The adrenal gland produces a hormone known as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). It is also made in the brain. DHEA leads to the production of androgens and estrogens (male and female sex hormones). DHEA levels in the body begin to decrease after age 30. Lower DHEA levels are found in people with hormonal disorders, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, depression, diabetes, inflammation, immune disorders, and osteoporosis. Corticosteroids, birth control taken by mouth, and agents that treat psychiatric disorders may reduce DHEA levels.

This lab test panel includes main blood test makers involved in hair loss in women and men: Complete Blood Count (CBC)- Can detect potential low hemoglobin and infections that can lead to hair loss. Ferritin- Low ferritin, an iron storage protein, has been linked to hair loss and slow down of hair growth. Iron and Total Iron Capacity (TIBC)- Low iron anemia has been linked to hair loss.  Hyperandrogenism: Excessive male hormones (androgens): Total Testosterone (LC/MS), Free Testosterone (Equilibrium Ultrafiltration), DHEA-S, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)  Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism: Thyroid Stimulation Hormone (TSH), Free Triidothyronine (Free T3)

Estrone (E1) is one of the three estrogens, which also include estriol and estradiol. Estrone is the least abundant of the three and is considered a pro-hormone of estradiol.

The thyroid gland produces and secretes T4, otherwise known as thyroxine. Proteins bind to T4 and carry it throughout the bloodstream. Once in the tissues, T4 is released from the proteins and is now free to convert into the more active form called T3. For this reason, many doctors believe that measuring free T4 is a more sensitive test for thyroid hormone production.

To find out if sperm count is normalized in men using hCG plus TRT, several studies have found that 17OH-P blood level is correlated to intratesticular testosterone (ITT) required for the testicles to make sperm, so testing for this hormone could not only save time while optimizing HCG dose/frequency but also eliminate the need to perform testicular aspirations, a very difficult procedure to do. Sperm count does not stabilize until 6-8 weeks after starting hCG plus TRT, so knowing your 17OH-progesterone blood level can give you a quick way to determine if your hCG dose and frequency is adequate before your first follow-up semen analysis after 8 weeks.

Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) is a globulin that binds thyroid hormones in circulation. It is one of three transport proteins (along with transthyretin and serum albumin) responsible for carrying the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in the bloodstream. Of these three proteins, TBG has the highest affinity for T4 and T3 but is present in the lowest concentration. Despite its low concentration, TBG carries the majority of T4 in the blood plasma.

The volume measurement, or hct blood test, is the proportion of blood that the red blood cells take up. Hemoglobin, on the other hand, is a density or concentration measurement and is expressed in grams per liter or deciliter. (Hemoglobin is, if you will recall from your high school biology, the iron-based protein that transports oxygen.) RBC is a simple count and is usually expressed as the number of million red blood cells that you have per microliter. Usually, hematocrit is three times the amount of hemoglobin.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) increases hematocrit in most men.  Read more about how to decrease hematocrit.

NOTE: Hematocrit is also part of the CBC panel, so there is no need to order separately if your order already includes CBC.

Pregnenolone is known as the mother hormone. All other steroids including testosterone and estrogen are derived from this important hormone. For this reason, optimal blood levels of pregnenolone are critical for a healthy hormone balance.  This test uses liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, the most accurate assay for hormones.

THIS IS THE MOST AFFORDABLE TESTOSTERONE TEST IN THE U.S. The most accurate way to measure total testosterone is with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. This panel also shows free testosterone percent by equilibrium dialysis and free testosterone calculated from percent free T. This test is more accurate for low and high testosterone blood levels (for men who expect high testosterone blood levels over 1,500 ng/dL, women, and children who usually have low T levels). It has no interferences with supplements or anabolics. Note: Results may take 5-7 business days. For a faster turnaround, choose this test instead: Testosterone, Free, Bioavailable and Total (With Lower & Upper Limit) plus SHBG

This ultrasensitive estradiol test is recommended for men. The commonly used estradiol test may overestimate estradiol in men. That test uses immunoassay technology that cannot differentiate C-Reactive Protein (involved in inflammation) from estradiol, so it reads the combination of the two as estradiol. This ultrasensitive estradiol test is based on liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), an assay technology that does not have that limitation. 

Important note:  The blood sample is sent out to Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute San Juan Capistrano, Caifornia.  Overnight delivery and testing is performed on Sunday and Friday.  Reports are available within 5-7 business days from the time the specimen is collected.

Insulin-like Growth Factor 1, also known as IGF-1, is used as a biomarker for blood levels of human growth hormone. It is a hormone produced by the liver and other tissues which affects growth-promoting activities and glucose metabolism. The blood level of IGF-1 appears to fluctuate over 24 hours and is found to be related to growth hormone secretion.

This test measures the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the blood.  Low DHT has been associated with low libido and high DHT has been linked to acne, hair loss and benign prostatic inflammation in a minority of men.