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Glossary term
Testosterone
Also known as Total testosterone
The primary androgen - drops ~1% a year after 30. Total tells you little; free and SHBG tell you everything.
Testosterone is produced in the testes (Leydig cells) and, in smaller amounts, in the ovaries and adrenals. Total testosterone normals run roughly 264-916 ng/dL in adult men, but the figure that correlates with symptoms is free testosterone - the 1-2% not bound to SHBG or albumin. Free T under 6-9 ng/dL on an early-morning LC-MS draw predicts hypogonadal symptoms better than total alone. TRT is a regulated pathway: it requires two morning draws, PSA, hematocrit, ApoB, and sleep-apnea screening before any script. Start the Men's Baseline panel to see where you actually sit.
- Symbol
- T
- Unit
- ng/dL
- Typical range
- Adult men roughly 264-916 ng/dL (early-morning LC-MS draw).
Medically reviewed byDr. Lena Okafor, MD
Medical Director - updated April 2026How we review
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