Question 1

What's the difference between Men's Hormone Panel and just Testosterone?

Accepted Answer

[Testosterone Total](/tests/testosterone-total) alone tells you the bound-and-free combined value. The Men's Hormone Panel adds Free T + SHBG (true bioavailable T), Estradiol (excess from TRT), DHEA-S + Cortisol (adrenal axis), Prolactin (prolactinoma screen), and IGF-1 (growth-hormone activity). The full workup before initiating TRT.

Question 2

How much does the Men's Hormone Panel cost?

Accepted Answer

TestWell charges $129 — vs $329 at Quest Direct and $400-$900 at endocrinology or TRT clinics.

Question 3

Do I need to fast?

Accepted Answer

Yes — morning fasting draw between 7-10 AM. Testosterone follows a strong diurnal rhythm; afternoon draws underestimate by 20-30%.

Question 4

What does Free Testosterone add over Total Testosterone?

Accepted Answer

Total T includes hormone bound to SHBG and albumin; only the free fraction is biologically active. Pairing Free T with [SHBG](/tests/shbg-sex-hormone-binding-globulin) reveals true bioavailable testosterone — a man can have a 'normal' total T but low free T (common when SHBG is high), which explains low-T symptoms a total-only test would miss. If you also need LH and FSH to separate testicular from pituitary causes, our [TRT Starting Panel](/tests/trt-starting-panel) adds them.

Question 5

Should I add a PSA?

Accepted Answer

If you're 50+ or starting TRT, yes. TRT can accelerate growth of pre-existing prostate cancer. [PSA Total](/tests/psa-total) is the standard pre-TRT baseline.

Men's Hormone Panel

About This Panel

Clinical Use

Who Should Order This

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Tests Included in This Panel

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Preparation Instructions

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