Testosterone Testing for Men: What's Normal, What's Optimal, and What to Do

Quick answer

Test your testosterone in the morning, between 7 and 10 AM. A full check for men includes total testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol, prolactin, LH, FSH, DHEA-S, and morning cortisol. For men under 60, a healthy total testosterone level is 600 to 900 ng/dL. Many men with low free testosterone get missed when doctors check total testosterone alone.

Why testosterone matters

Testosterone supports:

• Muscle mass and strength.
• Bone strength.
• Sex drive and function.
• Mood and motivation.
• Energy and recovery after exercise.
• A leaner, stronger body.
• Sperm production.
• Clear thinking.
• Heart health, when your level sits in a healthy range.

Low testosterone brings a cluster of symptoms together. You may feel tired. Your sex drive may drop. You may gain weight. Your mood may dip. You may recover slowly from workouts. Many other health problems cause the same symptoms. A blood test is how you find out for sure.

Why timing and testing matter

Testosterone drops a little with age, about 1% each year after age 30. Lifestyle habits and metabolic health can speed up that drop.

Most men with low testosterone have what doctors call secondary hypogonadism (say it: hy-po-GO-nad-iz-um). This means the brain's signal to the testes has weakened. Extra weight, sleep apnea, chronic stress, or other everyday factors often cause it. The good news: this type is often reversible.

A smaller group has primary hypogonadism. Here, the testes themselves have stopped working well. This type is harder to reverse, but it can still be treated.

A blood test tells you which type you have. Our condition guide to low testosterone covers causes and treatment in more depth.

The full male hormone panel

Total testosterone

Typical range from Philippine labs: 264 to 916 ng/dL. Healthy target for men under 60: 600 to 900 ng/dL.

This is the standard measurement. It counts all the testosterone in your blood, both the type your body can use right away and the type held in reserve.

SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin)

Normal range: 10 to 80 nmol/L.

Think of SHBG as a delivery truck. It carries testosterone through your blood, but testosterone locked inside the truck cannot do its job yet. High SHBG locks up more testosterone. Low SHBG frees up more testosterone, but low SHBG can itself be a sign something is off.

Free testosterone

Doctors calculate this from your total testosterone, SHBG, and a protein called albumin. Sometimes it is measured directly.

This is the testosterone your body can actually use right now. It matters more for your symptoms than the total number. Total testosterone alone can mislead you when your SHBG is unusual.

Estradiol (E2)

Normal range for men: 10 to 40 pg/mL. Healthy target: 20 to 30 pg/mL.

Yes, men need estradiol too, just in smaller amounts. It supports bone strength, mood, sex drive, and heart health. Too little or too much causes problems. Your body makes some estradiol by converting testosterone in fat tissue.

Prolactin

Normal range: under 15 ng/mL.

High prolactin can push testosterone down. This is a reversible cause of low testosterone. It is usually linked to a medicine you are taking. Rarely, it comes from a small growth on the pituitary gland.

LH (luteinizing hormone)

Normal range: 1.7 to 8.6 IU/L.

LH is the brain's signal that tells your testes to make testosterone. This number helps tell primary and secondary hypogonadism apart.

FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)

Normal range: 1.5 to 12.4 IU/L.

FSH is the brain's signal that drives sperm production.

DHEA-S

Normal range: this depends on your age.

DHEA-S is a hormone made by your adrenal glands. Your body can turn it into testosterone. It is a useful extra piece of the puzzle.

Morning cortisol

Normal range: 6 to 23 µg/dL, tested around 8 AM.

Cortisol is your main stress hormone. When it stays high for too long, it can quietly push testosterone down.

Why "low normal" testosterone still causes symptoms

The standard normal range is wide, from 264 to 916 ng/dL. A man at 320 ng/dL is technically "in range." But that number sits near the bottom of the scale. Many men at this level still feel tired. They still notice low sex drive. They still struggle to lose weight or feel steady in mood.

Many doctors now view 600 to 900 ng/dL as the range where men under 60 feel their best. The middle of the old "normal" range, around 400 to 600 ng/dL, is a common zone where symptoms still show up in real life.

Why free testosterone matters so much

Picture two men with the same total testosterone of 480 ng/dL. One has normal SHBG. The other has high SHBG. The second man may have very little free testosterone, even with clear symptoms. The reverse can happen too.

This is why testing total testosterone alone is not enough. SHBG and free testosterone should always come with it.

Common patterns doctors look for

Pattern 1: Primary hypogonadism

• Low total testosterone, under 300 ng/dL.
• High LH and FSH.
• Cause: a problem with the testes. This can be genetic, from infection, injury, medicine, or age.
• Next step: testosterone therapy is often right, once confirmed.

Pattern 2: Secondary hypogonadism

• Low total testosterone.
• Low or low-normal LH and FSH.
• Cause: a signal problem from the brain. Often linked to extra weight, sleep apnea, opioid use, or chronic stress.
• Next step: fix the root cause first. This often reverses with weight loss, better sleep, and treating sleep apnea.

Pattern 3: SHBG-driven low free testosterone

• Total testosterone 400 to 600 ng/dL, technically "normal."
• High SHBG.
• Free testosterone sits in a low range.
• Symptoms show up despite a "normal" total.
• Next step: address what is driving SHBG up, often a metabolic issue.

Pattern 4: Too much conversion to estradiol

• Total testosterone close to normal.
• Estradiol high compared to testosterone.
• Often paired with belly fat, breast tissue growth, or water retention.
• Next step: losing weight lowers this conversion. Medicine is rarely needed.

Pattern 5: Stress-driven pattern

• Cortisol pattern is off, either too high or too flat through the day.
• DHEA-S low compared to cortisol.
• Testosterone sits low-normal.
• Often linked to poor sleep, overtraining, or burnout.
• Next step: focus on stress, sleep, and recovery.

How to test the right way

Time of day

This step matters most. Test between 7 AM and 10 AM. Testosterone follows a daily rhythm and peaks in the morning. Afternoon tests often read 25 to 30% lower. This can wrongly label a healthy man as low.

Fasting

Hormone testing alone does not need fasting. But a broader panel, checking blood sugar and cholesterol, does need fasting. So a fasting morning draw is the simplest choice.

Repeat testing

A single low result should be confirmed with a second morning test before making treatment decisions.

Medicines that affect results

• Opioids and some antidepressants can lower testosterone.
• Steroids, both medical and performance-enhancing types, change results a lot.
• Always tell your doctor about every medicine you take.

Want to see exactly where you stand? Book your &you Labs panel for a morning draw and a full male hormone breakdown.

What to do about low testosterone

Lifestyle changes first, for 8 to 24 weeks

Most men can raise testosterone by 15 to 30% with these steps:

• Sleep 7 to 8 hours of good quality sleep. Treat sleep apnea if you have it.
• Lift weights. Aim for progressive, heavy resistance training 2 to 4 times a week.
• Lower body fat, especially around your middle. This lowers how much testosterone converts to estradiol.
• Manage stress. Chronic stress lowers LH and testosterone.
• Eat enough protein, healthy fats, zinc, vitamin D, and magnesium.
• Cut back on alcohol. Even moderate drinking can lower testosterone.
• Review your medicines with your doctor. Opioids, some antidepressants, and oral steroids can be the cause.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)

TRT may fit if:

• Two morning tests confirm low testosterone.
• You have clear symptoms.
• The cause is not one you can easily reverse.
• You have no reason to avoid it, such as untreated prostate cancer, severe heart failure, untreated sleep apnea, or a blood condition called polycythemia.

TRT is a big decision. Here is what it usually involves:

• It slows your body's own testosterone production over time.
• It needs ongoing checks of your PSA, blood count, and estradiol.
• It can affect fertility. Men who want to have children may add a medicine called hCG alongside TRT.
• It should be guided by a hormone specialist or an experienced doctor.

Frequently asked questions

When should men start testing testosterone?

A yearly baseline test starting in your late 30s is reasonable. Test sooner if you have symptoms, a family history, or a past abnormal result.

What time of day should I test?

Between 7 AM and 10 AM. Afternoon tests give unreliable readings.

Is "low normal" testosterone a real problem?

In real life, yes. Men near the bottom of the normal range often have real symptoms. What matters most is whether your level connects to how you feel, and whether a change in habits or treatment makes sense.

Will lifestyle changes actually work?

For most men with the lifestyle-driven type, yes. A 15 to 30% rise in testosterone over 12 to 24 weeks is common with weight loss, better sleep, resistance training, and stress management.

Does TRT cause prostate cancer?

Current research does not show that TRT causes prostate cancer in men who did not already have it. Untreated prostate cancer is a reason to avoid TRT. Regular PSA checks are part of standard care.

Will TRT affect my fertility?

Yes. Testosterone from outside your body lowers LH and FSH, which can shrink testicular function over time. Some plans add hCG to protect fertility. Talk this through with your doctor.

Key takeaways

• Test testosterone in the morning, between 7 and 10 AM. Afternoon tests often mislabel healthy men as low.
• A full panel checks total testosterone, free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol, prolactin, LH, FSH, DHEA-S, and cortisol.
• For men under 60, a healthy total testosterone level is 600 to 900 ng/dL. The old "low normal" range, 300 to 500 ng/dL, often still causes symptoms.
• Lifestyle-driven low testosterone is often reversible.
• TRT fits confirmed, ongoing low testosterone with symptoms. It should be guided by a doctor, with regular monitoring.