Total Testosterone
also known as Total T
/WHAT_IT_IS
Total testosterone is the sum of all testosterone circulating in your blood — both the small fraction that's biologically active (free + albumin-bound) and the much larger fraction that's tightly bound to SHBG. It's the headline number doctors use to diagnose low T and the first marker most men on TRT check.
/NORMAL_RANGE
Reference labs report 264–916 ng/dL for adult males. "Normal" varies by lab and assay; values below ~300 ng/dL are commonly used as a treatment threshold for low testosterone in symptomatic men.
What does high Total T mean?
- +Most often: testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), AAS use, or hCG-stimulated production.
- +Less common: testicular or adrenal tumors, congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
- +Lab artifact: morning vs evening draw, recent strenuous exercise, or assay drift between labs.
What does low Total T mean?
- +Primary hypogonadism (testicular failure) — usually LH/FSH are elevated.
- +Secondary hypogonadism (hypothalamic/pituitary) — LH/FSH are low or inappropriately normal.
- +Obesity, sleep apnea, chronic opioid use, anabolic-steroid withdrawal, or chronic illness.
/ON_TRT
On TRT, total testosterone is almost always the easiest marker to push high — too high, in many cases. A typical injectable protocol of 100–200 mg/week of testosterone cypionate or enanthate often lands trough levels in the 600–1,200 ng/dL range. What matters more than the absolute number is (a) where you draw relative to your injection (peak vs trough), (b) your free testosterone, since SHBG can sequester much of it, and (c) your symptoms. Two men with the same total T can feel completely different depending on their free T and SHBG.
/RELATED
FAQ
/01What is a good total testosterone level on TRT?+
Most TRT clinicians aim for trough levels somewhere between 600 and 1,100 ng/dL — comfortably above the low-T threshold, well within the upper bound of the reference range. Personalized targets depend on your free T, SHBG, and symptoms.
/02Why are my total T levels different between draws?+
Diurnal variation (morning > evening), time relative to your last dose (peak vs trough), assay differences between labs, and recent intense exercise can all swing total T by 100–300 ng/dL or more. Always draw at the same time of day under similar conditions.
/03Does high total T mean my TRT dose is too high?+
Not necessarily — what matters is the combination of total T, free T, estradiol, hematocrit, and how you feel. A high total T with normal free T and stable hematocrit may be fine. A high total T with rising hematocrit and high estradiol usually means it's time to lower the dose or split it into more frequent injections.
Track Total T in the app.
Upload your lab PDF — MyTRT extracts every marker with Gemini Vision. Charts, trends, and TRT-aware insights. Free on iOS and Android.