Quick answer: Function Health gives men a solid annual blood draw covering testosterone (total and free), PSA, a full metabolic panel, lipids, thyroid, and about 100 additional markers for roughly $499 per year. It is better than what most primary care visits order. However, men who want deeper cardiovascular intelligence (ApoB, Lp(a), oxidized LDL), a true hormone axis read (LH, FSH, SHBG together), or physician interpretation baked into the price will find it leaves gaps. The panel is strong; the support layer is thin.
What Does Function Health Actually Test in Men?
Function Health runs roughly 100 biomarkers in its standard annual membership. For a man evaluating the service, the male-relevant highlights are: total testosterone, free testosterone (calculated), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), DHEA-S, estradiol, PSA (total), complete metabolic panel, CBC with differential, lipid panel (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides), TSH, free T4, free T3, HbA1c, fasting glucose, insulin, ferritin, vitamin D, vitamin B12, homocysteine, hsCRP, and uric acid. That is a genuinely useful baseline, and Quest Diagnostics draws the blood at one of thousands of locations nationwide.
What you will not find in the standard panel: ApoB, Lp(a), direct LDL particle count (NMR LipoProfile), oxidized LDL, TMAO, cortisol (serum or salivary), comprehensive adrenal axis markers, IGF-1, or a detailed thyroid antibody panel (TPO and TgAb). These are available as paid add-ons, ranging roughly $15 to $99 each depending on the test. For a full breakdown of add-on pricing see our function health add-on test prices guide.
Is the Testosterone Panel Good Enough for Men?
Function Health measures total testosterone, calculated free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol, and DHEA-S. That set covers the most common questions: is your total T low, is your free T low relative to total (which SHBG explains), and is estrogen conversion running high. For most men in their 30s and 40s doing a first baseline, this is entirely adequate.
The gap shows up if you are already on TRT or peptide therapy, or if your clinician suspects a central (pituitary) driver of low T. In those cases you want LH and FSH alongside the rest. Function Health does not include LH or FSH in the standard draw. You can add them, but they cost extra and require you to know to ask. By contrast, a TRT clinic or a service like Superpower typically bundles LH, FSH, and SHBG together as a default because the axis only makes clinical sense as a unit.
A worked example: a 41-year-old man gets his Function Health results and sees total testosterone at 420 ng/dL (low-normal) and calculated free testosterone at 8.2 pg/mL (below most labs’ reference range). SHBG is 62 nmol/L (high). That is a clinically meaningful picture: high SHBG is trapping testosterone. But without LH and FSH in the same draw, his clinician cannot tell whether the problem originates in the testes, the pituitary, or just lifestyle. Function Health gives him half the puzzle.
PSA Testing: What Function Health Includes and What It Misses
Function Health includes total PSA in the standard male panel, which is the appropriate entry-level prostate cancer screening marker for men over 40 (and younger men with family history or BRCA2 mutations). Total PSA is what the US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations are built around, so its presence is correct.
What Function Health does not include by default: free PSA, the free-to-total PSA ratio, or PSA velocity tracking unless you have historical results to compare. The free-to-total ratio matters when total PSA sits in the gray zone of 4 to 10 ng/mL, where a low ratio (under 25%) increases suspicion for prostate cancer versus benign prostatic hyperplasia. Men in that gray zone typically end up needing a separate order from their urologist anyway. Function Health’s PSA inclusion is a screening signal, not a diagnostic workup, which is appropriate for a membership panel.
One practical note: if you are over 50 and your PSA comes back elevated, talk to a clinician before ordering any add-ons or follow-up imaging yourself. Function Health surfaces the number; it does not walk you through the clinical decision tree.
Cardiovascular Markers: Where Function Health Underserves Men
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American men, and this is where the function health review for men gets most critical. The standard lipid panel (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides) that Function Health runs is 1970s-era cardiovascular risk assessment. It tells you the cholesterol concentration in your blood but says nothing about particle number, particle size, or the most atherogenic fractions.
ApoB is the single most informative cardiovascular risk marker available on a blood test. Every atherogenic lipoprotein particle (LDL, VLDL, IDL, Lp(a)) carries one ApoB molecule, so the ApoB count equals the atherogenic particle count. A man can have a normal LDL-C of 110 mg/dL and an ApoB of 135 mg/g/dL (elevated risk) if his particles are small and dense. Function Health does not include ApoB in the standard panel; it is an add-on at around $25 to $35. For a man with a family history of early heart disease, that omission in the default draw is worth knowing about before you sign up.
Lp(a) is genetically determined and is elevated in roughly 20% of the population. Elevated Lp(a) roughly doubles cardiovascular and aortic valve disease risk independent of all other factors. It does not respond meaningfully to lifestyle changes, so knowing it once in a lifetime is the standard recommendation. Function Health does not include it in the standard panel.
| Marker | In Function Health Standard | Clinical Relevance for Men |
|---|---|---|
| Total testosterone | Yes | Baseline; misses axis without LH/FSH |
| Free testosterone | Calculated (not direct) | Less accurate than direct assay; adequate for screening |
| SHBG | Yes | Explains free T; critical for TRT evaluation |
| LH / FSH | No (add-on) | Essential for central vs. primary hypogonadism |
| PSA (total) | Yes | Prostate cancer screening; no free PSA ratio |
| ApoB | No (add-on ~$30) | Best single cardiovascular risk marker |
| Lp(a) | No (add-on) | Genetic CVD risk; test once in a lifetime |
| hsCRP | Yes | Inflammation / CVD risk |
| HbA1c + fasting insulin | Yes | Metabolic health / insulin resistance |
| IGF-1 | No (add-on) | Growth hormone axis; relevant for men on peptides |
Metabolic and Insulin Resistance Markers
Function Health earns its keep in the metabolic domain. The standard panel includes fasting glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin, and a complete metabolic panel (liver enzymes, kidney function, electrolytes). This combination lets you calculate HOMA-IR (a validated insulin resistance index) and catch pre-diabetes years before a primary care doctor would flag it on a standard annual visit that often omits fasting insulin entirely.
For a man in his late 30s who exercises regularly and eats reasonably well, a fasting insulin above 10 uIU/mL is a meaningful early signal even if HbA1c looks normal. Most primary care labs would miss this because they do not order fasting insulin as standard. Function Health does. That single marker inclusion, at the price point of the membership, arguably justifies the cost for many men.
Uric acid is also included, which is relevant for men with gout risk, but also increasingly recognized as a metabolic health proxy (elevated uric acid tracks with fructose overconsumption and early insulin resistance). Ferritin appears as well, and in men (unlike premenopausal women) elevated ferritin above 200 to 300 ng/mL deserves attention as an inflammation signal or, at higher levels, a hemochromatosis screen.
What Is the True Cost for Men Who Want Complete Coverage?
The Function Health membership runs $499 per year for the standard draw. That is the entry price. To build a panel that a preventive cardiologist or a well-informed internist would consider comprehensive for a 40-year-old man, you would add: ApoB ($25 to $35), Lp(a) ($30 to $50), LH and FSH (around $25 combined), and optionally IGF-1 ($50 to $80). That brings your real-world first-year cost to roughly $600 to $700.
That is still a reasonable value compared to ordering these tests cash-pay at Quest Diagnostics, where individual panels retail from $29 to $150 each and a comprehensive male metabolic and hormone draw can reach $400 to $600 without the membership structure. The function health cost analysis is genuinely favorable once you add up comparable a-la-carte pricing. See our deeper function health cost breakdown for how the math works year over year.
The comparison changes, though, when you look at all-in services like Superpower that include 100 or more biomarkers plus physician review for about $199 per year. The physician review piece matters: Function Health gives you results and an app; it does not give you a clinician to interpret them by default.
The simplest way to actually get this done
Superpower is a full-body lab membership that runs 100+ biomarkers, has each result reviewed by a doctor, and tracks your numbers year over year (about $199/year). It is what we point readers to when they would rather get one clean, complete draw than chase single tests one at a time. Here is superpower blood test review.
How Does Function Health Compare to Superpower for Men?
The two services target similar buyers but make different bets on what men actually need from a lab membership. Function Health bets on panel breadth and brand-name draw (the service is co-founded by Mark Hyman, MD, and Peter Attia is on the advisory board). Superpower bets on the interpretation layer and a lower entry price.
For men specifically, Superpower includes LH and FSH in its standard hormone panel, includes ApoB as standard, and assigns a physician to review your results and follow up. Function Health gives you more raw data in some categories (it runs more thyroid sub-markers by default) but leaves you to interpret the numbers yourself or bring them to your own doctor. Read the full superpower blood test review if that trade-off matters to you.
The pricing difference is substantial: $499 versus $199 annually. Some men find Function Health worth the premium for the app experience and the name recognition. Others find Superpower’s physician-included model more practical, especially if they do not have a primary care physician who is engaged with optimizing labs rather than just flagging disease.
There is also a gender-specific review worth reading: our function health review for women covers how the panel holds up for female hormones, cycle timing, and fertility markers, which is a separate set of considerations entirely.
Who Should Actually Use Function Health as a Man?
Function Health makes the most sense for a man who already has an engaged primary care physician or internist and wants to arrive at appointments with richer data than a standard annual draw provides. The service fills the gap between what insurance-covered labs order (often minimal) and what a preventive medicine specialist would run. If you have a doctor who will actually look at 100 biomarkers with you, Function Health is a powerful tool.
It is less compelling for men who want a standalone service that includes clinical interpretation. If your doctor orders whatever your insurance covers and nothing more, getting 100 biomarkers back with no physician review attached does not automatically move the needle on your health. Data without context is noise.
Men on TRT, peptide therapy (BPC-157, TB-500, sermorelin, CJC-1295), or those working with a longevity-focused clinic should check whether their clinic already orders more comprehensive labs than Function Health’s standard panel. Many do. Paying $499 per year for a panel that is narrower than what your TRT provider already runs is redundant.
For men with no existing doctor relationship who want an affordable entry point, the function health honest review covers the practical onboarding experience in detail, including how long results take and how the app presents data.
What Men Get Wrong About Function Health
The most common misread is treating the standard 100-marker panel as comprehensive for male health optimization. It is comprehensive compared to a standard annual physical. It is not comprehensive compared to what a preventive cardiologist, endocrinologist, or longevity physician would order for a 40-year-old man who wants to genuinely understand his risk.
The second misread is assuming that higher test count equals better clinical value. Function Health runs more total markers than Superpower in some categories. But a panel that runs 12 thyroid markers and skips ApoB is not necessarily more useful for a man whose top risk is cardiovascular, not autoimmune thyroid disease.
The third misread: men compare Function Health’s $499 price to a single urgent care visit rather than to annual lab costs at Quest or Labcorp. When you compare it to what you would pay for equivalent cash-pay labs, the membership price is often reasonable. The real comparison to make is against all-in services that include physician review at a lower price point, because that is the actual market choice you are making.
FAQ
Does Function Health include testosterone in its standard panel for men?
Yes. Function Health includes total testosterone, calculated free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol, and DHEA-S in its standard draw. LH and FSH, which complete the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, are not included by default and must be added for an additional fee. For most men doing a first baseline, the standard testosterone panel is sufficient; for men already on hormone therapy or with suspected central causes of low T, the omission of LH and FSH is a real gap.
Is Function Health good for men’s health markers overall?
It is above average for a subscription lab service but not best-in-class for cardiovascular risk in men. The metabolic markers (fasting insulin, HbA1c, glucose, liver enzymes, kidney function) are strong. The hormone panel is adequate for screening. The cardiovascular panel misses ApoB and Lp(a) by default, which are arguably the two most important markers for men’s heart health beyond standard lipids.
Does Function Health test PSA?
Yes, total PSA is included in the standard Function Health panel for male members. Free PSA and the free-to-total PSA ratio are not included. If your total PSA comes back in the 4 to 10 ng/mL gray zone, you will likely need a separate clinical workup to assess the ratio and decide on next steps, which typically means a conversation with a urologist rather than ordering more add-ons through the app.
What is the best blood test membership for men in 2026?
It depends on what you need. Function Health at $499 per year is the right choice if you want maximum raw data and already have a physician who engages with detailed labs. Superpower at about $199 per year is the better choice if you want physician interpretation included, ApoB in the standard panel, and a lower price point. For men specifically interested in the hormone axis, Marek Health and Joi provide even deeper male hormone panels but are structured more as clinical services than self-service lab memberships.
Does Function Health include ApoB?
No, ApoB is not included in the Function Health standard panel. It is available as a paid add-on for roughly $25 to $35. Given that ApoB is currently the strongest single-test cardiovascular risk predictor and costs about the same as a sandwich at an airport, its absence from the default panel is a meaningful design choice that men with any family history of heart disease should factor into their decision.
Can men use Function Health if they are already on TRT?
Yes, and the testosterone and metabolic markers are useful for TRT monitoring. The gap is that LH and FSH are not included by default, and a man on TRT suppresses both by design, so a treating clinician typically needs those markers to assess the degree of suppression and adjust protocol. Add LH and FSH as add-ons, or confirm your TRT provider already orders them on their own schedule before paying for redundant labs.
How does Function Health compare to getting labs through Quest Diagnostics directly?
Quest lets you order individual tests cash-pay, but the cost adds up quickly. A comparable male panel at Quest, ordered piecemeal, can run $300 to $600 depending on which markers you select. Function Health’s membership consolidates this into a single annual fee and adds trend-tracking over time through the app. The value comparison favors Function Health for men who would actually order a comprehensive panel anyway; it is less compelling for men who would only order two or three markers on their own. For a side-by-side analysis, our function health review covers the full membership structure in detail.
Is there a Function Health membership worth getting specifically for men’s health?
The standard membership is gender-neutral in structure, but the panel is well-suited for male-priority markers at a baseline level. The honest answer is that men who are actively working on health optimization, not just disease detection, will benefit most from adding ApoB, Lp(a), and possibly LH and FSH to the standard draw. That brings the practical first-year cost to around $600 to $700 but creates a genuinely comprehensive male health panel. If that price point is a barrier, the how much does superpower cost breakdown shows how an alternative lands at a lower price with physician interpretation included.
