Male hormone panel (partner test)
The hormones behind male fertility and energy. Seven markers from one morning blood draw, explained by an Australian doctor, and designed to sit alongside semen analysis.
The male hormone panel is KnowLuna's partner test for the hormones that drive sperm production, energy and libido. It costs $129 as a test-only order, with an optional 20-minute doctor consult (+$59) to talk through the results. A KnowLuna doctor requests the test at no extra charge if you do not have a request from your own GP.
What it measures
- Total testosterone: the main male hormone, all of it, bound and free. Highest in the morning, which is why timing matters.
- Free testosterone: the small fraction not bound to proteins, and the part the body can most readily use.
- SHBG: the carrier protein. High SHBG can make a normal total testosterone behave like a low one.
- FSH: the pituitary signal that drives sperm production in the testes.
- LH: the pituitary signal that drives testosterone production in the testes.
- Oestradiol: men make oestrogen too, from testosterone. Out-of-range levels affect libido, fertility and breast tissue.
- Prolactin: when raised, it suppresses LH and testosterone, and has its own causes worth finding.
Who it's for
Men aged 18 and over, usually the partner of a KnowLuna customer, who have low energy, low libido, difficulty with erections, or an abnormal semen analysis, or who are simply testing alongside their partner while trying to conceive. Male-factor issues contribute to roughly half of couples' fertility difficulty, so checking both partners early saves time.
When this is worth doing alongside semen analysis
Semen analysis tells you what the sperm look like: count, movement and shape. It does not tell you why. The hormone panel is the "why" test. If the semen result is low, FSH and LH show whether the testes are struggling to respond to a normal signal, or the signal itself is weak. Those two situations look identical on a semen analysis and are managed very differently.
Do the hormone panel alongside semen analysis when the semen result is abnormal, when there are symptoms of low testosterone as well as fertility questions, or when you want the full picture in one round rather than two. If the semen analysis is normal and you feel well, the hormone panel is optional.
What you'll learn, and what you won't
You will learn whether your morning testosterone is in the expected range, how much of it is free, whether the pituitary signals (FSH and LH) are normal, high or low, and whether oestradiol or prolactin is out of line. Read together, these point towards a testicular cause, a signalling cause, or no hormonal cause at all.
What the panel cannot do is measure sperm, and it cannot tell you whether you will conceive. Testosterone also varies day to day and drops with illness, poor sleep and a late collection, so a single low reading is repeated before anyone draws conclusions. A blood test is one input to a doctor's assessment, not a diagnosis on its own. If anything needs prompt attention, a doctor contacts you directly.
Reference ranges and what they mean
| Marker | Typical adult male range | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Total testosterone (morning) | Roughly 8 to 30 nmol/L, lab-dependent | A morning level below the lab's lower limit is repeated on another morning before it is called low. |
| Free testosterone | Lab-specific | Low free testosterone with a normal total usually means high SHBG. |
| SHBG | Lab-specific; rises with age | High SHBG lowers the usable fraction; low SHBG is linked with weight and insulin resistance. |
| FSH | About 1 to 10 IU/L, lab-dependent | High FSH with a low sperm count suggests the testes themselves are underperforming. |
| LH | About 1 to 9 IU/L, lab-dependent | Low LH with low testosterone points to a pituitary or signalling cause. |
| Oestradiol | Lab-specific, low in men | Raised levels are read with weight, testosterone and any medicines. |
| Prolactin | Under about 300 to 400 mIU/L depending on the lab | Mild rises are common with stress, the blood draw itself and some medicines. A raised result is checked for macroprolactin, an inactive form that can read falsely high, and repeated. A clearly raised level alongside low testosterone or low LH is assessed further by the doctor, which can include pituitary imaging. |
Ranges vary by laboratory; your report shows the range your lab uses. Typical ranges on this page are drawn from Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA) and the sources listed below.
When to do this test
- Morning collection before 10am. Testosterone peaks early and can fall by a third or more through the day, so a late sample can look falsely low.
- Fasting is not essential, but Australian and international guidance prefers a fasting morning sample for testosterone, because a meal can lower the level for a few hours. If you can, book the first slot of the day and have breakfast afterwards. The other six markers are not affected.
- Be well and rested. Acute illness, a heavy night or very poor sleep lower testosterone temporarily. Pick an ordinary day.
- Medicines and supplements: list anything you take, including gym supplements, on your questionnaire. Some affect these hormones.
- Pair it with semen analysis if you can: the two together give the doctor the full picture in one round.
How it works
- Order online. Either upload the request your own doctor has signed, or a KnowLuna doctor reviews your questionnaire and requests the test at no extra charge.
- Collect at an accredited (NATA) centre near you before 10am, or choose a home kit or an early nurse visit (options below). One standard blood draw.
- Results are usually ready within a few business days, explained in your account. Add the optional consult if you want a doctor to talk them through.
Choose how you collect
Every option is the same accredited test and the same report. Pick what suits you at checkout; the fee, if any, is added to either pathway price.
A quick draw at an accredited pathology collection centre near you. Usually under ten minutes. Included.
Lancet kit posted to you with an Express return satchel. If the lab cannot test your sample we send a replacement kit at no charge.
A near-painless device draws a small sample from the upper arm, with far fewer failed samples than a finger-prick. Express return satchel included.
A registered nurse comes to your home or workplace for a standard blood draw. Metro areas of capital cities; other locations on request.
Common questions
What is a normal testosterone level for men?
Most Australian laboratories quote a morning total testosterone range of roughly 8 to 30 nmol/L for adult men, with the exact limits depending on the lab and method. Levels decline slowly with age. A single low result is repeated on another morning before it is considered genuinely low, and it is always read with LH, FSH and how you feel.
Should the test be done in the morning?
Yes, before 10am. Testosterone follows a daily rhythm and is highest soon after waking, then falls through the day. Endocrine Society of Australia guidance bases male testosterone assessment on morning samples, so an afternoon reading can look low when it is not. Book the earliest slot your collection centre offers.
Do I need to fast?
Fasting is not essential, but Australian and international guidance prefers a fasting morning sample for testosterone, because a meal can lower the level for a few hours. FSH, LH, SHBG, oestradiol and prolactin are not affected. Booking the first slot and eating afterwards covers both. Time of day, being rested and not being acutely unwell matter just as much.
How does this relate to semen analysis?
Semen analysis shows the sperm: count, movement and shape. The hormone panel shows the system that produces them. If the semen result is abnormal, FSH and LH help the doctor tell a testicular cause from a signalling cause, which changes the next step. Doing both together gives the complete male-factor picture in one round.
Can my partner and I be tested at the same time?
Yes. Many couples book the female fertility panel and the male hormone panel for the same morning at the same collection centre, and add semen analysis per the laboratory's instructions. Results land in each person's own account, and a KnowLuna doctor can discuss them with you together if you both choose the consult.
Sources and further reading
- Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA): testosterone
- Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA): follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA): luteinising hormone (LH)
- Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA): prolactin
- Yeap BB et al. Endocrine Society of Australia position statement on male hypogonadism (part 1): assessment. Med J Aust 2016
- Better Health Channel: androgen deficiency in men
- Healthdirect: male infertility
General information only, not medical advice. A test result is one input to a doctor's assessment, not a diagnosis on its own, and every abnormal result is followed up by a KnowLuna doctor. If your symptoms are severe or sudden, see a doctor promptly. Read our medical disclaimer.
Related
- Partner tests: the stage hub.
- Semen analysis: count, movement and shape.
- AMH and fertility panel: the female side of the picture.
- Semen analysis in Australia: cost, how it works and how to read the result
Test together.