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Sexual performance difficulties often have a measurable hormonal or metabolic cause. Eight markers. Evidence-based answers.
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A focused panel measuring testosterone, SHBG, oestradiol, prolactin, thyroid function, HbA1c, and fasting glucose.
Sexual performance difficulties in men have a physiological basis far more often than they are given credit for. Low libido, erectile difficulties, and reduced sexual satisfaction frequently reflect imbalances in testosterone, elevated oestradiol, hyperprolactinaemia, thyroid dysfunction, or metabolic factors such as insulin resistance and impaired endothelial function. This eight-marker panel tests the core hormonal and metabolic variables most likely to be contributing to sexual performance concerns in men. Free and total testosterone, SHBG, and oestradiol characterise the androgenic environment; prolactin identifies the pituitary hormone that, when elevated, potently suppresses libido; thyroid function captures the metabolic context; and fasting glucose screens for the vascular endothelial damage that underlies diabetic erectile dysfunction. Every result is reviewed by a GMC-registered physician with commentary relevant to male sexual health.
Understand what each marker measures, why it matters, and what the science says — not just a list of numbers.
This panel is designed for adults who want a comprehensive, evidence-based picture of their metabolic health — not a GP referral panel.
Men experiencing reduced libido or loss of sexual interest
Men with erectile difficulties wanting to investigate a physiological cause
Men over 40 as part of annual hormonal health monitoring
Men on testosterone replacement therapy monitoring their hormone panel
Men who have noticed other low-testosterone symptoms: fatigue, mood changes, reduced muscle mass
Testosterone levels vary significantly with time of day, sleep quality, stress, alcohol intake, and acute illness. Morning collection (before 9 am) is essential for accurate results; testosterone measured in the afternoon may be 20 to 30 percent lower than the morning value. A single testosterone measurement does not account for day-to-day variation; a borderline result should be repeated on a separate morning before conclusions are drawn. Free testosterone in this panel is calculated from total testosterone, SHBG, and albumin using the Vermeulen equation, which is a validated estimate rather than a direct measurement. Erectile dysfunction has both physiological and psychological components that cannot be fully characterised by blood testing alone; specialist psychosexual or urology assessment may be required alongside this panel.
From order to physician-reviewed report in as little as three working days.
Home fingerstick kit or mobile phlebotomist at checkout.
Before 9 am, fasted, ideally on a rest day after good sleep.
Pre-paid Royal Mail envelope included.
Physician commentary contextualised for male sexual health in 3 to 5 working days.
Three options designed to fit your schedule, location, and preference — all producing a laboratory-standard sample.
Adults 18+ in mainland UK. Not suitable if you have had a transfusion in the last 3 months.
Order anytime; kit dispatched within 24 hours Mon–Fri.
Allow 24–48 hours for sample transit on top of lab processing time.
Adults 18+ within 20 miles of a serviced city centre.
Mon–Sun, 06:00–20:00. Next-day booking typical.
Sample reaches the lab within 24 hours of collection.
Adults 16+ with photo ID. Paediatric draws by appointment at selected sites.
Mon–Fri, with Saturday hours at most metropolitan locations.
Samples processed same-day at the receiving clinic.
Every test is processed in a UKAS ISO 15189-accredited laboratory, overseen by GMC-registered physicians, and governed by UK GDPR. No overseas processing, no offshore data.
Follow these guidelines to ensure accurate, reproducible results. Most markers are sensitive to recent food, exercise, and sleep.
Can't find your answer? Our clinical support team is available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.
Contact supportThe normal range for total testosterone in adult men is approximately 8.7 to 29 nmol/L in most UK laboratory reference ranges. Hypogonadism is generally defined as total testosterone below 8 to 10 nmol/L alongside symptoms. However, many men experience symptoms of testosterone insufficiency in the low-to-mid normal range (10 to 15 nmol/L), particularly if SHBG is elevated, reducing free testosterone disproportionately. The free testosterone calculation is therefore important for a complete picture; the typical lower limit of free testosterone is around 225 pmol/L in UK guidelines.
Oestradiol (E2) is produced in men via aromatisation of testosterone in adipose tissue, liver, and testes. A degree of oestradiol is normal and necessary in men — it contributes to bone density, cardiovascular protection, and sexual function. However, elevated oestradiol (above approximately 180 to 200 pmol/L in most reference ranges) suppresses gonadotrophin release from the pituitary, reducing testosterone production and frequently causing reduced libido, erectile difficulties, and gynecomastia (breast tissue growth). Elevated oestradiol in men is commonly associated with obesity, heavy alcohol consumption, liver disease, or, in some cases, excess aromatase activity.
Elevated prolactin (hyperprolactinaemia) in men has several causes. The most benign is stress or recent vigorous exercise — prolactin rises acutely with these stimuli and falls within hours. If prolactin is persistently elevated on a repeat fasting morning collection, the causes to consider include a benign pituitary tumour (prolactinoma), medications (antipsychotics, some antidepressants, metoclopramide), hypothyroidism, renal impairment, or, rarely, other pituitary pathology. Prolactinoma is the most common pituitary tumour and is highly treatable with dopamine agonist medications (cabergoline, bromocriptine). Your physician commentary will recommend a repeat test and GP referral if prolactin is elevated.
Yes. Diabetic erectile dysfunction is one of the most common complications of type 2 diabetes and is estimated to affect 35 to 75 percent of men with diabetes at some point. It occurs through two mechanisms: vascular damage (chronic hyperglycaemia damages the small blood vessels supplying the penile erectile tissue) and neuropathy (peripheral nerve damage impairing the autonomic signals required for erection). The fasting glucose in this panel screens for undiagnosed or poorly controlled hyperglycaemia as a contributing factor. Optimising glycaemic control can improve erectile function, particularly in the earlier stages before vascular damage becomes irreversible.
No, and it is not intended to. This panel provides objective data that can inform a GP consultation and guide clinical decision-making. Sexual performance concerns are often more efficiently assessed when you arrive with specific blood results in hand, as it removes the need for the GP to order tests before acting. However, a full clinical assessment — including medical history, medication review, blood pressure, and sometimes specialist referral — is necessary for diagnosis and treatment. The physician commentary will clearly indicate which findings warrant GP follow-up and what questions to raise in that consultation.
