July 13th, 2016
Age-related decline in the testosterone levels is a well-established phenomenon, which may or may not be symptomatic. However, it has been observed that most people find it unnecessary to go see a doctor for the assessment of hypogonadism. Among most common reasons for not seeing a doctor, the cost of consultation and time-consuming laboratory tests are foremost.
Thanks to technological advancements, scientists have developed at-home testosterone test kits that can be effectively used in the comforts of home to establish preliminary diagnosis of hypogonadism.
Traditionally, testosterone levels in a laboratory or hospital setting are assessed by serum/ blood. But since, blood collection may not be feasible in the home setting, most testosterone kits utilize salivary samples for the assessment of Testosterone (which is also secreted in the saliva like all other hormones).
According to a new study reported in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research (2), investigators suggested that depressive symptoms and other symptoms of psychological origin were found to be strongly associated with low salivary testosterone levels based on the data obtained from 1380 women and 722 men. The same study also provided the statistical evidence that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI – a popular anti-depressive agent) tends to increase the salivary testosterone levels in the study population.
Investigators have carried out studies to compare the reliability of home-testosterone kits against laboratory-based blood investigation and discovered mixed results.
The specific instructions on how to use testosterone kit vary from product to product. Generally, every kit comes with a complete set of guidelines regarding the use and collection of sample. After sample collection, you have to send your specimen to a laboratory for complete interpretation of results to minimize the risk of confusion. The results are usually mailed to the person within a few days or weeks.
If your results are within normal/ recommended limits but you are still experiencing disturbing symptoms (that are suggestive of hypogonadism or other endocrinological issues), you should see a healthcare professional for thorough examination and investigation.
1. Fiers, T., Delanghe, J., T’Sjoen, G., Van Caenegem, E., Wierckx, K., & Kaufman, J. M. (2014). A critical evaluation of salivary testosterone as a method for the assessment of serum testosterone. Steroids, 86, 5-9.
2. Giltay, E. J., Enter, D., Zitman, F. G., Penninx, B. W., van Pelt, J., Spinhoven, P., & Roelofs, K. (2012). Salivary testosterone: associations with depression, anxiety disorders, and antidepressant use in a large cohort study. Journal of psychosomatic research, 72(3), 205-213.
3. Welker, K. M., Lassetter, B., Brandes, C., Prasad, S., Koop, D. R., & Mehta, P. H. (2016). A comparison of salivary testosterone measurement using immunoassays and tandem mass spectrometry. Psychoneuroendocrinology.
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