We are well aware of what testosterone is and how it serves our body, both the male and the female, but exactly is free testosterone? Testosterone is actually a hormone which is more pronounced in men than in women. Testosterone is responsible for the sexual characteristics of men like growth of body hair, change in tone of voice, enlargement of the body parts in relation to puberty and the like. As for women, testosterone is also responsible for functions like bone and muscle strength, libido and energy. It is said that women produce one-seventh of the total amount of testosterone that men produce.
What Is Free Testosterone?
The thing about testosterone is that this hormone is not all about sexual characteristics—not all forms of testosterone need to be produced and stored in the male gonads, the idea most people perceive. Testosterone is also supposed to be present in the bloodstream in limited amounts—this form of hormone is what we call free testosterone.
Functions of Free Testosterone
Free testosterone represents about one to four percent of the total amount of testosterone in a man’s body. The reason why it is called “free” is because it is not bound to any substance or another hormone in the performance of a specific function. Free testosterone is an indicator of good hormone function and a normal level of free testosterone equates to an overall health.
Symptoms of a Low Free Testosterone
People with low free testosterone are most likely to manifest lack of energy, easy fatigability, decreased libido and frequent mood changes. Thus, it is important to have yourself regularly checked for the amount of free testosterone in your bloodstream.
As a person ages, the amount of hormones also decline—as such free testosterone normally declines as a person grows old. This is where the function of hormone replacement therapy kicks in. There are many testosterone supplements which one can use with the advice of a physician to assist with your free testosterone level.