Order a free testosterone test and check your level

A standard testosterone measurement often looks at the total. A large part of that, however, is bound to proteins and is not readily usable. Free testosterone shows how much is actually available to your body.

That can explain why your total testosterone looks normal while you still notice your recovery or energy falling short. The test gives you a data point, not a diagnosis, that you can discuss with a doctor alongside your symptoms and other values.

This test may suit men who:

• want to back up their recovery, energy or performance with data
• have a normal total testosterone but still experience symptoms
• want to record a baseline to compare later
• want to work purposefully on their hormonal balance

Free testosterone is often reviewed together with total testosterone and SHBG, so a doctor can place the values in context.

This test measures one specific biomarker in your blood:

• Free testosterone: the part of your testosterone that is not bound to SHBG or albumin and is therefore directly available to your tissues.

Your free testosterone is closely tied to your SHBG, because SHBG binds testosterone and helps determine how much stays free. You can read more about this marker on the page about free testosterone.

Your free testosterone can say something about how much testosterone is truly available to your muscles, your recovery and your energy. Because it depends on your SHBG, free testosterone can be low even when your total testosterone still looks normal.

This gives the test a different perspective than a total measurement alone. It remains a snapshot of a single marker, which a doctor interprets together with your wider picture.

For this test, blood is drawn at a certified sample point. There are more than 750 locations across the Netherlands, which you choose yourself after ordering.

You do not need to see your GP first; you pick a location and a time that suit you. The draw is done by trained staff and usually takes only a few minutes.

Testosterone follows a daily rhythm and is usually highest in the morning. A measurement early in the day therefore often gives the most usable picture.

The test can be useful when you are working purposefully on your recovery or performance, or when your total testosterone is normal but symptoms persist. A doctor can help judge whether the timing and context fit your situation.

Your result shows your free testosterone value alongside a reference range and a short explanation. What counts as a healthy value varies by lab, age and time of measurement, so numbers alone say little.

Many men want to know how their available testosterone is doing. A low or high value can point to something, but only a doctor can properly interpret your result.

For this test you usually do not need to fast. Because testosterone is highest in the morning, a blood draw early in the day is often advised.

If you are ill, heavily overtrained or have slept poorly, that can temporarily affect your value. If you use medication or supplements that influence your hormones, ask your doctor whether that could affect your result.

Your results are available online within a few working days. You see your free testosterone, its reference range and a clear explanation.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.