What it measures
The ratio is total testosterone divided by cortisol, worked out from two results on the same sample. Testosterone is linked with building body tissue and cortisol with breaking it down, so the ratio is used in sports science as a rough guide to the balance between the two.
Why people test it
- Included in some sports and wellness panels that report testosterone and cortisol together.
- Gives one number to follow across repeated tests taken under the same conditions.
- Used in sports science as a rough marker of training stress and recovery.
- Followed by some athletes over a season, with each test taken at the same time of day.
Typical range
There is no widely agreed range. The ratio depends on the units and methods each lab uses for testosterone and cortisol, so results compare only within the same lab. Your report shows any range the lab gives.
Finger-prick or vein?
A vein sample is usually advised. Hormone results from finger-prick samples can be raised by creams or gels on the fingers, especially testosterone gel.
Both hormones change through the day, so samples are usually taken in the morning.