What is the purpose of this test?
Order this Hormone #1 Baseline Blood Test Panel, Men to screen for hormone imbalances related to andropause or decreased testosterone production. Andropause, more commonly referred to as testosterone deficiency syndrome, androgen deficiency, and hypogonadism, is characterized by decreased testosterone production in men as they age. Typically, testosterone levels decline after 40, and the symptoms associated with andropause manifest. Testosterone levels can also reduce as a result of medications and lifestyle choices. However, it is essential to note that andropause is not the male equivalent of female menopause. Often men do not lose the ability to reproduce completely, and not all men experience decreased testosterone levels.
This Hormone #1 Baseline Blood Test Panel, Men includes:
Testosterone, Total, and Free - measures total and free testosterone hormone levels in the blood to detect an abnormal level or hormone imbalance. Testosterone is the primary hormone for developing male physical features and reproductive functions. Individuals should note that women also make testosterone but in much smaller amounts in the ovaries and adrenal glands. There are two significant forms of testosterone in the body commonly measured to help diagnose specific health problems: free and total testosterone. Free testosterone is the active or unbound form of testosterone that acts as a receptor to cells in the body. However, total testosterone includes unbound and bound testosterone attached to proteins (SHBG or albumin).
Insulin - is a hormone that is produced and stored in the beta cells of the pancreas. Digested food breaks down into essential components such as glucose, a primary energy source for the body. Insulin is vital for transporting and storing glucose at the cellular level; it helps regulate blood glucose levels and plays a lipid metabolism role. When blood glucose levels rise after a meal, insulin is released to allow glucose to move into tissue cells, especially muscle and adipose (fat) cells used for energy production. Insulin then prompts the liver to either store the remaining excess blood glucose as glycogen (for short-term energy storage) or to use it to produce fatty acids. Fat cells (adipose tissue) eventually use these to synthesize triglycerides to form the basis of a longer-term, more concentrated form of energy storage. Without insulin, glucose cannot reach most of the body's cells.
Estradiol (E2) - is one of the three main estrogen fractions: estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3). Estrogens are a group of hormones essential to developing female physical features and reproductive functions. Men also make estrogen but in much smaller amounts. Estradiol (E2) is produced in the testes and adrenal glands in men and is the primary form of (estrogen) that nonpregnant women make. Therefore, evaluating E2 levels can help determine the cause of late puberty in boys and infertility.
FSH and LH - the pituitary gland in the brain makes the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Control of FSH production is a complex system involving hormones produced by the gonads (testes), the pituitary, and the hypothalamus. Both estradiol and progesterone help the pituitary control the amount of FSH produced. In men, FSH stimulates the testes to produce mature sperm and promotes the production of androgen-binding proteins. As a result, FSH levels are relatively constant in males after puberty. Luteinizing hormone (LH) is produced by the pituitary gland located in the brain. Testosterone provides negative feedback to the pituitary and the hypothalamus, helping to regulate the amount of LH secreted.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) - TSH is used to diagnose a thyroid disorder in a person with symptoms, screen newborns for an underactive thyroid, and monitor thyroid replacement therapy in people with hypothyroidism, help evaluate the function of the pituitary gland (occasionally), and screen adults for thyroid disorders.
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA,S) - is an androgen, a male sex hormone in the blood of both men and women. It plays a role in developing male secondary sexual characteristics at puberty. The body can metabolize it into more potent androgens, such as testosterone and androstenedione, or change it into the female hormone estrogen. DHEAS is produced by the adrenal cortex, the outer layer of the adrenal glands, with smaller amounts made by women's ovaries and men's testes. DHEAS secretion is controlled by the pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and other pituitary factors. Since the adrenal glands primarily produce DHEAS, it is helpful as a marker for adrenal function. Cancers, Adrenal tumors, and hyperplasia can lead to the overproduction of DHEAS. While elevated levels may not be noticed in adult men, they can lead to amenorrhea and visible virilization symptoms.
When should I order a Hormone #1 Baseline Blood Test Panel, Men?
Individuals may order this panel if they have experienced symptoms related to andropause or hormone imbalance. Common signs or symptoms associated with andropause include:
- Decreased sex drive
- Fatigue
- Reduced muscle mass
- Irritability and mood swings
- Erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Depression
