Bioavailable testosterone is the portion of circulating testosterone that is not tightly bound to Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG), comprising the free and the albumin-bound fractions of the hormone. This specific pool is readily dissociable from its transport proteins and is therefore accessible to diffuse into target tissues to exert its biological effects. Clinically, it represents the most accurate measure of a patient’s functional androgen status, particularly when SHBG levels are either elevated or suppressed.
Origin
The concept of bioavailable testosterone arose from a refined understanding of hormone transport dynamics in the bloodstream, moving beyond the limitations of total testosterone measurements. It is a fundamental concept in endocrinology, recognizing that protein binding significantly influences a hormone’s functional activity. The term is a composite of “bio-” (life), “available” (ready for use), and the steroid hormone “testosterone.”
Mechanism
Testosterone circulates predominantly bound to two plasma proteins: SHBG, which binds tightly, and albumin, which binds loosely. The albumin-bound fraction can easily dissociate at the capillary level, along with the unbound or free fraction, allowing both to interact with cellular androgen receptors. This combined free and albumin-bound portion constitutes the bioavailable pool, which is the key driver of androgenic effects on muscle, bone, libido, and cognition. The tight binding to SHBG renders the remainder of the hormone metabolically inert.
Digital tools can illuminate health patterns, but guiding hormonal therapy requires a clinician's synthesis of your data with precise biochemical analysis.
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