In This Article
In This Article
Testosterone is one of the most important hormones in human health.
For men (people assigned male at birth), it helps with fertility and sexual performance and keeps their bones and muscles strong, just to name a few.
In women (people assigned female at birth), testosterone promotes bone growth, influences their behavior, and supports sexual health.
Too much or too little testosterone in the body can negatively impact your well-being. It can cause a wide range of health issues, such as:
If you want to check for testosterone imbalances that may be affecting your health, at-home kits offer a convenient and affordable way to test your levels.
An at-home testosterone test measures testosterone levels and determines if you have excessive or insufficient amounts in your body.
Dr. Harshi Dhingra has an M.D. in Pathology. She is a registered pathologist with over a decade of experience in diagnostic, clinical research, and teaching.
She manages all aspects of pathology laboratory, including histopathology, cytology, hematology, and clinical pathology.
She is currently employed as faculty in a medical school and research center.
KnowYourDNA is committed to making healthcare more accessible to the public, which is why we feature testing kits that meet industry standards.
We only choose at-home testosterone tests with reliable testing methods and science-backed reports that provide valuable insights into your health.
Our in-house medical experts help ensure the accuracy of our information by reviewing them before publication.
Below is a comparison of the best at-home testosterone kits:
| LetsGetChecked Testosterone Test | LetsGetChecked Male Hormone Advanced | Everlywell Testosterone Test | LetsGetChecked PCOS Test | Verisana Testosterone Test | |
| Cost | $89 | $179 | $69 | $139 | $49.95 |
| Who can take the test | Men | Men | Men | Women | Men and women |
| Samples collected | Blood | Blood and urine | Blood | Blood and saliva | Saliva |
| Total testosterone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Free testosterone | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Results | Two to five days | Two to five days | Days after getting your sample | Two to five days | Two to five days |
LetsGetChecked’s Testosterone Kit offers a simple way to assess a man’s general well-being and sexual health.
What it measures: Total testosterone levels
What it needs: Finger-prick blood sample
Results: Two to five days after receiving your sample
Use code "YOURDNA" for 25% OFF
LetsGetChecked’s Male Hormone Advanced identifies hormone imbalances that impact a man’s health.
What it measures: Estradiol, prolactin, testosterone, FAI, and SHBG
What it needs: Finger-prick and urine sample
Results: Two to five days after receiving your sample
Use code "YOURDNA" for 25% OFF
The Everlywell Testosterone Kit gives men an affordable way to assess their well-being and reproductive health.
What it measures: Total testosterone levels
What it needs: Finger-prick blood sample
Results: Days after receiving your sample
The LetsGetChecked PCOS Kit tests for hormones that help women determine if they have polycystic ovarian syndrome.
What it measures: Cortisol, testosterone, AMH, FAI, FSH, LH, and SHBG
What it needs: Finger-prick and saliva sample
Results: Two to five days after receiving your sample
Use code "YOURDNA" for 25% OFF
Verisana’s Testosterone Kit detects testosterone imbalances that may explain symptoms in men and women.
What it measures: Free testosterone levels
What it needs: Saliva sample
Results: Two to five days after receiving your sample
If you think you have high or low testosterone, or if you’re taking medications that can affect your hormone levels, you may want to take this test.
Below are some signs that you should consider it:
Men and women who have signs of testosterone deficiency or had low T-levels in the past should take a testosterone test. Here’s what you can look out for:
“Teenagers with symptoms of delayed puberty should also be tested for low testosterone levels,” says Dr. Dhingra.
Its signs include the lack of secondary sexual characteristics such as breast growth, descended testes, pubic hair, and facial hair.
Men and women with excessive testosterone level symptoms or a history of high T-levels may also want to take the test. Below are signs to watch out for:
Dr. Dhingra says children with early signs of puberty also need to take a testosterone test to check for elevated T-levels.
Children who develop secondary sexual characteristics like facial hair and breasts before 8 to 9 years may have high testosterone levels.
Transgender men and transgender women receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may also take testosterone levels.
If you’re transitioning from male to female (MTF) or female to male (FTM), it helps ensure that your T-levels are within the ideal range.
Testosterone testing is also advised for people taking testosterone replacement therapy, anabolic steroids, and other medications that may affect your T-levels.
It can help make sure you maintain healthy testosterone levels throughout your treatment.
The accuracy of at-home testosterone testing isn’t known. However, many people who have taken one say it has the same accuracy as a laboratory test.
Below are some tips to ensure the accuracy of these tests:
The testosterone tests on our list come from trusted companies.
LetsGetChecked, Everlywell, and Verisana all use laboratories accredited by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA).
Verisana is the only company missing accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
The process is slightly different for every test. But it usually involves these steps:
You can ask your doctor which testosterone test kit you should take. Here are some tips for choosing the best one for your needs:
Kits that measure your total testosterone are usually enough for home testing because they can detect elevated or low T-levels.
Total testosterone includes both your unbound (free) and bound testosterone that is attached to albumin or sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG).
Free testosterone tests can be used as alternatives to total testosterone tests, or they can be taken together for more comprehensive test results.
Doctors often use them to identify more specific causes behind a person’s abnormal testosterone levels, which isn’t necessary if you’re testing at home.
Free testosterone, also known as unbound testosterone or free T-levels, refers to the amount of testosterone in your body that isn’t bound to proteins.
Saliva tests are better options if you need to closely monitor your testosterone levels throughout the day or if you’re using transdermal testosterone patches.
It’s because you can take these tests more frequently and they can accurately measure your free testosterone.
Saliva testing is also ideal if you prefer a non-invasive way to check your testosterone levels since they only require saliva samples.
But if you need to watch your total testosterone and have no problem with a slightly invasive testing method, you can opt for blood test kits.
We explored testosterone testing kits that are currently available on the market. We then compared these tests based on the following criteria:
It's up to you to determine which one is the best fit.
Testosterone testing companies should be transparent about the products they offer. They must provide reliable services, delivery times, and customer support.
We also looked at hundreds of online reviews to see what others say about the tests. Doing this helped us check for consistency and if people trusted them.
The results of your at-home testosterone test must be easy to understand. They should provide practical information, such as:
Testosterone kits may help you understand why you’re experiencing symptoms.
You should be able to print your test results and take them to a healthcare professional who can give you sound medical advice.
The best testosterone tests provide actionable steps to reduce your symptoms and correct your imbalance. Depending on their recommendations, you can:
Testosterone testing companies often recommend dietary and lifestyle changes to help balance your hormones.
Some go the extra mile and will provide medical support who can explain your test results and guide your next steps.
We picked testosterone tests with a convenient and private testing process. Sample collection should be simple and include clear instructions.
The testing kits and return boxes should come in unidentifiable packaging. These measures help protect your privacy throughout the process.
The methods they use to analyze samples must also be reliable. Ideally, they should be partnered with accredited laboratories to ensure the accuracy of your test results.
The cost of a testing kit doesn’t always reflect what you pay for.
Some kits can provide useful reports for a lower cost. But there are also higher-priced tests that don’t have much to offer.
When you think about the cost, you have to factor in your budget and what the test offers for its price. We selected tests that give you valuable results, so you get the most bang for your buck.
At-home testosterone kits should only be used to determine testosterone levels. Your report will indicate if you have normal, insufficient, or excess amounts.
Once you get your test results, it’s best that you take them to a doctor who can interpret and evaluate them along with your symptoms.
This will help your doctor decide which tests you need to take so they can properly diagnose your condition and provide appropriate treatments.
