Diagnostics · Hormones

Hormone status from 40: What testosterone, oestrogen and DHEA tell you

4 Min. read YUTHI Redaktion

From around 40, hormone levels change in both men and women — often gradually and without a clear trigger. A targeted hormone panel gives clarity about where you stand and shows whether action is needed.

Why hormones become a topic in middle age

From age 30, testosterone in men declines by an average of around 1 to 2 percent per year. In women, oestrogen and progesterone begin to fluctuate from the mid-thirties, with the sharpest decline occurring during perimenopause — often ten years before the last cycle. DHEA-S, a precursor hormone for testosterone and oestrogen, falls in both sexes by around 2 percent annually from age 25.

Because these changes happen gradually, they are often not recognised as hormonal shifts. Fatigue, mood swings, declining performance or sleep problems can have many causes. A hormone panel provides orientation — not as a prescription for treatment, but as a starting point for a well-informed assessment.

Testosterone: What the value means for men and women

For men, it is advisable to measure total testosterone, free testosterone and SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin) together. Total testosterone can be within the normal range while the biologically active free testosterone is strongly bound by elevated SHBG. If you only know the total value, you sometimes see only half the picture.

Testosterone also plays a role in women — in regulating energy, libido, muscle mass and bone density. This connection is often underestimated in practice. Free testosterone and SHBG should therefore also be included in the female hormone panel, especially during and after perimenopause.

Oestrogen and the female hormone picture

Oestradiol (E2) is the most important of the oestrogens and varies greatly during the female cycle. In perimenopause it can fluctuate dramatically — sometimes at high levels, then low again, before eventually falling permanently. FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) rises when the ovaries produce less oestrogen. The combination of oestradiol and FSH gives a clearer picture than either value alone.

Progesterone is relevant for the second half of the cycle (luteal phase). A relative progesterone deficiency with still-normal oestrogen — sometimes referred to as oestrogen dominance — can cause symptoms such as sleep problems or cycle changes, which can be captured in the panel if the timing of the blood draw is correct.

DHEA-S and IGF-1: two underestimated long-term ageing markers

DHEA-S (dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate) is produced by the adrenal gland and acts as a reservoir for sex hormone production. Its age-related decline is one of the most reliable biological ageing markers overall. Low DHEA-S levels are associated in the research literature with reduced muscle mass, decreased bone density and impaired immune function — without implying direct causality.

IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) is produced in the liver and regulated by growth hormone. It influences muscle mass, fat distribution and bone density. IGF-1 declines with age and is a sensitive marker for nutritional status and the body's anabolic capacity. A low value alone is not a reason for treatment, but a helpful piece of context in the overall picture.

Putting together a useful hormone panel

For men from 40, a meaningful hormone panel typically includes: total and free testosterone, SHBG, oestradiol, FSH, LH, DHEA-S, IGF-1 and TSH (thyroid). For women: oestradiol (cycle-dependent — testing in the early follicular phase is more informative), FSH, LH, progesterone, total and free testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S.

Important: hormone levels are not straightforward instructions for action. Symptoms and sense of wellbeing must be factored into the assessment. If you find hormone values in the lower normal range without clinical complaints, you do not automatically need to act. Your doctor can judge whether the pattern is relevant — the panel is only the starting point for that conversation.

Tracking hormone trends with the YUTHI app

In the YUTHI app you can enter hormone values from your blood results and track them over time. Because hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day and across the cycle, only a series of measurements makes changes visible. The app helps you bring a structured overview to every doctor's appointment, rather than working from individual values.

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