Understand your male hormones
‍at-home

Your primary male sex hormone — the driver behind sex drive, muscle mass, bone density, mood and energy. Total testosterone is the headline number, but it only tells the full story alongside free testosterone and SHBG.

The small fraction of testosterone not bound to proteins — the only part your cells can actually use. Men with a “normal” total testosterone can still have symptoms if their free testosterone sits low.

A protein made by the prostate and the standard screen for prostate health in men. It is also the baseline every man should have on record before starting or adjusting testosterone therapy.

A liver protein that binds testosterone and holds it out of circulation. SHBG climbs with age and drops with insulin resistance, so it largely decides how much of your testosterone is usable.

Men need estradiol for libido, erectile function and bone strength — your body converts it from your own testosterone. Too much, often driven by excess body fat, is linked to low libido, fatigue and gynecomastia.

The pituitary’s signal telling your testes to produce testosterone. Read next to your testosterone result, LH shows whether a low level is coming from the testes themselves or from the brain signal above them.