# Total testosterone **Testosterone**, a steroid hormone, plays a crucial role in overall health, sexual function, and athletic performance. Maintaining optimal testosterone levels is vital for athletic performance as it aids in muscle development, enhances strength, and boosts the body's oxygen-utilizing capacity during physical activity. In men, testosterone not only supports muscle growth and strength but also fortifies bone health and helps prevent age-related bone loss. Testosterone levels fluctuate through the day, thus testing should occur no later than 10 AM (and preferably 7 AM) for correct interpretation. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.beoptimal.ca/biomarker-panels/male-performance-panel/total-testosterone.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.