Description
A male hormone panel measures hormone levels to help identify medical conditions and hormonal imbalances that affect men's health.
This panel includes the following test:
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
Estradiol
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
Free T4
Growth Hormone
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
Testosterone with Sex binding globulin (SHBG)
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Vitamin D
Fasting not required.
Additional information about each test is listed below:
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone that men produce in their adrenal glands, brain, and testes. It's a precursor to other sex hormones, like testosterone and estrogen.
Estradiol is a form of estrogen that plays a vital role in male sexual function. It's essential for regulating libido, erectile function, and sperm production.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are hormones that regulate the male reproductive system. FSH stimulates sperm production, while LH stimulates testosterone production.
"Free T4" refers to the active form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4), which plays a crucial role in regulating the body's metabolism by influencing how efficiently cells use energy; essentially, it controls how quickly your body burns calories, impacting functions like heart rate, body temperature, muscle function, and brain development, making it vital for overall health in males and females alike.
The roles of growth hormone include influencing our height, and helping build our bones and muscles. Natural levels of growth hormone fluctuate during the day, seemingly influenced by physical activity. For example, levels rise when we exercise. Growth hormone levels increase during childhood and peak during puberty.
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I has been shown to be synthesized by androgen-responsive tissues and to stimulate locally regulated growth. In addition to their growth-promoting actions, both androgens and IGF-I have metabolic actions in gonadal cells.
A "male hormone PSA total" refers to the level of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) measured in a man's blood, which is a protein produced by the prostate gland and used as a marker to potentially indicate prostate cancer; a high PSA total level may require further investigation by a doctor to determine the cause.
Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a protein that carries testosterone and other hormones in the blood. SHBG levels can be measured with a blood test, which can help assess hormonal health.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a hormone that signals the thyroid gland to produce and release thyroid hormones. These hormones are essential for maintaining the body's metabolic rate, heart and digestive functions, muscle control, brain development, and bone activity.
Vitamin D may be involved in the production of testosterone and other male reproductive hormones. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with low testosterone levels in men, but clinical trials have not shown that vitamin D supplements are effective at increasing testosterone.
