Male Hormone Profile

Albumin is the most abundant protein in blood plasma, produced by the liver. It plays a crucial role in maintaining blood volume and transporting hormones, vitamins, and other substances.

Low albumin levels can affect hormone transport and may indicate liver dysfunction or other health issues.

Albumin levels are important for accurately calculating free testosterone levels and understanding overall hormone balance.

DHEA-Sulphate is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and is a precursor to testosterone and other sex hormones.

DHEA levels naturally decline with age and can indicate adrenal function. Low levels may contribute to decreased energy, mood changes, and reduced muscle mass.

Measuring DHEA-S helps provide a complete picture of hormonal status and can help identify adrenal insufficiency or other hormonal imbalances.

FSH works alongside LH to regulate male reproductive function and is essential for sperm production.

Abnormal FSH levels can indicate problems with fertility, testicular function, or pituitary gland function.

FSH testing is particularly important for men experiencing fertility issues or unexplained hormonal symptoms.

The Free Androgen Index (FAI) is a calculated ratio that estimates the amount of active testosterone in relation to SHBG.

FAI provides another way to assess testosterone status and can be particularly useful when total testosterone and SHBG results are borderline.

This index helps clinicians better understand the balance between bound and unbound testosterone in your system.

Free testosterone represents the biologically active portion of testosterone that is available to tissues and can exert hormonal effects.

While total testosterone gives the overall picture, free testosterone is often more clinically relevant as it represents the hormone that can actually work in your body.

This calculation is derived from total testosterone and SHBG levels to estimate the amount of unbound, active testosterone.

LH is produced by the pituitary gland and stimulates the testes to produce testosterone.

LH levels help determine whether low testosterone is due to problems with the testes (primary hypogonadism) or the pituitary gland (secondary hypogonadism).

This distinction is important for determining the appropriate treatment approach.

Oestradiol is the most active form of estrogen and is present in men in smaller amounts than in women, but it's still important for male health.

Men produce oestradiol from testosterone through an enzyme called aromatase. Proper oestradiol balance is important for bone health, brain function, and cardiovascular health.

Both high and low oestradiol levels can cause problems in men, including mood changes, sexual dysfunction, and metabolic issues.

Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that can affect testosterone production and sexual function when elevated.

High prolactin levels in men can cause low testosterone, erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, and even breast tissue development (gynecomastia).

Measuring prolactin helps identify potential pituitary problems and can explain certain hormonal symptoms.

SHBG is a protein that binds to testosterone, making it inactive. Higher SHBG levels mean less free testosterone is available.

SHBG levels can be affected by age, weight, insulin resistance, liver function, and other factors.

Understanding SHBG is crucial for interpreting testosterone results and determining the bioavailable hormone levels.

Total testosterone measures the overall amount of testosterone in your blood, including both free (active) and bound (inactive) forms.

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone responsible for developing and maintaining male characteristics, muscle mass, bone density, and sexual function.

Low testosterone levels can cause fatigue, decreased muscle mass, low mood, reduced libido, and other symptoms that significantly impact quality of life.