Lipid panel
HDL cholesterol
Measured in mg/dL
What it measures
Cholesterol carried by high-density lipoprotein particles.
Why it is tracked
Part of a standard lipid panel. The relationship with risk is not straightforward — raising HDL pharmacologically has not reliably reduced events — so it is read as one input among several.
What a provider considers
- Falls with insulin resistance and rises with exercise
- Can be reduced by oral testosterone formulations
- Interpreted in context rather than maximised
Reference ranges vary between laboratories and a single result rarely means much on its own. Interpretation depends on your symptoms, your other markers and the trend over time — which is what your provider reviews.