Testosterone

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Male reproductive anatomy

Serum testosterone

The risks associated with having blood drawn from a vein are slight:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling lightheaded
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
• Multiple punctures to locate veins

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

More sensitive tests can measure not only the total amount of testosterone in the blood, but can also determine how much of that total amount is "free" or "bioavailable" testosterone.

Review Date: 03/08/2006
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, M.D., Department of Biology, COllege of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.