Are you experiencing symptoms of testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) or male hypogonadism? This could include erectile dysfunction, reduced libido, or enlarged breast tissue. Checking your DHT levels can give your insight into testicular dysfunction and male pattern baldness. Our test is also helpful if you’re a woman experiencing hirsutism, which is excessive hair growth on your face and body. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgen, which is a hormone that stimulates the development of male characteristics through converting testosterone. The testes and prostate in men, and the ovaries in women, convert around 10% of daily testosterone to DHT. Many of the effects that testosterone has in the body only happen after it is converted to DHT. Elevated DHT levels may indicate hypogonadism (when the testes do not function properly) or hirsutism (excessive hair growth on a woman’s face and body). Please take your sample before 10am. Take this test two to five days after the start of your period, ideally on day three. It can be taken any time if you do not have periods. Hormonal contraception can affect this test, taking a break from this and using barrier contraception will give more accurate results. If you use hormone gels, pessaries, patches, or tablets, we strongly recommend selecting a venous sample to minimise contamination.