What’s the Deal with Testosterone and Selection Success?

Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of questions like:

• “Should I get my testosterone tested?”
• “I’m 21, and my levels are 400. Is that bad? Do I need TRT?”

These questions often lead to a broader discussion about testosterone, performance, and selection success.

So, let’s break it down.

Does Testosterone Really Matter?

Research on 800 candidates at Special Forces Assessment and Selection between 2015 and 2017 showed:

• No Strong Correlation with Selection Success: Testosterone levels didn’t significantly predict who got selected.

• Weak Link to Performance: Higher testosterone was weakly associated with better running and rucking performance, but the impact was minimal.
• Other Hormones Were Bigger Predictors: Higher cortisol and SHBG levels were linked to better outcomes, and lower CRP (a marker of inflammation) correlated with higher success rates.

Natural 200 is the Same as Natural 700?

To me, what’s most interesting about this data is that candidates with testosterone levels as low as 210-310 ng/dL had similar selection rates to those with levels between 514-720 ng/dL.

How is that possible? Total testosterone isn’t the whole story.

Here’s what else matters:

• Androgen Receptor Density: Your body’s response to testosterone depends on receptor density and sensitivity. Someone with “low” testosterone could still perform better if their receptors are more effective.
• Other Hormones Matter: SHBG regulates how much testosterone is freely circulating and available to muscle tissue. Both too much and too little SHBG can impact performance.
• Lifestyle Drives Results: Sleep, diet, and stress management have major effects. One poor night of sleep drinking will tank your levels.

Should You Get Tested?

So, you may be wondering, should you get your testosterone checked? This is something to talk to your doctor about, but my general opinion is that (regardless of the measure) it’s good to have baseline health measures.

If you’re going to get your levels checked, though, please do it right and follow these rules. Countless times I have had people share test results done unfasted and in the afternoon which are completely useless.

1. Morning Test: Testosterone follows a diurnal rhythm and peaks in the morning, so test between 7-10 AM.
2. Fasted State: Avoid eating for 8-12 hours before your test because you probably have other markers being tested that require fasting.
3. Well-Fed Overall: Make sure you’re not calorie-deprived in the days and weeks leading up to the test.
4. Ultra-Sensitive Testing: Ideally, you’ll have ultra-sensitive tests done for total and free testosterone in addition to testing for SHBG and your regular health panel.

So, Your Results Came Back “Low”, “Medium, or “High”

Once you get your results back, you’re going to be given a reference range, usually somewhere between 250 and 1,000ng/dl for total testosterone. And based on that range, you’re going to subconsciously categorize yourself as low, medium, or high t.

When you get your results, don’t get in your head too much.

If you’re performing well, feeling good, and come back at 350ng/dl, it’s not a problem. In fact, there are a lot of new reasons to believe that how your body uses testosterone can be just as important as the total amount.

Depending on the reference range, 10nmol/l is the cut-off for “low” testosterone levels. 25% of Olympic male athletes (confirmed natural via LH/FSH bloodwork) had levels below 10nmol/l (288ng/dl)

Now, this is not to say that levels do not matter. If someone is truly hypogonadal (exhibiting symptoms), they’re going to be at a disadvantage. But this data (and plenty of others) also shows many guys thrive at “low” levels of testosterone, even Olympic athletes.

The Bottom Line

Selection data shows no significant link between testosterone levels and success. My take is that this is because natural variations within the normal testosterone range (250 – 1,000 ng/dl) don’t create drastic differences in performance. And more importantly, selection rewards performance, not what shows up on your bloodwork.

Factors like ruck performance, muscle mass, and run times are the real predictors of success- I’ve previously shared data showing they can 10x your odds of making it.

And those performance metrics are all entirely within your control. You can train for them, improve them, and master them (according to your schedule and timeline).

Want to get to selection ASAP? Train more. In school and have a longer timeline? You can train less.

This is why selection stands as one of the most meritocratic tests you’ll ever face.

If you put in the work and time, you can be selected.

Read More:
What Predicts Success At Special Forces Assessment & Selection? A Comprehensive Guide (5,000+ words)