Should Men Be Testing Their Testosterone, or Is It Clever Marketing?

Is testosterone testing worth it? Discover when it helps, what ranges mean, and why oestrogen, DHEA & SHBG also matter for men’s health.

I was sat in the sauna the other day, overhearing one of those conversations that make you wonder whether to quietly keep listening or jump in and say something. Two men were chatting about whether they should get their testosterone levels checked. One mentioned he’d been feeling flat and was gaining weight around his middle.

I wanted to say, “That sounds like it could also be about raised cortisol levels, or poor blood sugar balance, not just testosterone,” but I didn’t. I just sat there thinking about how often this question comes up is testosterone testing worth it, or is it just the latest health trend?

Over the past few months, I’ve seen more men in their late 30s, 40s and 50s, booking in for hormone testing, often high achievers who feel like something’s off but can’t quite put their finger on it. Let’s unpack what’s really going on, when testing is genuinely useful, and what else is worth looking at beyond testosterone alone.

Testosterone: The Headline Act, But Not the Whole Show

Testosterone tends to grab all the attention, but it’s part of a much wider hormonal network. When you only look at testosterone, you risk missing the bigger picture, and that’s where oestrogen, progesterone, DHEA, and SHBG come in.

Here’s a quick overview of how they fit together:

Oestrogen: Yes, men produce it too, via an enzyme, aromatase, that converts testosterone into oestrogen. It plays an important role in bone, brain, and cardiovascular health. But if levels get too high, men can experience mood changes, fatigue, reduced libido, or fat gain around the chest and waist.
Progesterone: Though often thought of as a “female hormone,” men need it for mood balance, sleep, and regulating the nervous system. Low levels can contribute to anxiety and poor stress tolerance.
DHEA: Produced by the adrenal glands, DHEA is a precursor to both testosterone and oestrogen. It tends to decline with age or chronic stress, and low levels can contribute to fatigue, low mood, and slower recovery after exercise.
SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin): This protein binds to testosterone and oestrogen in the blood, controlling how much of each is actually available for the body to use. You could have “normal” total testosterone, but if SHBG is high, the amount of free, active testosterone may be low, which explains why some men feel symptoms even when their lab results look fine.

So, if you’re testing hormones, it’s worth testing the full picture. Otherwise, it’s a bit like checking your petrol gauge without noticing that your handbrake’s still on.

What Low Testosterone Can Look Like

Typical symptoms include low energy, reduced motivation, brain fog, poor focus, muscle loss, low libido, or mood changes. But these can overlap with stress, nutrient deficiencies, thyroid issues, poor sleep, or overtraining.

It’s not always testosterone to blame, and that’s why context matters.

If stress is high, sleep is poor, or blood sugar is swinging up and down all day, your cortisol levels may be elevated. High cortisol suppresses testosterone and increases abdominal fat storage, creating the “belly fat and low energy” combination so many men describe.

When Testing Is Worth It

Testing can be genuinely useful when:

You’re experiencing several of the symptoms above, especially sexual symptoms such as low libido or changes in erectile function.
You’ve already made some positive lifestyle changes (sleep, stress, nutrition, exercise) but symptoms persist.
You’re on medications known to affect hormones (like long-term steroids or opioids).

Ideally, testing should be done in a fasted state, in the morning (before 11am) when testosterone peaks, and results should be interpreted alongside SHBG to calculate free testosterone. A good baseline panel includes:

Total and free testosterone
SHBG
Oestradiol (oestrogen)
DHEA-S
LH and FSH (to assess testicular and pituitary function)
Prolactin (can suppress testosterone when elevated)
Thyroid, iron panel, glucose, and liver markers

If results are borderline or low, repeat testing before jumping to conclusions.

Interpreting the Results

A testosterone level below 8 nmol/L is typically considered low, 8–12 nmol/L borderline, and above 12 nmol/L generally normal, though interpretation depends heavily on SHBG and symptoms.

When Ranges Look Different

If you’ve had testosterone tested through your GP, you may notice different ranges. That’s because NHS labs use slightly broader reference intervals, and they vary between hospitals.

These ranges are designed for population screening, to pick up clear deficiencies rather than subtler imbalances. So, someone can fall within the NHS normal range and still experience classic low-testosterone symptoms. That’s where functional interpretation can add depth, looking not just at total levels but also how effectively hormones are being used (for example, by factoring in SHBG, oestrogen, and DHEA).

If testosterone is low but SHBG is high, you may not need TRT (testosterone replacement therapy); the focus might instead be on reducing inflammation, improving nutrition, sleep, and stress, which can naturally lower SHBG and improve hormone balance.

Lifestyle Still Matters Most

Hormones reflect the environment they’re in. You can’t out-test or out-supplement chronic stress, lack of sleep, or poor diet. So before you invest in private testing or consider TRT, check in with the basics:

Sleep: Aim for 7–9 hours. Testosterone levels rise during deep sleep, and even one week of poor sleep can lower them.
Strength training: Two to three sessions a week improves insulin sensitivity and boosts testosterone naturally.
Stress management: Long-term stress increases cortisol and suppresses testosterone.
Nutrition: Prioritise protein, healthy fats (especially omega-3s), magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins, all crucial for hormone synthesis.
Alcohol: Excessive drinking lowers testosterone and raises oestrogen.
Body composition: Even a moderate reduction in visceral fat can improve testosterone and oestrogen balance.

The Bottom Line

Hormone testing can be valuable, if it’s interpreted in context. It can help you understand what’s really driving fatigue, low mood, or changes in body composition.

But testosterone alone rarely tells the full story. Looking at oestrogen, progesterone, DHEA, and SHBG provides a far more accurate picture of what’s happening hormonally and helps identify where to focus, whether that’s reducing stress, improving sleep, supporting the liver, or addressing nutrient deficiencies.

So, if you’re thinking about testing, go in with curiosity, not fear. Ask for a full panel, work with someone who can interpret it alongside your lifestyle, and remember, data should guide your choices, not define them.

Ready to find out what your hormones are really telling you?
You can book a Wellbeing Kickstart at my clinic, we’ll look at your full hormone profile, energy, and metabolic markers, then create a clear, personalised plan to help you increase your energy levels and resilience.

About Claire

Claire Thomas is a Nutritional Therapist, NLP Practitioner, and Phlebotomist with a background in Children’s Nursing. She specialises in supporting ambitious women who feel exhausted, burnt out, or stuck in survival mode. Through personalised nutrition, mindset coaching, and functional testing, Claire helps her clients increase their energy levels, find clarity, and do more of what they love. Based near Cullompton, Devon, she works both in-person and online through her clinic, Nourish to Soar

Categories: : boost your energy, hormone testing, mens health