Determination of total and free testosterone

In laboratory measurements of the level of testosterone, which is produced in men, it is possible not only to carry out diagnostics, but also therapeutic and prophylactic manipulations.

The hormone is produced from acetic acid and cholesterol in the ovaries. In small quantities, production occurs in the cortical layers of the adrenal glands and during peripheral metabolism. The hormone is almost completely transformed into 17-cell steroids in tissues and liver.

Two types of testosterone

To determine the difference between both types of tests, you need to know what it is and what function each type of testosterone performs.

Testosterone is generic and free what is the difference between them? Total testosterone is the main component that is produced by the ovaries or testes. It depends on the gender of the people. In small amounts, production takes place in the adrenal glands. The test for total testosterone tells about the level of this hormone in the human body.

The spikes in total testosterone levels have physiological or pathological causes.

At normal rates, there are differences in the level of this element, which is influenced by the age of people, time of day and year, quality of life, physical activity, dietary intake, bad habits, and the use of medicines. When the amount of the total substance fluctuates, a malfunction of the body may occur, which leads to disastrous outcomes and requires immediate treatment.

For example, if total testosterone is found in insufficient quantities, then this may threaten:

• cardiovascular diseases;
• obese;
• impotence;
• decreased bone density.

When a man's total testosterone test has increased results, it threatens prostate cancer, male infertility, liver disease.

Why androgen levels are declining

Medicine confirms the fact that mature athletes rarely suffer from androgen deficiency.

Reasons for a decrease in hormone levels:

• Harmful work. free testosterone, as well as total testosterone, decreases in those men who work in hazardous industries, for example, with radioactive radiation.
• Not a healthy diet. A man should not eat fatty foods and carbohydrates. These are semi-finished products, smoked, sausage, sweet foods, soda, baked goods.
• Incorrect lifestyle. Androgynous deficiency develops due to bad habits.
• Overweight. Excess body weight provokes the production of estrogen, while the production of testosterone decreases. There is a prevalence of female sex hormones over male.
• A man needs physical activity. In its absence, androgens in the plasma lower the normal level. Medicine recommends going to sports classes three times a week, or visiting a gym, swimming pool. You can simply include morning exercises, brisk walking or jogging in your daily schedule.
• Diseases of an infectious nature.
• Hypertension and pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
• Psycho-emotional state (stress, depression, psychological trauma).

There was also a negative effect on the level of the male hormone, the use of certain medications. For example, tranquilizers, antihypertensives, anabolics, steroids.

Hormonal treatment is dangerous because after it the synthesis of production in the body stops or hormones are produced in considerable quantities. This explains the fact that it is prohibited to use anabolic steroids unnecessarily.

All testosterone is divided into active and passive. So the free form of testosterone is a biologically active substance, which contains only 3.5% of the free form of testosterone. This is the maximum, bioavailable fraction of the hormone. Secondary signs include sexual desire, body composition, and fertility. With a low level of free male hormone, an irregular body structure develops, with increased testosterone in men, baldness and other pathologies are observed.

To simply explain the differences between the two forms, it looks like this. For example, when a drug is taken with some kind of active substance, then when it enters the body, the tablet dissolves, and the active substance begins to act. That is, the main effect on the body occurs based on the level of free testosterone. This explains the fact which testosterone should be taken to identify pathological processes. The general indicator of the male hormone speaks only of the amount of substance in the body.

In what cases the delivery of one or another type of testosterone is prescribed

All patients have one question, for which it is necessary to control the level of biological composition.

When a specialist prescribes an analysis, he is guided by the very problem that made the patient seek help

Total testosterone is investigated in the following cases:

• decreased sex drive;
• lack of conception for a long period with regular unprotected sex;
• violation of sexual development in adolescence;
• the occurrence of endocrine imbalance;
• pathology of the urinary and genital area (chronic prostatitis, testicular tumor, adenoma);
• suspected chromosomal disease.

The study of free testosterone is recommended for erectile dysfunction, reduced potency, impotence, unrelated pathological, physiological processes.

The analysis is prescribed for suspected infertility, hormonal imbalance, andropause symptoms, as well as for acne rash during puberty and osteoporosis.

Comprehensive appointment for the delivery of tests

When receiving test results, the specialist compares the results obtained with the norm of the hormone level in which it should be present in one case or another. The age category of each patient is taken into account. If a difference with normal values is found, then this phenomenon warns of the possibility of the occurrence of various pathological processes that affect the patient's health.

Testosterone norm data for men:

Overall score

• From 18 to 55 years old - 11-33.5.
• From 50 to old age - 11 or more.

• From 18 to 55 years old - 8.9-43.
• From 50 to old age - 6.4-32.

Output

Analyzes of the total and free indicator of the male hormone must be passed to patients when diagnosing pathological processes, to control their therapeutic manipulations, as well as to carry out preventive health monitoring. There is a difference between examinations, which is determined by the specialist, choosing which test should be passed to the patient.

Using the results of total testosterone, the amount of substances in the body is determined. Analyzes for the free substance of the male hormone help to assess the biological active form of the hormone, since it is she who is responsible for its modification in the human body.

During the diagnosis of a patient, the doctor is guided by the general condition of the man, takes into account complaints, conducts a visual examination, prescribes general blood and urine tests. Sometimes patients are prescribed ultrasound examinations, MRI, TR-ultrasound. When there is doubt about a hormonal imbalance in a man's body, a study of the hormonal background is mandatory.