Testosterone test kit

The testosterone test kit is an accurate way to measure your total testosterone (all the testosterone in your blood that’s found freely in the blood and bound to proteins) at home without seeing your doctor in person. Testosterone is the main sex hormone in men and has several important roles in the body. It can influence your:

• sex drive and function
• energy levels
• muscle strength and mass

By providing a small blood sample, our partner lab can then work out whether your levels are low, normal, or high. If they are low and you are known to have previously been diagnosed with low testosterone, our doctors can prescribe repeat testosterone treatment to help manage the symptoms you may be getting and help bring your levels back to normal.

However, you must have been prescribed it previously by your doctor, as we can only provide repeat prescriptions. We cannot start testosterone therapy for the first time, but if our doctors think you need it, we can provide information on what to do next.

If your testosterone levels are low, it can mean that your testicles are not making enough of the hormone, also known as hypogonadism or testosterone deficiency, which can lead to physical and emotional symptoms, including:

• erectile dysfunction
• mood changes
• depression
• loss of muscle mass
• low sex drive
• weight gain
• the growth of breast tissue
• reduced beard and body hair growth
• difficulty concentrating

Testosterone production rises during puberty and helps to build muscle strength and mass, develop body hair, and make sperm. After the age of 30, testosterone in men starts to decline, and older men tend to have lower testosterone levels than younger men. It’s estimated that between 10 and 40% of men are affected by low testosterone levels.

The home testosterone test kit comes with everything you need to provide a small sample of blood using a finger-prick device called a lancet. Once you have collected your blood sample, you should post it back to our partner lab for analysis as soon as possible. They will measure the total testosterone in your blood to check whether your levels are high, normal, or low.

It is best to collect your sample as soon as you wake up in the morning and before you eat because your body naturally makes more testosterone at this time. So, collecting your blood sample at this time will give the most accurate results.

You should consider a home testosterone test if you have any symptoms of low testosterone, like a low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, infertility, or signs of a hormonal imbalance. If you are getting any of the following symptoms and are worried that your testosterone levels may be low, request a test or speak to a doctor:

• fatigue or low energy levels
• loss of muscle mass or strength
• weight gain or increased body fat
• reduced hair growth on the face and body
• depression
• mood swings
• bone density loss or osteoporosis

You might consider getting a testosterone level test if you have any of the following medical conditions:

• history of infertility
• diabetes
• HIV or AIDS
• pituitary gland disorders
• early or delayed puberty
• chronic drug use

When you receive your results via your patient account, they will tell you whether your testosterone levels are high, low, or normal. One of our doctors has already reviewed your results and provided advice on what you should do next.

If your sample shows you have low testosterone levels, you will need to repeat the test after 4 weeks to see if they are still low. If they are, your doctor may recommend further blood tests and testosterone replacement therapy if you are getting symptoms.

Testosterone ranges for men (according to statistics provided by our partner laboratory, TDL) are:

If the testosterone test comes back with a low testosterone result, it’s likely that your body is not making enough of this hormone, which could be impacting your quality of life. Testosterone replacement therapy may help, but at Asda Online Doctor, our doctors are unable to start treatment.

Instead, we can provide treatment with testosterone replacement therapy for men who have been diagnosed with and investigated for testosterone deficiency and who are already taking treatment and have ongoing monitoring for this.

Can untreated low testosterone be dangerous?

It’s important to get treatment if your testosterone levels are low because, left untreated, it can increase the chance of other health conditions, like:

• heart disease
• liver problems
• weak bones (osteoporosis)
• fluid retention
• sleep apnoea

More worryingly, men with the lowest testosterone levels have a 40% greater chance of dying than those with higher levels, so getting tested is important. Alongside your health, low testosterone levels can also reduce your quality of life because they can affect your:

• mood
• relationships
• sex life
• energy levels
• memory
• concentration

If you have already been diagnosed with low testosterone levels and have been prescribed testosterone replacement therapy, you can request repeat treatment from us. At Asda Online Doctor, our doctors can prescribe a range of treatments.

Tostran gel

Tostran gel contains 2% testosterone and can be prescribed if you have been diagnosed with hypogonadism. It is applied to your skin and delivers testosterone into your bloodstream to help you achieve and maintain normal testosterone levels. Tostran gel can also be used alongside erectile dysfunction treatments like Viagra and Cialis, if needed.

Testogel

Testogel is another type of testosterone replacement therapy which is available in gel form. It is available in sachets or a pump. At Asda Online Doctor, we provide Testogel sachets. They are applied directly to the skin, and testosterone is delivered into the bloodstream to help your levels return to normal.