At Home Men’s Health Test

In men, a small amount of estradiol is mainly released by the testes. Estradiol helps prevent sperm from dying too early.

This test checks if male body characteristics are not developing normally. 

What do I Need to do to Prepare for the Test?

Your health care provider may tell you to temporarily stop taking certain medicines that may affect test results. 

These include: Antibiotics such as ampicillin or tetracycline, Corticosteroids, DHEA, Medicine to manage mental disorders (such as phenothiazine), and Testosterone

DO NOT stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider first.

What do the Results Mean?

Normal (Saliva) = 0.4 – 3.3 pg/mL

Abnormal Results:

• Growth of abnormally large breasts in men (gynecomastia), 
• Rapid weight loss or low body fat

It is a weak male hormone (androgen) produced by the adrenal glands in both men and women. The DHEA-sulfate test measures the amount of DHEA-sulfate in the blood. This test is done to check the function of the two adrenal glands. One of these glands sits above each kidney. 

What do I Need to do to Prepare for the Test?

No special preparation is necessary. 

However, tell your health care provider if you are taking any vitamins or supplements that contain DHEA or DHEA-sulfate.

What do the Results Mean?

Normal (Saliva) = 42 – 578 pg/mL 

An increase in DHEA-sulfate may be due to: A common genetic disorder called congenital adrenal hyperplasia, A tumor of the adrenal gland, which can be benign or be a cancer,

A decrease in DHEA sulfate may be due to:Adrenal gland disorders that produce lower than normal amounts of adrenal hormones (adrenal insufficiency), The pituitary gland not producing normal amounts of its hormones (hypopituitarism), and Taking glucocorticoid medicines

DHEA levels normally decline with age. 

The test is done to check for increased or decreased cortisol production. 

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid (steroid) hormone released from the adrenal gland in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). 

ACTH is a hormone released from the pituitary gland in the brain. It plays a role in: Bone growth, Blood pressure control, Immune system function, Metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and protein, Nervous system function, and Stress response. 

What do I Need to do to Prepare for the Test?

Perform the test at various time-points within the day (Morning, Noon, Evening, Night). This is important, because cortisol level varies throughout the day.

It is recommended you not do any vigorous exercising the day before the test.

It is also recommended you temporarily stop taking medicines that can affect the test, including: Anti-seizure drugs, Estrogen, Human-made (synthetic) glucocorticoids, such as hydrocortisone, prednisone and prednisolone, and Androgens.

Your health care provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before you have this test.

DO NOT stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider first.

What do the Results Mean?

Normal: 

• Cortisol (Saliva) – Morning = 1.5 – 9.6 ng/mL
• Cortisol (Saliva) – Noon = 0.6 – 4.1 ng/mL
• Cortisol (Saliva) – Evening = 0.2 – 2.3 ng/mL
• Cortisol (Saliva) – Night = 0.1 – 1.8 ng/mL

A higher than normal level may indicate: Cushing’s Disease in which the pituitary gland makes too much ACTH because of excess growth of the pituitary gland or a tumor in the pituitary gland, Ectopic Cushing syndrome, in which a tumor outside the pituitary or adrenal glands makes too much ACTH, and a Tumor of the adrenal gland that is producing too much cortisol. 

A lower than normal level may indicate: Addison disease, in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol, Hypopituitarism in which the pituitary gland does not signal the adrenal gland to produce enough cortisol, and Suppression of normal pituitary or adrenal function by glucocorticoid medicines including pills, skin creams, eye drops, inhalers, joint injections, and chemotherapy. 

Both men and women produce this hormone.This test may be done if you have symptoms of abnormal male hormone (androgen) production. In males, the testicles produce most of the testosterone in the body. Levels are most often checked to evaluate signs of abnormal testosterone such as Early or late puberty (in boys), Infertility,erectile dysfunction, low level of sexual interest,and thinning of the bones (in men). 

What do I Need to do to Prepare for the Test?

Your health care provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before you have this test.

DO NOT stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider first.

What do the Results Mean?

Normal (Saliva):  = 49 – 185 pg/mL

Certain health conditions, medicines, or injury can lower testosterone. It also naturally drops with age. 

Decreased total testosterone may be due to: Chronic illness, The pituitary gland does not produce normal amounts of its hormones, Problem with areas of the brain that control hormones, Low thyroid function, Benign tumor of the pituitary cells that produce too much of the hormone prolactin, and Too much body fat (obesity)

Increased total testosterone level may be due to: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and medications.