TESTOSTERONE TOTAL TEST

A testosterone levels test measures the amount of testosterone in a sample of your blood. Testosterone is known as a "male" sex hormone, but females have testosterone in smaller amounts. During male puberty, testosterone causes body hair, muscle growth, and a deepening voice. In adult life, it controls the sex drive, maintains muscle mass, and helps make sperm. In females, testosterone is important for the growth of bones and muscles, and healthy organs. There are different forms of testosterone in your blood that may be measured to help diagnose certain health problems. Most of your testosterone is attached to proteins. The proteins prevent your tissues from using the testosterone right away, which helps control the amount of "active" testosterone in your body. Testosterone that's not attached to proteins is called free testosterone. Free testosterone acts on your tissues.