What are the difference between Serum E and Total E?

[fluttershy1617]

What are Total E, Free E and Serum E, also Free T and Total T

Which of them are important to check?

Im really confused people are talking about what hormone level should be but there are different kinds of E and T ( like Total E and Serum E)  Which ones should I check to be sure if I reach to the ideal hormone levels that I can benefit from?

[Dena]

The two primary numbers your interested in are estradiol and testosterone. Your doctor might run total estrogen which sometimes is informative however it's not required in order to determine what's going on. The free numbers determine how your body is using the hormone and aren't normally used when determining the dosage.

[PurplePelican]

Free T is the T that is not bound to SHBG or albumin and is directly bio-active. Total T level includes Free T plus the bound T. LH and FSH are also handy to monitor as they are an indicator of testicular function. Free E is also unbound E, but is usually only around 2% of Total E.

The two primary numbers your interested in are estradiol and testosterone. Your doctor might run total estrogen which sometimes is informative however it's not required in order to determine what's going on. The free numbers determine how your body is using the hormone and aren't normally used when determining the dosage.

Total or Free T, Dena? And what's the difference? Because that's what the OP was asking. LH/FSH are also handy to know.. Estrone level is also good to know if you are on oral meds. It's also good for those on progestins (like cypro) to have their prolactin checked from time to time too.