Testosterone Test Kit

The testosterone kit is a home pin-prick blood test kit used to check the level of total testosterone in the blood. The test will tell you if your testosterone levels are within the normal range or not.

In men, testosterone is responsible for:

• The growth of body hair
• The growth of the penis during puberty
• Deepening of the voice during puberty
• Muscle development
• Sex drive
• Sexual function

Testosterone levels can fluctuate throughout the day even in healthy males. So, it’s important that the test is carried out at the correct time of day. For example, testosterone levels are usually at their highest in the morning and at their lowest in the late afternoon or evening.

Testosterone levels decline with age, too. In men, it can fall at a rate of 1-2% each year from the age of 40.

You may want to consider getting a testosterone test if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Low sex drive
• Changes to sexual performance e.g. erectile dysfunction
• Irritability
• Depression
• Reduced motivation
• Low energy levels
• Reduced muscle mass
• Increased fat levels
• Reduced bone density

You may want to consider a testosterone kit if you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED). ED is also known as ‘impotence’ and is defined as not being able to get or keep an erection. ED is a relatively common condition which affects 50% of men aged between 40 and 70. But, low testosterone is rare, even in men with ED: 4% for men under 50 and 9% for men over 50.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is only recommended if the test reveals that you’re deficient in the hormone (your total testosterone level is less than 8 nmol/L or in some cases if you have a borderline level of 8-12 nmol/L). These ranges may vary slightly depending on the laboratory that processes your result.

If your results indicate you have a deficient or borderline total testosterone level, then you’ll need to visit your doctor for further tests to find the cause. You will need to talk to your GP or specialist before starting TRT as this will depend on your symptoms and whether you plan to have children in the future. Once you’ve been using your TRT for at least 12 months and you’re having regular check ups with your doctor, you’ll be able to reorder from us.

Testosterone is given to men who are deficient, and it can have benefits such as:

• Increased bone strength
• Increased sexual function
• Improved sex drive
• Increased muscle strength

As well as TRT, you may find making some lifestyle changes may help to relieve your symptoms. For example, ED or a low sex drive can be caused by:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression

So, changes to your lifestyle can help, for example:

• Increasing physical exercise
• Improving your diet
• Quitting smoking
• Reducing alcohol intake

Although testosterone can be linked to fertility, the testosterone test we provide can’t be used to test for fertility.

Male fertility tests look at semen and the quality of a male’s sperm. The test can be carried out at home or in a clinic. The sample is sent away to a lab where scientists analyse it. They will check sperm for:

• Density
• Shape
• Motility (how well they move about)

All of these can affect the quality of sperm and the individual’s fertility. Home test kits consider a low sperm count as anything under 20 million sperm per millilitre, but recent international guidelines state a sperm count above 15 million sperm per millilitre as normal.

Several factors can affect male fertility:

• A hormone imbalance
• Infections, like gonorrhoea or chlamydia
• Prostatitis
• Enlarged veins in the testicles
• Genetic problems, like Klinefelter syndrome
• Medication
• Excessive alcohol consumption

If you’re worried about your fertility, you should speak to your GP who can arrange a semen analysis or talk you through other options like lifestyle changes, if appropriate.