and is not available to interact with the body's cells. The FAI is a calculation based on the ratio of testosterone and SHBG and is a measure of the amount of testosterone that is available to act on the body's tissues. The free androgen index is used in women to assess the likelihood of polycystic ovarian syndrome. In men, free testosterone gives a better indication of testosterone status.

Prolactin

Learn more

Prolactin is a hormone which is produced in the pituitary gland and plays a role in reproductive health. Its primary purpose is to stimulate milk production after childbirth, and in pregnant and breastfeeding women prolactin levels can soar.

Proteins

Albumin

Learn more

Albumin is a protein which is made mainly in the liver. It helps to exert the osmotic pressure which holds water within the blood. It also helps carry nutrients and medications and other substances through the blood and is important for tissue growth and healing. Albumin also carries hormones around the body, therefore measuring the amount of albumin in the blood can help us calculate how much hormone is available to your tissues.

SHBG

Learn more

SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) is a protein which transports the sex hormones (testosterone, oestrogen and dihydrotestosterone (DHT)) in the blood.Hormones which are bound to SHBG are inactive which means that they are unavailable to your cells. Measuring the level of SHBG in your blood gives important information about your levels of free or unbound hormones which are biologically active and available for use.
Special instructions

How to prepare for your test

Prepare for your Male Hormone Blood Test by following these instructions. Please take your sample before 10am. Hormonal contraception can affect the results of this test. Taking a break from this and waiting for your periods to restart before your blood test will give more accurate results. If you use hormone gels, pessaries, patches, or tablets, we strongly recommend selecting a venous sample to minimise contamination sometimes seen with finger-prick tests. Otherwise, administer any hormone supplements using gloves, and make sure your fingers have not been in contact with hormone supplements for at least four weeks before taking the test. Hormones can be absorbed deep within the skin even after minimal contact and remain there for weeks despite vigorous handwashing. Do not take biotin supplements for two days before this test, discuss this with your doctor if it is prescribed. If you are a woman take this test two to five days after the start of your period, ideally on day three. It can be taken any time if you do not have periods.

Blood testing made easy

How it works

Your personalised, actionable health results are only a few clicks away. Order your test, take and post your sample, then view your results online with our doctors' comments.

Your results, simplified

Track, improve, and monitor your health over time

MyMedichecks is your personal online dashboard where you can view your results, access clear and simple explanations about individual health markers, monitor changes in your health, and securely store information about your medical history, lifestyle, and vital statistics.

FAQs

What are male hormones?

Male hormones are chemicals that coordinate different functions in your body by carrying messages to your organs, skin, muscles, and other tissues. Although male hormones are mostly associated with fertility, they play a vital role in your overall health and wellbeing.

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone. It’s responsible for male characteristics, and helps regulate sex drive, muscle and bone mass, fat distribution, and the production of red blood cells and sperm.

Other hormones that play an important role in male health include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which is crucial for healthy sperm production, and luteinising hormone (LH) which helps make testosterone.

What is a male hormone test?

Male hormones work together in a complex network. So, if one or more of your levels is outside the normal range, it can impact other hormones in your body. This can affect your physical and mental health.

That’s why our male hormone imbalance test measures testosterone alongside other key hormones that can influence its levels. These include LH, FSH, prolactin, and DHEA sulphate, which your body uses to make testosterone. It also measures oestradiol, which influences sexual function and is essential for sperm production.

Our male hormone check gives a thorough overview of your hormone health, which may help explain causes of symptoms like low sex drive, mood changes, or low energy. 

What are the symptoms of male hormone imbalance?

The symptoms of a male hormone imbalance include difficulty getting or keeping an erection (erectile dysfunction), loss of interest in sex (low libido), loss of muscle mass, an increase in abdominal fat, mood changes, lack of energy, and difficulty sleeping.

The good news is that there are many ways you can improve your overall health, which could help keep your hormones balanced. These include maintaining a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet.

Does this test measure free or total testosterone?

Most of the testosterone circulating in your blood is bound to proteins (particularly SHBG and albumin). This is known as bound testosterone and isn’t available for your cells to use.

To give a more accurate picture of your testosterone status, our Male Hormone Blood Test calculates your level of free (or unbound) testosterone. This is based on your total testosterone level, and your levels of SHBG and albumin. Your free testosterone level tells you the amount of testosterone that’s available for your body to use.

Can this test measure high levels of testosterone?

Most testosterone tests set an upper detection limit of 52 nmol/L. If your result is higher than this, the lab will attempt a second measurement to get an actual reading, providing there’s enough sample volume available.

For this reason, we recommend taking a venous sample if you’re expecting an abnormally high result (for example, if you take high doses of testosterone).

What happens when a man’s testosterone is low?

Testosterone deficiency in males (hypogonadism) can significantly affect your health and wellbeing. Symptoms can include mood changes, reduced sex drive, and fatigue.

Testosterone levels in males naturally decline with age. This is sometimes called male menopause (or manopause), although it’s a far more gradual process than the decline in hormones in female menopause. Some men are born with testosterone deficiency, and a severe and sudden drop in testosterone levels can sometimes happen in men, but this is uncommon.

What causes a male hormone imbalance?

There are many reasons why you might experience a hormone imbalance. Age can play a part, as testosterone levels in men naturally decline after the age of 30. But lower-than-normal levels can occur at any age.

Lifestyle factors such as a poor diet, being overweight, too little or too much exercise, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and chronic stress can cause a hormone imbalance.

Medical conditions can also play a part — these include hypogonadism (where the testicles don’t make enough testosterone), type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and tumours that affect areas responsible for hormone production like the pituitary gland. Other possible causes include overuse of steroids and injury or damage to the testes.

How can I treat a male hormone imbalance?

In some cases, healthy lifestyle changes may help improve a hormone imbalance. These include eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, taking regular exercise, getting enough quality sleep, and managing stress.

Your doctor may recommend testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), which can help reduce the symptoms of low testosterone. TRT is available in different forms including injections, skin gels or patches, and oral tablets. If you’re taking TRT and want to monitor your testosterone levels, try our Advanced TRT Blood Test.

Limitations of the test

Read before you order:

There's a maximum level of testosterone that this test can detect. If you take medications or supplements that boost testosterone, your level might exceed this limit. But, providing your sample is sufficient, we can dilute it to measure even higher levels. So, this limit is unlikely to affect your results.

There are many harmless causes of a raised prolactin level, including activities before the sample is taken, certain medications, and the time of blood draw. Therefore, a high proportion of results are raised (over a quarter). Our doctors may advise you to repeat your sample or visit your GP for further assessment if it’s appropriate.

Our latest customer reviews