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Free Androgen Index Monitoring

Meaning

Free Androgen Index Monitoring is a clinical assessment strategy that utilizes the ratio of total circulating testosterone to Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) to estimate the biologically active, or “free,” fraction of androgens in the bloodstream. Since SHBG binds a significant portion of androgens, rendering them inactive, this index provides a more accurate picture of tissue-available hormone than total testosterone alone. Clinically, monitoring this index is crucial for evaluating symptoms related to androgen excess or deficiency in both men and women, such as libido changes, muscle mass, and skin health. This dynamic measurement is a superior metric for assessing true androgenic status.