01/10/2026
Total Testosterone Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story — Your Symptoms Do
Many men hear that their testosterone is “normal” but still feel wiped out, foggy, unmotivated, or uninterested in s*x. That’s because most routine lab panels only measure total testosterone — the sum of all testosterone in your blood, including the portion that’s tightly bound to proteins and can’t actually do much work in your body. Total testosterone doesn’t tell the whole story because only the free (unbound) testosterone is biologically active and able to enter cells to support energy, mood, libido, and strength. Free testosterone typically makes up just a small fraction of the total, but it’s the part that really matters for how you feel and function.
At Axios Health & Wellness, we specialize in testosterone therapy (TRT) and hormone optimization for men. Clinical research supports that low free testosterone can cause persistent symptoms even when total testosterone appears normal. A peer‑reviewed study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that men with normal total testosterone but low free testosterone had more symptoms and signs of androgen deficiency — including lower lean mass and bone health — compared to men whose free testosterone was normal even when total testosterone was low. This highlights that free testosterone testing is essential for accurate TRT evaluation. Read the blog n subscribe to our weekly newsletter
https://axioshealthco.com/total-testosterone-doesnt-tell-the-whole-story-your-symptoms-do/
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