If you want to know how to get testosterone levels checked the right way, the short answer is: ask for free testosterone, not just total testosterone.
Total testosterone tells you how much is circulating in your blood, but most of that is bound to proteins like albumin and sex hormone binding globulin and isn’t actually available for your body to use. Free testosterone, the unbound, active form, makes up only about 2 percent of the total, but it’s the part doing the actual work.
A lab that only checks total testosterone is giving you half the picture.
Want the Full Picture, Not Half of It?
MOPE Clinic checks free and total testosterone together, along with other key markers, so nothing gets missed.
Why Does Free Testosterone Matter More Than Total?
Free testosterone is the active form your body can actually use. The other 98 percent is bound up and largely unavailable. If a provider only orders total testosterone, they’re missing the number that determines whether you’ll feel the effects of low or optimal levels in everyday life.
How Do You Know If Your Provider Is Checking the Right Thing?
Ask directly: are they ordering free testosterone along with total testosterone, or just total? If the answer is “just total,” that’s worth a second opinion, especially if you have symptoms like low sex drive, increased abdominal fat, weight gain, decreased muscle tone, loss of morning erections, brain fog, or low motivation.
What Should a Complete Testosterone Workup Include?
A thorough panel typically includes total testosterone, free testosterone, and often estradiol, since testosterone and estrogen work together in men’s hormone balance. This gives a provider enough information to build a real plan instead of guessing from a single number.
How to Get Testosterone Levels Checked at MOPE Clinic
MOPE Clinic in Metairie orders the labs that actually matter, not the bare minimum. Every plan is built from your actual results, and labs are required before any prescription is written, with no exceptions. Learn more about testosterone replacement therapy at MOPE Clinic.
Get the Right Labs the First Time.
MOPE Clinic checks free and total testosterone together to give you an accurate picture, not a partial one.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Testosterone Levels Checked
What’s the difference between total and free testosterone?
Total testosterone measures everything circulating in your blood, while free testosterone measures only the small unbound portion your body can actually use.
Why would a doctor only check total testosterone?
Some providers default to a basic panel without considering whether free testosterone is needed. Asking specifically for free testosterone helps make sure nothing is missed.
What symptoms suggest I should get tested?
Low sex drive, fatigue, weight gain, decreased muscle tone, brain fog, and low motivation are all common reasons to check your levels.
Do I need labs before starting treatment?
Yes. MOPE Clinic requires labs before any prescription is written, with no exceptions.
Is MOPE Clinic a real, in-person clinic?
Yes. MOPE Clinic is a physical clinic in Metairie, Louisiana, and is LegitScript certified.
Learn More From MOPE Clinic
Learn more about MOPE Clinic’s related services:
Get the Full Picture, Not Just Half of It.
If your labs have never been checked the right way, that’s the first step. MOPE Clinic in Metairie can help.
If your labs have never been checked, that’s the first step. Call or text MOPE Clinic today at 504-265-5491 or take the quiz at mopeclinic.com.
- LegitScript-certified
- Labs required before treatment
- Personalized treatment plans
- Real medical clinic in Metairie
- Not a virtual-only provider