Men’s health
8 labs every man should be checking.
Low energy, less drive, weight that won’t move or just not feeling like yourself? These 8 labs show what’s going on with your hormones, blood, heart and metabolism, so you can stop guessing.
Blood tests for men
The 8 labs, and what each one shows.
Testosterone is only two of them. The rest cover your blood, prostate, heart and metabolism. Plus blood pressure at every check-in.
Total testosterone
The main measure of testosterone. The goal is steady and optimal, not as high as possible.
Free testosterone
Only about 2% of testosterone is free, the part the body can use. It often tracks how a man feels better than total does.
SHBG
Binds testosterone and locks it up. High SHBG can mean low free T with a normal total. Low SHBG is linked to insulin resistance.
Estradiol
Men need it for bone, libido and body composition. Too low: fat storage and lost drive. Too high: water retention.
Hematocrit
Measures red blood cells. Too many and the blood thickens. It’s also the most common side effect of TRT, so it’s watched closely on therapy.
PSA
A prostate health marker. The old idea that TRT causes prostate cancer hasn’t held up. Still track it, and see a urologist if it rises.
Lipids and ApoB
Heart disease is still the number one killer of men. ApoB counts the particles that build plaque.
Metabolic panel and A1c
Liver, kidneys and blood sugar. A1c shows where glucose has been living for the last three months.
Check your signs
Which of these sound familiar?
Tap anything that applies, even if it feels minor or unrelated. Many men write these off as stress or getting older. Often they point to something a lab can measure.
Your pattern
Start tapping the signs you’ve noticed.
Your count updates as you go. Nothing you tap is saved or sent anywhere.
The next step is to test, not guess.
Start with Labs Questions first? Talk to a Care CoordinatorThis self-check is for education and isn’t a diagnosis.
Why testing matters
Small numbers, big differences.
A few of the reasons these labs are worth knowing.
Ettehad et al., The Lancet, 2016
of testosterone is free, the part the body can actually use.
lower stroke risk for every 10-point drop in systolic blood pressure.
lower risk of death from any cause for every 10-point drop in systolic blood pressure.
Why it gets missed
One testosterone number isn’t a plan.
Most men who get tested get a single total testosterone result. It leaves out how much is usable, what’s happening in the blood and where heart and metabolic health are heading.
A normal total, a low free.
High SHBG can lock testosterone up, so total looks fine while free testosterone is low.
Symptoms with more than one cause.
Fatigue, low drive and weight gain can come from hormones, blood sugar, sleep or heart health. Testing shows which.
The long game.
Heart disease is still the number one killer of men. Lipids, ApoB and A1c show where things are heading.
At Nava, a physician reads all eight together.
How Nava works
Test first. Then track what changes.
Test first.
All 8 labs plus 70+ biomarkers, drawn at one of 2,000+ lab locations. Results in 5 to 7 business days.
Review it with a physician.
A 60-minute consult with a physician or nurse practitioner, plus 60 minutes with a registered dietitian. A plan built from your results, not a single number.
Track your progress.
Retest to see what’s working. With the membership, labs and consults repeat every 4 months.
What clients say about Nava.
Choose your starting point
Two ways to start.
Start with one complete review, or track your numbers over time with the membership. Both are HSA/FSA eligible.
One-time diagnostic lab and clinical review.
$299
- Whole-body testing, 70+ biomarkers
- Two 60-minute consults: physician or NP, and dietitian
- Nava Health Score and dashboard
- Personalized plan and prescription delivery
Nava Vitality Membership.
$199 /month
- Testing and consults 3 times a year, so you can see what’s changing
- Nava Health Score and dashboard
- Personalized plan and prescription delivery
Real people. Real answers.
Talk to a Nava care coordinator.
- Callback within one hour during business hours
- Free, no obligation
- Cash-pay, HSA/FSA eligible
Mon-Fri 7:30am-7:00pm ET · Sat 9:00am-4:00pm ET
Request a call.
Your information is never sold · No obligation consultation
Questions men ask first.
Do I need symptoms to get these labs?
No. Plenty of men test to get a baseline. Symptoms just make it more worth doing.
Is this just a testosterone test?
No. Testosterone is two of the eight labs. The rest cover your blood, prostate, heart and metabolism, and the full panel includes 70+ biomarkers.
Will I have to start TRT?
No. Testing comes first, and treatment is only one possible outcome. Your plan is built from your results.
What happens after my labs?
A 60-minute consult with a physician or nurse practitioner, a 60-minute consult with a registered dietitian, and a personalized plan.
Is it covered by insurance?
Nava is cash-pay and HSA/FSA eligible.
Is Nava available in my state?
Services are available in AZ, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, MD, NJ, NY, NC, PA, TX, VA and WV. Enter your ZIP when you start to confirm.
Know your numbers. Then decide.
Eight labs, read by a physician, with a plan built from your results.