Hormones

Testosterone, menopause and hormone therapy as you age.

80 answers, from 535 studies

Last updated: July 2026

Key questions

What can help women increase their libido?

There are several well-supported options depending on your life stage: for women after menopause, transdermal testosterone has…

Yes · Moderate evidence

Do your hormones influence how quickly you age?

Hormones do influence ageing, but do not control it entirely. Fat distribution, muscle mass and inflammatory processes are all…

Yes · Moderate evidence

Does an adrenal cocktail actually work?

The adrenal cocktail has never been tested in humans and rests on an assumption, exhausted adrenal glands caused by stress,…

No · Preliminary evidence

Does fadogia agrestis increase your testosterone?

Do not use it. There is barely any human evidence that fadogia agrestis raises testosterone, it is not authorised for sale in…

Insufficient evidence

Does hormone therapy help women age more healthily?

Hormone therapy relieves menopausal symptoms well and shows positive indications for bones and metabolism, but the effects on…

Moderate evidence

What does menopause do to your risk of cardiovascular disease?

Menopause demonstrably increases your risk of cardiovascular disease, primarily through unfavourable changes in fat…

Yes · Strong evidence

Does shilajit actually work as a supplement?

Be careful. There is little strong evidence that shilajit works, it has no authorised novel-food status in the EU, and…

Preliminary evidence

Does boron increase your testosterone?

Boron may modestly raise free testosterone in some people, particularly those who are deficient, but for healthy men who…

Preliminary evidence

Does tongkat ali actually work for your testosterone?

Do not use it, even though it probably does raise your testosterone. The European food safety authority EFSA found signs that…

Yes · Moderate evidence

What does the transition into menopause do to your gut microbiome?

Menopause noticeably changes your gut microbiome: less diversity, weaker reactivation of oestrogen and a slightly more…

How do I know whether my mood swings are hormonal or something else?

The cyclical pattern of your symptoms is the best distinguishing factor: if they occur only in the two weeks before your…

What is the relationship between the thyroid and the immune system?

The thyroid and the immune system are closely intertwined: dysregulated T immune cells cause the most common thyroid diseases,…

Does excess weight really make your hormones worse?

Excess weight disrupts multiple hormones simultaneously, with insulin resistance being the most strongly supported. If you…

Can an unhealthy diet cause puberty to start earlier?

A calorie-rich diet high in animal protein and low in fibre increases the likelihood of earlier puberty in girls, especially…

Yes · Moderate evidence

How does your body fat affect hormone production as you get older?

Body fat has a considerable influence on your hormonal balance as you age: more abdominal fat disrupts insulin sensitivity,…

Can hormones explain why women live longer than men on average?

Hormones likely contribute to women's survival advantage, but do not fully explain it. If you want to better understand your…

What does caffeine do to your stress hormones when you drink a lot of it?

High caffeine intake raises your cortisol, especially during stress or exercise and later in the day; you partially adapt to…

Can a vitamin D deficiency affect your hormones?

A vitamin D deficiency disrupts hormone levels, primarily through a rise in parathyroid hormone PTH, which affects your bones,…

Does the amount of muscle mass you have affect your hormone balance?

More muscle mass improves your insulin sensitivity and is associated with more favourable hormone values after training, but…

Why do some women experience thyroid problems after giving birth?

After delivery, the immune system sometimes overshoots and damages the thyroid, leading to temporary hormonal disturbances in…

Can low blood sugar disrupt your hormones, and how do you notice it?

Low blood sugar immediately raises stress hormones and causes symptoms such as trembling, sweating and irritability. People…

Yes · Moderate evidence

What does chronic sleep deprivation do to your fertility when you are trying to conceive?

Chronic sleep deprivation and frequent insomnia have been linked in several large studies to a lower chance of conception and…

Do male hormones affect how quickly men age?

Declining testosterone measurably accelerates ageing of muscles, bones and sexual function, but the links to mood and skin are…

Can your thyroid be thrown off balance by getting too much or too little iodine?

Both too little and too much iodine can disrupt the thyroid; make sure you get enough each day, but avoid large supplements…

Why do some women suddenly experience anxiety symptoms after menopause?

Menopause increases the risk of anxiety symptoms through hormonal, physical and psychosocial factors that reinforce one…

Is there a link between your hormones and the risk of dementia later in life?

There is solid evidence that thyroid hormones, sex hormones and stress hormones all play a role in dementia risk. The evidence…

What does using steroids (as in sports) do to your bones?

The effect of steroid misuse in sport on your bones has barely been studied at the high doses used in practice. The side…

What does taking the pill for a long time do to your hormones when you stop?

After stopping the pill, your hormone balance generally recovers within a few weeks to months, regardless of how long you have…

Can low progesterone levels cause symptoms before menopause?

Low progesterone levels can cause symptoms well before menopause, such as an increased risk of uterine cancer, more abdominal…

Yes · Moderate evidence

What do thyroid problems have to do with osteoporosis?

Both an overactive and an underactive thyroid increase the risk of osteoporosis. If you have a thyroid condition, it is wise…

Does sunlight affect your hormones, and if so, how?

Sunlight affects multiple hormones simultaneously: it stimulates vitamin D and beta-endorphin, suppresses melatonin, and can…

Yes · Moderate evidence

Can eating disorders such as anorexia cause permanent bone damage?

Anorexia causes permanent bone damage in the majority of cases, particularly when the condition begins during adolescence.…

What is the relationship between your thyroid and depressive symptoms?

There is a clear association between thyroid problems and depressive symptoms, although the precise direction of influence has…

Do men need estrogen for their health?

Yes, men need oestrogen for strong bones, healthy blood vessels, and fertility. Both a deficiency and an excess are harmful,…

What does pregnancy do to your hormonal balance in the long term?

Pregnancy demonstrably has long-term effects on your metabolism and hormonal balance, but most effects are well documented for…

Can stress make you infertile?

Stress and infertility are associated, but whether stress causes infertility has not yet been proven. If you are struggling…

Preliminary evidence

Can thyroid problems worsen your memory and concentration?

Thyroid problems can cause memory complaints, but large-scale research shows barely any measurable effect at the group level…

Moderate evidence

What are hormone disruptors, and are they really found in everyday products?

Hormone disruptors are demonstrably present in a great many everyday products and are measurable in the human body. Complete…

Yes · Strong evidence

Does fasting (intermittent fasting) help improve your insulin levels and other hormones?

Fasting probably improves your insulin levels, but most studies are small and short-term. Eating early in the day appears to…

Yes · Moderate evidence

Can exercise really improve your hormone levels as you get older?

Yes, exercise demonstrably raises several hormone levels in people over 40. The strongest practical benefit lies in muscle…

Yes · Moderate evidence

Is it true that women age more slowly than men, biologically speaking?

Women live longer on average and have a slightly lower biological age, but that advantage is not visible across all areas: the…

Why do you sleep worse as you get older, and do hormones play a role in that?

Sleeping worse with age is well documented and has multiple causes, including brain changes and, in women, the menopause.…

Yes · Moderate evidence

What does chronic stress do to your weight in the long run?

Chronic stress contributes to long-term weight gain and abdominal fat through elevated cortisol, inflammation, and less…

Can eating too little disrupt your hormones, even if you do not have an eating disorder?

Even a temporary, substantial calorie deficit can disrupt sleep and reproductive hormones in healthy women; the timing of your…

Yes · Moderate evidence

How does your gut microbiome influence your hormone balance?

Your gut microbiome drives multiple hormones through enzymes, fermentation products and bile acids, ranging from oestrogen to…

What does alcohol do to your hormones when you drink it regularly?

Regular and excessive drinking lowers testosterone, disrupts your sleep hormone, and damages the liver. If you want to know…

Does using the contraceptive pill increase my risk of cancer?

The pill demonstrably lowers the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer, but slightly raises the risk of breast cancer with…

Moderate evidence

Can you preserve your fertility as a woman for longer through your lifestyle?

There are indications that lifestyle can influence the egg reserve, but concrete advice proven to preserve fertility for…

Preliminary evidence

Does menopause accelerate skin ageing?

Menopause noticeably accelerates the loss of collagen, moisture retention and skin thickness, but spots and skin cancer are…

What does your estrogen level do to your memory and concentration?

Oestrogen has a measurable influence on memory and concentration, and the decline during perimenopause is accompanied by…

Can your thyroid be normal on a test but still cause symptoms?

Yes, a normal test result does not rule out thyroid-related symptoms. If you continue to have symptoms after a normal result,…

Can poor sleep permanently disrupt your hormones?

Sleep deprivation measurably disrupts multiple hormones, but whether those effects are truly permanent has not been well…

What does chronically high cortisol do to your belly fat and blood sugar?

Chronically high cortisol directs fat toward the abdominal cavity and increases the risk of insulin resistance and type 2…

What does cortisol do to your body in the long run when you are chronically stressed?

Chronic stress noticeably dysregulates your cortisol system: your daily rhythm flattens, your immune function, sleep and…

What is a healthy HbA1c value?

There is no fixed 'healthy' HbA1c value: lower within the normal range appears to be better, but how low is optimal also…

Do black cohosh or red clover help against hot flushes in menopause?

Standardised black cohosh moderately but demonstrably reduces hot flushes and menopausal complaints better than a placebo, and…

Yes · Moderate evidence

Can you delay menopause with lifestyle or diet?

Avoiding smoking, eating less red meat, and eating more citrus fruit and oily fish appear to have a favourable influence on…

Preliminary evidence

What helps against menopause symptoms like hot flushes and mood swings?

Hormone therapy works best against hot flushes and night sweats. Those who cannot or do not wish to use it can choose from…

Strong evidence

Which symptoms are most common during menopause?

Most women experience multiple complaints simultaneously during the menopause transition. Joint and muscle pain, fatigue,…

Does menopause increase a woman's risk of joint pain or joint complaints?

Menopause increases the risk of joint pain and osteoarthritis in most women; it helps to avoid excess weight, stay active, and…

Does my growth hormone decline with age, and does that matter?

Your growth hormone does indeed decline sharply with age. Reversing that with hormone injections offers little benefit in…

Yes · Strong evidence

Is testosterone important for women?

Testosterone is also an important hormone for women. The strongest evidence concerns sexual desire after the menopause:…

Do men get osteoporosis too?

Men certainly get osteoporosis, and after a first fracture they are at even greater risk of a subsequent fracture or death…

Does the menopause disrupt my sleep, and what can help?

The menopause genuinely disrupts your sleep, primarily through hot flashes and hormonal changes. Cognitive behavioural therapy…

Yes · Moderate evidence

Does my weight and metabolism change during menopause?

During menopause, the rate of fat gain doubles and you lose muscle mass, even if the scales do not show it. The fat shifts…

What does the stress hormone cortisol do to my ageing?

Chronically elevated cortisol accelerates muscle loss and disrupts your metabolism, and that effect is real. Good sleep and…

Does it make sense to have my hormones tested if I feel listless and fatigued?

For persistent listlessness, start with a thyroid test (TSH and free T4): that is the best-supported first step. Other hormone…

Yes · Moderate evidence

What does the menopause do to my heart and bones in the long term?

In the long run, menopause increases your risk of cardiovascular disease and bone loss, and that effect is greater with an…

Does testosterone decline in men with age, and should you do something about it?

Testosterone really does decline in men with age. TRT is well supported only in men with established hypogonadism and…

Yes · Strong evidence

Can you counteract age-related DNA damage through your lifestyle?

Based on the available source, it cannot be said whether lifestyle counteracts age-related DNA damage; the study concerns…

Insufficient evidence

How do I know if I am at risk of osteoporosis?

The risk factors for osteoporosis are well supported. If you recognise several of them in yourself, talking to your doctor and…

Moderate evidence

Is hormone therapy for the menopause safe and worthwhile?

For women with troublesome menopausal symptoms, hormone therapy is the best-supported treatment. But what is the smart choice…

Moderate evidence

Does my libido decline after 40, and is there anything I can do about it?

A decline in libido after 40 is normal but not inevitable. For men with a confirmed low testosterone level and associated…

Yes · Moderate evidence

What does your thyroid gland do to your metabolism and energy?

A properly functioning thyroid directly determines your energy expenditure, weight and cholesterol. If you suffer from…

Do DHEA or growth hormone help against ageing, or are they risky?

DHEA has modest, proven benefits in people with an adrenal disorder, but in healthy individuals the effects are inconsistent…

Moderate evidence

Does a male menopause exist?

A male menopause genuinely exists, but it proceeds so gradually that many men do not recognise their complaints as hormonal;…

What exactly happens during perimenopause, and what helps against it?

For women without contraindications, hormone therapy with oestrogen is the best-supported approach for hot flushes, night…

Yes · Moderate evidence

Which supplements genuinely help with menopause?

Soy isoflavones have the strongest evidence for hot flushes, and vitamin D is certainly worthwhile if you are deficient or…

Moderate evidence

How can you increase sperm quality and quantity after the age of 40?

Improving sperm quality after forty is possible through lifestyle adjustments and, if you have a varicocele, surgical…

Moderate evidence

Does using testosterone help if you are over 50, and can it be dangerous?

Testosterone can be worthwhile for men over 50 with a medically confirmed testosterone deficiency, but it is not a treatment…

Yes · Strong evidence

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