Total testosterone or Free testosterone...which test is more important?

[x_SANDMAN_x]

Hello guys!

A quick question. If I could do only one test of either Total testosterone or Free testosterone to find out my natty testosterone levels ...which one should I do?

Which one will give me better indication as to how much testosterone my body is producing? I will use the information to start TRT. And no I am not going to start TRT based soley on this one test result...I will no doubt do a complete blood work. But since at the end of the day it is all about testosterone...I would like to just get an idea as to my test levels.

I did a total testosterone and estrogen test about 3 years ago and the results were 387 total test and 13.7 E2. Basically I expect it to be worst now.

Cheers!

[kelkel]

Free T is what works for you. Testing total T alone is useless IMHO.
Good list of BW in the Finding A Doc sticky.

[Times Roman]

Free T is what matters.

...unfortunately, most in the medical community only check for total T

[x_SANDMAN_x]

Thought so. But then I keep on hearing/reading contradiction info. Most being somewhere along the lines of free testosterone is constantly changing and that a free testosterone test will tell you how much free test you had at that particular time they took blood sample but since it is constantly changing...it doesn't tell you much.

What are your thoughts on that?

[Sicko]

free is the obvious winner.
if you are a millionaire but all it is tied up in real estate (land only no building or houses) and all you do is pay for the property tax and mortgage then you could still be eating top ramen and drive a beat up car because you cannot spend that which is not liquid assets.
If you have a million dollars in the bank then you can buy cars, boats, houses etc...
Same concept if you have high Total Testosterone but none or little of it is "free" then high total testosterone is useless for everyday needs

[bullshark99]

^^^ nice job!

[DrewZ]

Sicko - Love the analogy!

[johnny the blade]

Great analogy!

[x_SANDMAN_x]

Thanks guys...Sicko that's a sick analogy!
Took your advice and did free test. Just waiting for the result. Should come in any moment

[lovbyts]

free is the obvious winner.
if you are a millionaire but all it is tied up in real estate (land only no building or houses) and all you do is pay for the property tax and mortgage then you could still be eating top ramen and drive a beat up car because you cannot spend that which is not liquid assets.
If you have a million dollars in the bank then you can buy cars, boats, houses etc...
Same concept if you have high Total Testosterone but none or little of it is "free" then high total testosterone is useless for everyday needs

Got to love a good analogy. Ill be sure to steal this in the future. Ill be sure to give you credit though.