My doctor tells me my hormone levels are “Normal”

We have been doing hormones for men for 11 years.  This is the most common statement we hear from men.  They are confused because their doctor has told them their hormone levels are normal – however – the above statement is usually follow with -- “but I have all of the symptoms of andropause and feel terrible”.  This happens as a result of a lack of knowledge and experience on the part of the doctor.  The doctor is not listening to the patient.  He/she is looking at lab results that show the patient to be in the “normal range”.

Normal range, as reported by testing labs, is determined by the data base of tests they have performed – perhaps over several years.  The labs eliminate a certain percent of test results at the bottom and top and that becomes the “normal range”.

Problem 1: The results of lab tests are not age stratified and the lab is testing very few men under age 40 to 45 because few are being ordered by doctors.  The result is a range that is skewed lower.

Problem 2: The lab range is a statistical creation.  They perform no studies to determine what level is healthy or produces optimal feelings of wellness.

Result: The normal range for most labs for total testosterone for example, is 240ng to 900ng.   However – the reality is that men testing below 600ng of testosterone are usually going to experience symptoms of low testosterone.  Ask yourself when you felt your best – undoubtedly your answer will be, “when I was younger and my hormone levels were higher”.

Conclusion: The normal range for hormone testing is the “statistical normal” not the “feel good normal”.  The lower half of most hormone lab ranges is the unhealthy part of the range – the upper half is the healthy part of the range.  This has been well documented by clinical studies over the past 5 years.

If you have questions, please call us @ 800-859-7511.