Testosterone Test: When to Test, What Normal Really Means, and Why Timing Matters
Most men get a single testosterone reading at their annual physical. If the number falls within the lab's broad reference range of 264-916 ng/dL, they're told their levels are normal. But this range was designed for population screening, not individual health optimization. The same testosterone level that supports robust energy and sexual function at age 25 may leave a 45-year-old feeling chronically fatigued with diminished libido. Understanding when and how to test testosterone properly can reveal deficiencies that standard screening approaches miss entirely.