What is a testosterone test?
The testosterone test measures the amount of testosterone hormone in the blood. Its volume is measured with a measurement unit of nanograms per dl (ng / dL). This test is also known as ‘Serum testosterone test’.
Testosterone, an androgen, is also called sex hormone, which is produced in both men and women. It plays an important role in puberty and fertility. Along with this, testosterone also affects sexual desire.
Why testosterone test is done ?what is the purpose of testosterone test?What is a testosterone test done for?
Testosterone test in men is done for the following purposes:
1) To confirm if primary or secondary hypogonadism is suspected, it is a condition in which testosterone levels are abnormally low.
(Read more – What is male hypogonadism)
2) Testosterone test is also used to monitor the effect of testosterone replacement therapy.
3) Testosterone test is also used to evaluate the underlying causes of delayed puberty in boys.
Testosterone test in women is done for the following purposes:
In order to evaluate the causes of underlying hyperandrogenism, testosterone levels in this situation become abnormally high (high), the reasons for this may include:
Idiopathic hirsutism is one condition. In this condition, women start growing hair on the face like men in an unusual way.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia ais another conditionThis is a birthmark in which the adrenal glands are enlarged.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is the next condition.This is a hormone disorientation, in which the cysts develop in the ovaries in an unusual way and testosterone levels begin to rise. Testosterone sometimes will produce tumors in the adrenal gland or ovary This test is also used to detect testosterone levels in women when testosterone deficiency is suspected.In women, this test is not commonly used to monitor the effects of testosterone replacement therapy.
What to consider before doing a test?There may be some types of drugs that can alter testosterone test results by affecting testosterone levels. If you take any type of medicine, supplement or herbal product, it is necessary to tell the doctor about it before the test. You may be asked to skip certain types of medications before a test.
Some medications and treatments that may affect your test results include:
Androgen therapy
Estrogen therapy,
Steroids
Anticonvulsants
Barbiturates
Clomiphene
The doctor may prescribe a specific time to do your test. Because hormone levels are high in the morning, this test is usually done between 7 am and 10 am.Doctors can also ask you to have a test again and again, in which hormone changes can be detected in the day-to-day functioning.
What is done during a testosterone test?
A test sample is required to take a blood sample (blood test), this may include the following procedure.Where need to be injected to remove blood, the place is first cleaned by antiseptic. Needles are often placed in the inner part of the elbow or the back of the hand to extract a sample of blood.After that the elastic band or bandage is tied on the upper part of the arm, due to which the veins start to swell.
A needle is then inserted into the vein.After the blood sample is removed, the needle is removed from the vein, the elastic band is also opened.The blood drawn from the vein is then filled into a tube or syringe attached to the needle.Some pain or discomfort may be felt while removing the sample. There is a prickling or burning sensation during needling. Pain can be reduced by keeping your arm relaxed and calm during needling. Even after exiting the needle, you may feel some discomfort for some time, but it resolves in no time.
What is done after a testosterone test?
After removing the needle, a slight pressure should be placed on that place, in doing so, bleeding can be prevented and scarring can also be prevented. Bandage is applied for some time after applying pressure from thumb etc. There may be some mild discomfort and scarring at the place of the needle.
What are the risks of testosterone test?
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Some of the risks associated with taking a blood sample include:
To find a vein, apply needle in many places
Excessive bleeding,
Head spinning,
Fainting,
Hematoma, in which blood accumulates under the skin.
Infection, etc.
(Read more – Candida infection treatment)What does the testosterone test result mean?
Normal testosterone result in adult male:
249 to 836 nanograms per dl (ng / dL) from age 19 to 49
193 to 740 nanograms per dl in people 50 or older
Normal testosterone results in adult women:
8 to 48 nanograms per dl in women ages 19 to 49
2 to 41 nanograms per dl in women 50 or above
Certain health conditions, injuries and certain types of medications can reduce testosterone levels. Testosterone levels naturally decline with age. Low testosterone levels in men also affect their mood, sex drive and body.
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The following might be the reasons for falling testosterone levels:
Any serious illness,
If the pituitary gland does not make all or some of the hormones in normal amounts,
Problems in the part of the brain that regulates hormones
Failure of thyroid to work properly (read more – treatment of thyroid)
Delay in puberty,
Testicular diseases, (testicular cancer, testicular inflammation, infection or injury, etc.) (read more – treatment of testicular inflammation)
A tumor in the pituitary cells, which produces a large amount of hormones.
Obesity in the body, etc.
Increased testosterone levels may caused by
Androgen resistance, for male hormone action
Tumors in the ovaries,
Testicular cancer
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia,
Intake of drugs that increase testosterone levels, etc.
When should a testosterone test be done?
If you notice signs of abnormal hormone production (Androgen), then a testosterone test should be done.In men, most of the body’s testosterone is produced by the testes. They are often examined to check for signs of abnormal testosterone levels:
Delay or premature onset of puberty in boys,
Infertility, (read more – cure infertility)
Erectile Dysfunction, (Read more – Remedy for Erectile Dysfunction)
Low levels of sexual interest,
Bones thin (in men),
Low sperm count,
Decrease in sex drive,
Decreased muscle function, (read more – treatment of muscle pain)
Obesity or increasing the size of breasts, etc.
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Most of the body’s hormones in women are produced by the ovaries. They are often tested to check for signs of abnormally rising testosterone levels:
Grain or oily skin on the face (read more – home remedies for oily skin)
Voice changes,
Breast Size Incidence, (Read more – Home remedies to increase breast)
Excess hair growth (thick and dark hair growing around the mustache, beard, chest and inner thighs)
The size of the clitoris increases,
Non-menstrual periods or irregular periods (Read more – Sex during menstruation)
Baldness or thinning of hair, etc.