Men's Health Blood Test: Hormones, Prostate, and Vitality Panel

Men's health is often overlooked until a problem becomes serious. Many men only get in touch with us after someone in the family has told them to. In Sweden, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, with Socialstyrelsen recommending that men discuss PSA screening with their doctor from age 50, or from age 45 if there is a family history.

Yet prostate health is just one piece of the puzzle. Testosterone levels naturally decline by approximately 1 to 2 percent per year after the age of 30, and this gradual drop can significantly affect energy, mood, body composition, libido, cognitive function, and cardiovascular health.

Unlike women, who experience a relatively abrupt hormonal shift at menopause, men experience a slow decline that is often attributed to 'just getting older' rather than being investigated. The symptoms of low testosterone — fatigue, reduced motivation, increased body fat, decreased muscle mass, and low libido — are common enough that many men accept them as normal ageing when they may in fact be treatable hormonal imbalances.

A comprehensive men's health blood panel measures not just total testosterone but the full hormonal picture including free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol, DHEA-S, LH, and FSH, alongside prostate markers. At Wellth, our panels are processed by accredited Swedish laboratories, and every result includes a detailed report explaining where your levels sit relative to the standard reference range.

Key Biomarkers for Men's Health

Testosterone

Total Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, essential for muscle mass, bone density, red blood cell production, fat distribution, and libido. However, total testosterone alone can be misleading because much of it is bound to proteins and unavailable to tissues.

Free testosterone and SHBG

Free Testosterone measures the unbound, biologically active fraction — typically only 2 to 3 percent of total testosterone. This is the testosterone your cells can actually use. SHBG (Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin) is the protein that binds testosterone, making it inactive.

High SHBG can result in low free testosterone even when total testosterone appears normal.

Oestradiol and DHEA-S

Estradiol is an oestrogen that men produce in small amounts; elevated levels can cause breast tissue growth, water retention, and mood changes. DHEA-S is an adrenal hormone that serves as a precursor to both testosterone and oestrogen and tends to decline with age.

PSA

PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) is produced by the prostate gland and elevated levels can indicate prostate enlargement, inflammation, or cancer.

LH and FSH

LH (Luteinising Hormone) and FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) are pituitary hormones that signal the testes to produce testosterone and sperm — they help distinguish whether low testosterone originates in the testes or the brain.

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Signs You Should Get a Men's Health Blood Test

  • Persistent low energy or fatigue not explained by sleep or lifestyle
  • Reduced sex drive or erectile difficulties
  • Loss of muscle mass or strength despite regular exercise
  • Increased body fat, particularly around the chest and abdomen
  • Mood changes including irritability, low motivation, or depression
  • Difficulty concentrating or brain fog
  • Decreased bone density or unexplained joint pain
  • Night sweats or sleep disturbances
  • Over 45 with no previous PSA screening
  • Family history of prostate cancer or hormonal conditions

What Your Results Might Show

Low testosterone

If your total testosterone is below 12 nmol/L and your free testosterone is correspondingly low, you may have clinically low testosterone (hypogonadism). Your LH and FSH values help determine whether this is primary (testicular) or secondary (pituitary) in origin. Lifestyle factors including sleep optimisation, resistance training, stress management, and maintaining a healthy body weight can naturally support testosterone levels.

High SHBG

If your SHBG is elevated, your free testosterone may be low even with a normal total testosterone — this pattern is commonly seen with ageing, liver conditions, or certain medications.

Raised PSA

If your PSA is elevated, this does not automatically indicate cancer — benign prostatic enlargement and prostatitis are far more common causes. However, any elevated PSA warrants further evaluation.

What lies behind it

A low result is often a sign that something else needs attention. Short sleep and extra weight around the waist are two of the most common reasons testosterone falls. In our clinic we therefore look at sleep, weight and stress first, because they often explain more than testosterone itself.

Your report

Your Wellth report will contextualise every marker, highlight any results that fall outside optimal ranges, and provide specific recommendations for improvement.

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Frequently Asked Questions

At what age should men start monitoring testosterone?
While there is no universal recommendation, testing baseline testosterone levels in your late 20s or early 30s provides a valuable reference point. If you are experiencing symptoms of low testosterone at any age, testing is appropriate. After age 40, regular monitoring every one to two years can help track your hormonal trajectory and catch significant declines early.
Can lifestyle changes improve testosterone levels?
Yes, significantly. Research shows that resistance training (especially compound lifts), adequate sleep of 7 to 9 hours, stress reduction, maintaining a healthy body fat percentage of 12 to 20 percent, ensuring adequate zinc, vitamin D, and magnesium intake, and limiting excess alcohol consumption can all positively influence testosterone levels. These interventions should be the first line of approach before considering hormonal therapy.
What does an elevated PSA mean?
An elevated PSA (above 3.0 to 4.0 ng/mL depending on age) can indicate benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate), prostatitis (prostate inflammation), or prostate cancer. It is important to understand that most men with mildly elevated PSA do not have cancer. However, any elevation should be discussed with a urologist who may recommend monitoring, a repeat test, or further investigation such as an MRI.
Why test estradiol in men?
Men produce estradiol through the conversion of testosterone by the enzyme aromatase, primarily in fat tissue. Elevated estradiol in men can cause symptoms including water retention, breast tissue development (gynaecomastia), mood changes, and reduced libido. Men with higher body fat percentages tend to have higher aromatase activity and therefore higher estradiol levels. Monitoring estradiol helps ensure the testosterone-to-oestrogen ratio remains balanced.
Is there a male menopause?
Not in the same way as in women. Testosterone falls gradually, by around one percent a year from middle age, rather than stopping suddenly. A low testosterone diagnosis requires both symptoms and repeatedly low values in blood taken in the morning, and in many men the fall is linked to weight, sleep and general health rather than age alone.
What is a normal PSA level for my age?
PSA naturally rises with age, and there is no single cut-off that suits everyone. In Sweden, a value above about 3 µg/L is often a reason for further assessment, but an enlarged prostate, inflammation, recent ejaculation or cycling can all raise it. A raised result should always be discussed with a doctor.
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Wellth Team

Wellth

Our content is written and reviewed by Wellth, and fact-checked against peer-reviewed research and current Swedish clinical guidelines.

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Important to know

Wellth does not diagnose or treat disease. We work with diet, lifestyle and preventive health, alongside the care you already have.

Our reports and sessions do not replace medical advice, and a test result should not be read as a diagnosis. We use both standard healthcare reference ranges and optimal ranges. A value can therefore be normal by healthcare standards and still fall outside the range associated with good health. That does not mean disease, but it can be a chance to act early.

Supplements are only recommended by a nutritional therapist as part of a consultation, never automatically from a test result.

If anything in your results needs to be looked at by a doctor, we will tell you clearly. Contact your healthcare provider if you are worried about your health. Call 1177 for advice, or 112 in an emergency.