For men, testosterone is a key component in ensuring you maintain a level of health that enables you to live with a level of vigor, focus and energy. That being said, testosterone is also a key component for women, albeit it is required to a much smaller degree.
At Official Rapid Tests, we make it simple for people to get connected with the testing services that they need. With over 30 types of tests available, you can administer at-home tests from anything from a diabetes blood test kit, to the testosterone test kit we’ll be addressing here in this blog.
Why is testosterone important?
Testosterone is a sex hormone that plays an important role in the body. In men, it’s thought to regulate sex drive (libido), bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass and strength, and the production of red blood cells and sperm.
A small amount of circulating testosterone is converted to estradiol, a form of estrogen. As men age, they often make less testosterone, and so they produce less estradiol as well. Thus, changes often attributed to testosterone deficiency might be partly or entirely due to the accompanying decline in estradiol. (Obtained from the National Institute of Health)
Symptoms of Low testosterone
There are several indicators that a man has low testosterone levels, so if you are experiencing any of the following, you should take a testosterone test to find the cause of your symptoms:
- Low sex drive (libido)
- Erectile dysfunction
- Lower sperm count
- Tiredness
- Depression
- Reduced muscle mass
After 30, men’s testosterone levels naturally decrease, so some loss of sexual desire or feeling tired is perfectly natural. However, having little to no sex drive as well as feelings of fatigue or depression can be a good sign that you have low levels of testosterone. To find out if they are dangerously low levels, you should take a testosterone test, so you know if you require any further treatment.
As testosterone levels drop as you age, you should speak to a medical practitioner about your exact circumstances, although, a normal range of testosterone in adult men is between 300 and 1200 ng/dL.
Consequences of low testosterone in males
Since testosterone is so important for our physical health, keeping our bones and muscle strong, not having enough testosterone can have long-term health consequences.
Without sufficient testosterone, bones become weaker and muscle mass is lost, so there is an increased risk of injury in day-to-day activities as well as loss in performance during exercise with a potential for injury.
Many people worry that having low levels of testosterone means they’re infertile, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Low levels of testosterone mean fewer sperm are produced in the testicles, so conception may be more difficult due to the lower sperm count.
But even men with low sperm counts can conceive, it just might take a little longer than anticipated.
Where to buy testosterone test UK
You can buy a testosterone test directly from us at Official Rapid Tests. At Official Rapid Tests, we provide an accessible and easy-to-use range of home testing kits.
Our testosterone blood test is essential for helping you to understand what your levels are like, and how these compare to what the levels should be. Our convenient and easy-to-use test kit allows you to measure this and take charge of your health by making changes to improve your body’s testosterone levels.
25% of men over the age of 30 have lower testosterone levels, and these will significantly reduce over time. What’s more, 30% of obese men also suffer from low testosterone levels. Taking our test is going to help determine your testosterone levels and figure out ways of increasing or decreasing them over time.
So with that in mind, click here to order your testosterone test kit!
Can I get testosterone tests from the NHS?
If you have symptoms that align with androgen deficiencies, then you will be offered to take a testosterone test from the NHS.
Some of the symptoms of androgen deficiency include:
- reduced libido
- hot flushes/sweating
- Gynecomastia
- lethargy/fatigue
- depression
- reduced muscle mass and strength
- increased body fat, around the abdomen
- weaker erections and orgasms
- reduced amount of ejaculate
- loss of body hair
- reduced bone mass, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.
Types of testosterone tests
To measure your testosterone levels, you’ll need to take a blood test. You can either call your GP and ask for a testosterone blood test to be performed in the practice - although they may require a prior appointment to assess the medical necessity of the test - or you can simply purchase a testosterone blood test to do yourself at home.
Two common testosterone tests are:
If you have your blood test done at the doctor’s office, you’ll have your blood drawn with a needle, or if you do it yourself at home, you’ll be sent a lancet in your test kit to prick your finger and draw blood for you to collect in a small plastic vial. Just send the sample back to the lab in the prepaid post and you’ll have your results back within 2 working days.
The laboratory will send your results back via a secure email or they will be made available to view in the company’s app, and you’ll be given information on how to interpret your results.
If your test results are outside of the normal range, you should make an appointment with your doctor to discuss treatment plans and the possible cause of your testosterone abnormality.
- From age 13 to 17, boys have on average 200 to 500 ng/dL
- Over the age of 17, men have on average 300 to 1200 ng/dL
If you’ve had gender reassignment surgery or undergone hormone replacement therapy, you should speak to your doctor about your symptoms and testosterone levels in your particular case.
How can I naturally increase my testosterone?
Please note that trying these methods together as opposed to individually, will result in a better chance of your testosterone noticeably increasing.
- Exercise, particularly weightlifting and HIIT (High-intensity interval training) has been shown to have a positive effect on testosterone levels.
- Have a balanced diet that contains protein, carbs and fats, full of whole foods that aren’t too processed.
- Manage your stress. Long-term Stress affects your cortisol levels, which can negatively affect your testosterone levels.
- Increase Vitamin D intake. Vitamin D intake can be done via supplementation, diet, but most importantly, exposure to sunlight.
- Consider supplements directly associated to testosterone development such a s zinc supplementation.
- Get enough sleep. We know everybody’s body clock is different, but having a full, undisturbed night’s sleep regularly will help to increase your testosterone levels.
- Moderate your alcohol intake (if you drink) as alcohol can affect your testosterone in as little as 30 minutes in some cases.
- Although evidence is varied, drug use can contribute to altered testosterone levels, this includes illegal or prescribed drugs. Be sure to check side effects.
- Semen retention. Although there aren’t many studies to give an answer in regard to the relationship between semen retention and testosterone, it has long been thought that abstaining from sexual activity etc. can positively affect your testosterone levels.
Order a testosterone test kit today
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