Testosterone Total Blood Test, Women and Hypogonadal Males, LC/MS-MS

The Testosterone Total Blood Test, Women and Hypogonadal Males, LC/MS-MS measures testosterone in people for whom a standard Testosterone Blood Test may not be sensitive enough to provide accurate results. 

Description

Testosterone testing may be done to screen for infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or to evaluate women with irregular or no menstruation. Testosterone testing may be used as a screening for testicular tumors.

This test is typically ordered to monitor testosterone levels in men who have been diagnosed with hypogonadism or are showing symptoms such as infertility, erectile dysfunction, decrease in muscle mass, lack of facial or body hair growth, osteoporosis, decreased sex drive or fatigue. This test is also ordered for women who are showing symptoms of abnormal testosterone levels such as abnormal facial or body hair growth, thinning hair, acne, abnormal menstrual cycle.

Women taking estrogen therapy, however, may exhibit increased testosterone levels.

This blood test checks for abnormal levels of testosterone, which may affect sexual libido, cause erectile problems and infertility in men and may promote male characteristics in women such as excessive hair.