Why test for testosterone?
With a testosterone test kit you can find out whether your hormone levels are within a range that is normal for your gender and age group. For 40 per cent of men over 40, for example, this is not the case – their levels are too low. Testosterone deficiency can lead to a decrease in performance, as well as fatigue, weight gain, mood swings, hair loss and erectile dysfunction.
- And too little testosterone is also found in younger people, for example as a result of obesity, medication and severe stress. So,if you feel weak and tired, gain weight for no apparent reason or even lose your hair, there may be a hormone imbalance behind it. A testosterone test will tell you how your sex hormone levels are. Forathletes, testosterone levels in the higher normal range are useful, as the hormone contributes significantly to muscles growth and physical performance.
What is testosterone?
- Testosterone is the most important male sex hormone. It is also found in smaller quantities in women. Men produce 90 per cent of their testosterone in their testicles, while women produce testosterone in their ovaries – and in both sexes it is also produced in the adrenal cortex. Like many other hormones, testosterone levels fluctuate constantly. The natural range of testosterone concentration in saliva is between 6.1 and 230.9 pictograms per millilitre in men and between 3.1 and 50.2 pictograms per millilitre in women.
How does the Testosterone Test work?
With the help of a small straw, which is included in the test kit, collect your saliva in a sample tube. Fill three tubes over the course of a day. Then send the three samples in the return envelope to a specialised laboratory. Note: You should do the test when you are healthy. Infections such as a cold or flu can falsify the results, as can alcohol consumption. Certain medicines and medicinal plants also influence the values. You can find more information on the interaction of medicines and test results here in our FAQ.
How long does the analysis take in the laboratory?
Once your sample has arrived at the laboratory, it will be analyzed there by specialists. How long the analysis takes depends on the exact measuring method and the processes in the laboratory.
If the sample is sent on the correct days (Sunday to Tuesday), this makes it easier for the laboratory to adhere to the times.
For the Testosterone Test, the laboratory analysis is usually completed within 5 working days after the sample is received in the laboratory.
What will the testosterone test results tell me?
You will find out how high your morning testosterone levels are and whether the values are within the recommended reference range. If the values are above or below this, it is an indication of excess testosterone levels or testosterone deficiency.
What kind of recommendations will I get?
In the results report, you will find a number of recommendations that you can use to optimise your testosterone levels. Among other things, you will receive tips on diet and exercise as well as how testosterone levels are linked with vitamins and minerals. These recommendations can help you bring your testosterone levels into the optimal range.
Why do I need testosterone?
Testosterone is a sex hormone responsible for the formation of sperm and sexual libido in men. It also ensures that a foetus develops male genitals in the womb. The hormone has various other functions in men and women alike: - Building muscle mass - Body hair - Bone stability and growth - Blood formation
What happens when you have testosterone deficiency?
Testosterone levels naturally decrease with age, especially in men. But at all ages, levels can be too low.
- Possible causes are obesity, chronic stress, alcohol abuse and diseases such as Addison's disease. In women, hormonal changes occurring during menopause sometimes also disrupt testosterone levels. About one in ten men over 50 also suffers from age-related testosterone deficiency, which is called male menopause or andropause. A testosterone deficiency can lead, among other things, to a reduction in muscle strength and physical performance , more stomach fat , hair loss and erectile dysfunction .
How can I treat testosterone deficiency?
Testosterone deficiency can be tackled with the following measures, for example:- Get enough sleep and exercise, especially through strength training- Reduce excess weight- Optimise your vitamin D and magnesium, selenium and zinc intake
What if my testosterone levels are too high?
If your testosterone levels clearly exceed normal values, this is usually an indication of external influences or diseases. Injections and tablets containing testosterone could lead to an excess of testosterone – for example, doping agents. Cushing’s disease, which is associated with increased cortisol levels, can also lead to excess testosterone, as can cancers of the ovaries or testicles.In women, too much testosterone promotes, among other things, menstrual disorders, increased body hair and hair loss (on the head) and a deeper voice.In men, excess testosterone can reduce fertility – even to the point of impotence – and lead to acne, hair loss, shrunken testicles and prostate enlargement.In the case of excess testosterone, it is usually necessary to treat the underlying disease.
Who should NOT take the Testosterone Test?
The cerascreen® Testosterone Test is not suitable for or is only partially suitable for certain groups of people:- People with infectious diseases, like hepatitis and HIV, may not take the Testosterone Test.- Pregnant and breastfeeding women should only take the Testosterone Test under medical supervision. The given reference ranges and recommendations do not apply for people in this group; consult your medical professional for advice concerning your test results.- The Testosterone Test is not intended for children under the age of 18.The test is not intended for diagnosing diseases. For example, if you suffer from severe depression or extreme pain, consult a doctor.
Why are children under 18 not allowed to take the test?
Our tests are not suitable for underage children and adolescents under the age of 18. Under 18s cannot activate the tests online and therefore cannot receive a test result. We ask that you do not administer the tests to your children either.
Children and adolescents need much closer supervision and counselling regarding medical tests and their interpretation. Testing with lancets and chemicals is not without risk and would need to be closely supervised by guardians. In addition, the reference values we give are always based on adult data. In the case of children, the risk of misinterpreting the results would be very high.
We want to fulfil our responsibility as a provider of medical products and ensure that children and adolescents are not unsettled by measurement results that are difficult for them to interpret. Since we cannot control whether the minors' legal guardians actually consent to the test being carried out and supervise them, we exclude tests for under 18s altogether.
If you are under 18 and have purchased a test, please contact our customer support.
Why does it take up to a week for the sample to reach the lab?
Please bear in mind that your results will not be analyzed in the UK but in Germany. For that reason, it can take up to a week for the sample to arrive at the lab. This does not affect the stability of the samples, as the method we are using is optimized for long transports.
Initially, your sample is sent to our collection center in the UK. From there, it is shipped to our central sample sorting facility in Germany, which then distributes samples to our partner laboratories. Once your sample is analyzed there, you will receive a notification and can access your result online.
Please check your mailbox regularly. We will notify you as soon as your sample is sent, arrives, or is analyzed.
Why does the test have an expiration date?
The cerascreen® test kits are CE-marked medical devices, which in turn include other certified medical components such as lancets, patches, and alcohol swabs used in blood tests.
Like most medical devices, these components have an expiration date to ensure that they remain safe and effective. Many of our sample carriers – such as dried blood cards or sample tubes – are chemically treated to keep your sample stable and analyzable in our laboratory. Over time, environmental factors can affect this treatment and compromise accuracy.
Our sterile, single-use lancets also carry an expiration date to guarantee sterility and safe use up to that time.
