Hormone decline

What is hormone decline?

As we age, it's normal for hormone levels to change. However, for some, this decline can be more extreme and cause disruptive symptoms. Key hormones that tend to drop are testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, melatonin, and growth hormone.

When hormones fall out of balance, you may experience symptoms like fatigue, low libido, hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, and weight gain. The timing and severity of symptoms depends on factors like lifestyle, genetics, and environmental toxins.

Perimenopause and menopause in women involve a steep drop in estrogen and progesterone. Low testosterone affects men too as they get older. Growth hormone and melatonin also decline steadily from the 20s onwards.

What causes hormone decline?

There are a few reasons why hormone levels drop with age:

• Your endocrine glands like the adrenals, thyroid and pituitary gland secrete less hormones


• Changes in sleep patterns lead to less melatonin


• Lifestyle factors like stress, medications, toxins

For some women, a hysterectomy with ovary removal can also suddenly shift hormones.

How to address hormone decline

If you're experiencing unpleasant menopause, andropause or hormonal imbalance symptoms, there are solutions to help restore optimal levels:

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Bioidentical hormones like estrogen, testosterone and DHEA can effectively relieve symptoms when prescribed properly. I recommend consulting a functional or anti-aging medicine clinic like Hormone Harmony Clinic for customized care.


• Lifestyle changes: Improving diet, exercise, sleep and stress relief can help support natural hormone function. Key supplements like maca, vitamin E and DHEA may help too.

I hope this gives you a helpful overview of why hormone levels decline and practical solutions to address deficiencies. Let me know if you have any other questions!