How to Increase Testosterone: The Correct Blood Panel and What the Numbers Mean

Any conversation about raising testosterone should start with knowing where you currently stand. Supplements, lifestyle changes, and medical interventions have completely different implications depending on your actual hormonal picture. Testing first is not optional.

The Panel to Order

Before doing anything else:

• Total Testosterone (not free testosterone — total is sufficient for screening)
• LH (Luteinizing Hormone)
• FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone)
• Prolactin
• Estradiol (Estrogen)
• Progesterone
• SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin)

Preparation: test on an empty stomach. Avoid heavy physical training for 5 days before testing. Abstain from sex for 3 days prior. Any of these factors can skew your results significantly.

How the System Works

LH and FSH are gonadotropic hormones — they stimulate the gonads. In men, LH specifically stimulates Leydig cells in the testes, which produce testosterone. FSH governs fertility. These two hormones operate in a feedback loop: high estradiol or prolactin suppresses LH, which reduces testosterone production.

The Five Scenarios and What They Mean

Scenario 1: Low LH + Low FSH + Low Testosterone

Something is suppressing the gonadotropins. Check estradiol, prolactin, progesterone — if any are elevated, that's the likely cause. Addressable without hormonal therapy in many cases.

Scenario 2: Medium LH + Medium FSH + Medium Testosterone

Acceptable status. Lifestyle interventions are appropriate and can produce real results here.

Scenario 3: Low LH + Low FSH + High Testosterone

You're in good shape. No intervention needed.

Scenario 4: High LH + High FSH + High Testosterone

Potentially a sign of early compensatory overactivation. Retest in a month. Monitor.

Scenario 5: High LH + High FSH + Low Testosterone

The most concerning pattern. High gonadotropins with low testosterone indicates the Leydig cells aren't responding to stimulation — they've effectively atrophied. This may indicate primary hypogonadism. See a doctor.

What Actually Raises Testosterone (Without Drugs)

For scenarios 1 and 2 — the actionable cases for natural athletes:

1. Lose body fat. This is the most impactful single intervention. Fat tissue inhibits testosterone directly and contains aromatase — an enzyme that converts testosterone to estradiol. Higher body fat = higher estrogen = suppressed LH = less testosterone. This is a destructive feedback loop that breaks when body fat drops.

2. Sleep adequately. Testosterone and growth hormone production peaks during sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation sharply suppresses both. No supplement compensates for poor sleep.

3. Resistance training. Heavy compound lifts are a well-established testosterone stimulus. The body releases testosterone in response to the perceived tissue destruction of serious training, to support muscle repair.

4. Cut alcohol. Alcohol meaningfully suppresses testosterone production. It's not negligible.

5. Skip the testosterone boosters. For natural individuals (not post-cycle therapy after a steroid period), "testosterone booster" supplements like tribulus are largely ineffective. The marketing is significantly more confident than the evidence.

The Age Factor

Under 30, low testosterone with high LH/FSH indicates an issue that needs a medical explanation.

Over 45, age-related hypogonadism is physiologically normal. The Leydig cells genuinely decline in function. No lifestyle intervention or supplement reverses this. If this is the case and quality of life is affected — cognitive function, libido, mood, energy, body composition — hormone replacement therapy with a competent endocrinologist is the appropriate option and is not a failure of discipline. It's ordinary medicine.

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