Testosterone Free Serum Test

To detect an abnormal testosterone level in males and females; in males, to help diagnose the cause of erectile dysfunction or the inability of your partner to get pregnant (infertility); in females, to help diagnose the cause of masculine physical features (virilization), infertility, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); in children, to help determine the cause of genitals that are not clearly male or female (ambiguous genitalia) or delayed or early puberty

Your doctor may recommend testosterone test for you if he sees the signs of high/low testosterone in the blood:

The signs for low testosterone in men include:

• Low sex drive
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Trouble getting an erection
• Loss of muscle mass

The signs for low testosterone in women include:

• Fertility concerns
• Low sex drive
• Absence of menstrual cycle

The signs for high testosterone in women include:

• Acne
• Excessive facial hair
• Deep voice
• Male type baldness

The main sex hormone (androgen) in men is called Testosterone. It is responsible for male physical characteristics. Although it is considered to be a "male" sex hormone, it is present in the blood of women as well. Testosterone test measures the amount of testosterone in the blood.

Testosterone is produced by special endocrine tissue (the Leydig cells) in the male testicles. It is also produced by the adrenal glands in both men and women and, in small amounts, by the ovaries in women.

In males, testosterone stimulates development of secondary sex characteristics, including enlargement of the penis, growth of body hair, muscle development, and a deepening voice. It is present in large amounts in males during puberty and in adult males to regulate the sex drive and maintain muscle mass. In women, testosterone is converted to estradiol, the main sex hormone in females.

Testosterone Free is indicated in women with  excess body hair growth and development of masculine features and irregular menstrual periods in women, infertility and decreased sex drive. In men it is indicated in erectile dysfunction, low sperm counts and tumors of testicles, early or delayed puberty or virilization in boys or evaluation of infants with ambiguous genitalia 

The test measures the levels of testosterone in the blood. 

The test requires a blood sample. A tourniquet (elastic) band is placed tightly on the upper arm. The patient is then asked to make a fist. This helps in the build-up of blood filling the veins. The skin is disinfected before needle insertion and the blood sample is collected in vacutainer. 

In men, high testosterone levels may mean a tumor in the testicles or adrenal glands and low testosterone levels indicate pituitary gland disease. 
In women, high testosterone levels may indicate cancer of the ovaries or adrenal glands or PCOS.