The variability of the testosterone response: Why lab values aren’t everything!
Have you ever wondered why two athletes can achieve completely different blood levels and clinical effects despite identical testosterone dosing?
The decisive factor is often not the external supply, but rather the density and expression of your androgen receptors (AR) in the target tissue.
The higher the androgen receptor density (AR) in the tissue, the more efficiently testosterone can be bound and utilized.
This means: A moderate or even low blood level does not rule out a strong androgen-dependent effect.
The actual effect occurs in the tissue – not in the lab report.
Your individual response to testosterone is also influenced by genetic factors, in particular the CAG repeat polymorphism of the androgen receptor.
In practice, factors such as libido, strength gains, recovery, and progression are therefore often more meaningful than the pure serum value.
BR from someone who works in a lab