Diagnostics of
Andropause

How does the doctor determine testosterone deficiency?

Many men suspect it — but they don't know it. They haven't felt truly fit for months or years, they sleep poorly, have less drive, less desire. But to turn a suspicion into a clear diagnosis, it takes more than a gut feeling: it takes a structured medical consultation and targeted lab testing.

On this page you will learn how the diagnosis of andropause proceeds — what the doctor asks, which tests are done and why a single lab value alone is never enough.

Why an accurate diagnosis is so important

Testosterone deficiency can hide behind many faces: exhaustion, mood swings, erectile problems, weight gain. But the same symptoms also arise from other causes — thyroid diseases, diabetes, depression or sleep apnea, for example.

A hasty diagnosis or self-medication with hormones is therefore risky. Careful diagnostics protect you — and are the basis of every good treatment decision.

At AndroKlinik, we combine a structured initial consultation with a comprehensive laboratory panel. So that you enter the consultation optimally prepared, you will automatically receive a link to your personal medical history form after booking — to fill out at your leisure at home. Only when the questionnaire and lab values show a clear picture will next steps be discussed.

The diagnostic process at AndroKlinik: step by step

Medical history form in advance
(via link)

After booking, you will automatically receive a personal link to your medical history form — conveniently fillable from home and to be returned to us before the appointment. This way, the doctor can already know your situation before the consultation begins.
Video consultation

30–45 minutes with the specialist: your symptoms, your history, your questions. Based on the consultation, the doctor creates the individual lab order.
Blood sampling close to home

You visit a partner lab near you (Synlab, Labor MVZ, etc.) — no long journey, no appointment chaos. The standard panel covers all relevant hormone levels.
Results evaluation

Within 48 hours, the specialist evaluates your lab values and explains them to you in a second video consultation — with concrete next steps.
Treatment plan

If there is a need for treatment, you will receive an individual, written treatment plan. A private prescription can be issued directly as an e-prescription.

Book an initial consultation now

Video consultation with the andrologist — incl. lab order and results evaluation.

Book a consultation now

The medical consultation: what to expect

The consultation with the specialist is the heart of the diagnostics. Lab figures say a lot — but without knowing the person behind them, they are just numbers. That's why we take our time.

What the doctor will ask about:

Which symptoms exist, since when and how severe
General health status and pre-existing conditions
Current medications (some can influence hormone levels)
Lifestyle habits: sleep, diet, exercise, stress, alcohol
Sexual health and satisfaction
Family planning and desire to have children
Previous hormone diagnostics or therapy

The AMS questionnaire: making symptoms measurable

To assess the severity of complaints, many andrologists use the internationally recognized AMS questionnaire (Aging Males' Symptoms Scale). It captures 17 typical symptoms and makes them comparable. At AndroKlinik, this questionnaire is part of the medical history form that you receive via link before your first video consultation — so the doctor already has your information available and can tailor the consultation specifically to your situation.

Here is a simplified overview of the areas covered — as a preview of what awaits you in the medical history form. Please note: the completed form is a valuable basis for discussion, but does not replace a medical assessment.

Symptom	None	Mild	Moderate	Severe	Very severe
Decline in general well-being	○	○	○	○	○
Joint and muscle pain	○	○	○	○	○
Excessive sweating / hot flashes	○	○	○	○	○
Sleep problems	○	○	○	○	○
Increased need for sleep / frequent tiredness	○	○	○	○	○
Irritability / nervousness	○	○	○	○	○
Anxiety / inner restlessness	○	○	○	○	○
Declining physical performance	○	○	○	○	○
Decline in muscle strength	○	○	○	○	○
Depressive mood	○	○	○	○	○
Feeling of having passed the peak of life	○	○	○	○	○
Decline in potency / erection	○	○	○	○	○
Decrease in frequency of morning erections	○	○	○	○	○
Decline in libido / sexual desire	○	○	○	○	○

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The hormone lab: which values are measured?

A blood test alone does not make a diagnosis — but it can't be done without it. The crucial point: a complete hormone panel should be taken, not just a single testosterone value.

Why? Because testosterone exists in a complex balance in the body. Only when you know all the influencing factors can you correctly assess what is going on.

We analyze a great many values (you will receive a detailed list by email). Here is a small selection of blood values that you may have heard of in connection with andropause:

Important: when should blood be taken?

Testosterone follows a daily rhythm: the values are highest in the morning.
Recommendation: blood sampling while fasting, between 7:00 and 10:00 in the morning.
No physical exertion on the day before the sampling.
In case of abnormal values: repeat measurement on another day for confirmation.

Value	Meaning	Normal range (orientation)	Why important?
Total testosterone	The total volume of the hormone in the blood	12–35 nmol/l (adults)	Baseline value – but often not meaningful on its own
Free testosterone	The biologically active, directly effective portion	0.2–0.6 nmol/l	Decisive: what is actually available to the body
SHBG	Transport protein that binds testosterone	10–70 nmol/l	High SHBG = less free testosterone despite normal total values
LH	Signal from the brain to the testes to produce	1.5–9.3 IU/l	Shows whether the hormone system regulates correctly
FSH	Controls sperm production	1.5–12.4 IU/l	Relevant for desire to have children and testicular health
PSA	Prostate-specific antigen	< 4.0 ng/ml (up to age 50)	Safety check before any hormone therapy
Blood count	General health status, hematocrit	Lab-specific	Under TRT, hematocrit can rise – important check
Thyroid (TSH)	Regulates energy metabolism	0.4–4.0 mIU/l	Thyroid disorders often imitate andropause symptoms
Metabolic (glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol)	Metabolic health	Lab-specific	Overweight and diabetes accelerate testosterone decline

All normal ranges are orientation values. The interpretation is always done in the clinical context — by the specialist, not by the lab sheet alone.

Your lab value check with the specialist

We organize blood sampling, evaluation and treatment plan —
all from a single source, nationwide via telemedicine.

Book a consultation now

Differential diagnoses

What else could be behind it?

A responsible andrologist never considers the symptom picture in isolation. Various diseases can cause symptoms similar to testosterone deficiency — or exist simultaneously:

Possible cause	Why it comes into question
Depression	Similar symptoms: lack of drive, low mood, loss of libido – but can also be partly caused by testosterone deficiency
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)	Exhaustion, weight gain and sensitivity to cold overlap strongly with andropause symptoms
Sleep apnea	Poor sleep directly lowers testosterone – and causes daytime tiredness and concentration problems
Diabetes / metabolic syndrome	Insulin resistance inhibits testosterone production – overweight intensifies the effect
Primary hypogonadism	Malfunction of the testes themselves – not age-related, recognizable by high LH with low testosterone
Hyperprolactinemia	Elevated prolactin (e.g. due to medications or a pituitary tumor) inhibits testosterone production

Frequently asked questions about andropause diagnostics

Can I also do the testosterone test myself at home?

Home tests for testosterone are available, but for good reason are no substitute for a medical diagnosis. They usually only measure a single value, at a random time, without clinical context. Results can fluctuate greatly and lead to erroneous conclusions — in both directions.

What does diagnostics at AndroKlinik cost?

Our services are aimed at self-payers and are billed according to GOÄ. Orientation prices for the various packages can be found on our services page. The lab costs are billed directly through the partner lab and vary depending on the scope of the panel.

Does the health insurance cover the costs?

Statutory health insurance benefits for andropause diagnostics are limited. The insurance usually only covers this in case of a clinically clear suspicion and after referral by the general practitioner. Our offer is primarily aimed at self-payers — in return you receive specialist care without waiting times and at the highest level.

How long does it take until I have my result?

After the blood sampling at the partner lab, the values are usually available within 24–48 hours. The specialist then evaluates the results and discusses them with you in a second video consultation — including a treatment plan if there is a need for action.

What happens if my testosterone is within the normal range?

A normal testosterone value does not rule out that your complaints have a cause. The specialist considers the overall picture: symptoms, test results and life situation. Other hormonal factors or concomitant diseases may be responsible for the complaints — and that too can be clarified.

Clarity begins with a conversation

Book your initial consultation now — specialist, discreet and without long waiting times.

About the author

Dr. med. Timo A. Spanholtz
Specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery - Specialist for Men's Health and Intimate Surgery

Dr. Spanholtz is the founder and chief physician of AndroKlinik. With many years of clinical experience in men's health, andrology and reconstructive urology, he supports patients from the entire German-speaking region.

Learn more

Diagnostics of
Andropause

How does the doctor determine testosterone deficiency?

Why an accurate diagnosis is so important

The diagnostic process at AndroKlinik: step by step

Book an initial consultation now