AASraw
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- Oct 22, 2017
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A healthy average male should have testosterone levels in the range of 264 ng/dl to 916 ng/dl. This range is only applicable to non-obese males in the age range of 19 to 39 years, and the mean testosterone levels average at 630 ng/dl. Out of this, only 25 percent is actually active testosterone and around 2 percent to 3 percent is free testosterone.
Testosterone is measured using the modified Vermeulen method, where only the testosterone that is bound to SHBG is measured. It also measures the testosterone that is weakly bound to albumin in the bloodstream but it does not measure free testosterone.
It is important to note that this reference range of testosterone levels has been long disputed by physicians, with the main complaints being with the lower end of the range. Physicians believe that 294 ng/dl is too low and refers to hypogonadism or low testosterone levels, rather than being a normal value. Instead, they propose the use of 350 ng/dl as the lower cut-off value to make the reference range more accurate. However, this is not a widely accepted cut-off value and the official cut-off yet remains at 294 ng/dl although some private hospitals may consider 350 ng/dl as their cut-off.
Another aspect to consider in checking the testosterone levels is that the steroid hormone undergoes fluctuations throughout the day, meaning that it is very likely that the values measured in the morning are going to be significantly different than the values measured in the evening. The values in the morning are much higher as the levels of testosterone decrease throughout the day.
Testosterone levels are also dependent on the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) which itself is released rhythmically, on average, every couple of hours. This can be credited with the fluctuation in testosterone levels throughout the day.
Testosterone is measured using the modified Vermeulen method, where only the testosterone that is bound to SHBG is measured. It also measures the testosterone that is weakly bound to albumin in the bloodstream but it does not measure free testosterone.
It is important to note that this reference range of testosterone levels has been long disputed by physicians, with the main complaints being with the lower end of the range. Physicians believe that 294 ng/dl is too low and refers to hypogonadism or low testosterone levels, rather than being a normal value. Instead, they propose the use of 350 ng/dl as the lower cut-off value to make the reference range more accurate. However, this is not a widely accepted cut-off value and the official cut-off yet remains at 294 ng/dl although some private hospitals may consider 350 ng/dl as their cut-off.
Another aspect to consider in checking the testosterone levels is that the steroid hormone undergoes fluctuations throughout the day, meaning that it is very likely that the values measured in the morning are going to be significantly different than the values measured in the evening. The values in the morning are much higher as the levels of testosterone decrease throughout the day.
Testosterone levels are also dependent on the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) which itself is released rhythmically, on average, every couple of hours. This can be credited with the fluctuation in testosterone levels throughout the day.
