Testosterone and Cortisol Blood Test
    Testosterone and Cortisol Blood Test
    Testosterone and Cortisol Blood Test
    Testosterone and Cortisol Blood Test
    Testosterone and Cortisol Blood Test

Testosterone and Cortisol Blood Test

£72
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Measure your testosterone to cortisol ratio (T:C) - a sensitive test to identify possible overreaching and overtraining syndromes.

  • Results estimated in 3 working days
  • Convenient testing options
  • Bespoke doctor’s report
  • Free delivery

How do you want to take your sample?

  • 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   Venous
    +£35

  • Book a venous draw at home with a nurse Venous
    +£59

  • Self-arrange a professional sample collection Venous
    Free

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Is it for you?

Are you a strength or endurance athlete who wants to identify possible overreaching and overtraining syndromes?

The testosterone to cortisol (T:C) ratio is a good measure of whether you are recovering from your training. If your body does not sufficiently recover after exercise, you may experience a decline in performance, physiological stress, and emotional change.

Biomarker table

Adrenal hormones

Cortisol

Learn more
Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It is vital to survival given its role in functions such as immunity, regulating blood pressure and releasing insulin for blood sugar maintenance.

Hormones

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.

Testosterone : cortisol

Learn more
The Testosterone/Cortisol (T:C) ratio is a marker which shows promise in assessing whether athletes are recovering well after intense training. Testosterone is an anabolic hormone which helps to build muscle, produce red blood cells and increase aerobic metabolism in muscles. Cortisol is a catabolic hormone working antagonistically with testosterone, inhibiting protein synthesis and blocking anabolic signalling. The T:C ratio is more sensitive to the stresses of training than either measure alone. Over time it can be trended to see how well you are recovering.
Special instructions

How to prepare for your test

Prepare for your Testosterone and Cortisol Blood Test by following these instructions. Take your sample between 6am and 10am. If you have an unusual sleep pattern (eg shift worker) then take this test within 2 hours of waking. Corticosteroid medication can affect this test, ask your doctor whether to stop before testing. Avoid taking a finger-prick sample from a finger used to apply hormone gels/pessaries/patches in the past 4 weeks. Use gloves to apply these. Do not take biotin supplements for two days before this test, discuss this with your doctor if it is prescribed. 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.

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Dr Natasha Fernando

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Dr Asia Ahmed

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FAQs

What does testosterone do?

Testosterone is a hormone that causes male characteristics. For men, it regulates the sex drive and controls bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass, strength, and the production of red blood cells and sperm. Heavy alcohol use, liver disease, and using steroids can cause a decrease in testosterone levels. Women taking oestrogen therapy, however, may have increased testosterone levels.

What does cortisol do?

Cortisol is a steroid hormone, produced by the adrenal gland. It's vital for survival as it's involved in various functions such as immunity, regulating blood pressure, and releasing insulin for blood sugar maintenance. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone because it's secreted at higher levels during the body's fight or flight response to stress and is responsible for several stress-related changes in the body.

What is the testosterone to cortisol (T:C) ratio?

The testosterone to cortisol (T:C) ratio is a marker that shows promise in assessing whether athletes are recovering well after intense training, and raised cortisol can inhibit the production of testosterone. T:C ratio is more sensitive to the stresses of training than either measure alone. Over time, you can trend your results to see how well you are recovering.

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