Hormone testing and the importance of hormonal balance

What are hormones?

Hormones are chemicals made by specialist cells or organs, designed to control the body by passing messages between organs and endocrine glands, where they are usually created. 

Some commonly known examples of hormones include adrenaline, cortisol, and insulin, which regulate the fight or flight response, stress, and blood sugar respectively. Hormones form part of the endocrine system, and having healthy, balanced hormone levels is critical for multiple key bodily functions for both men and women. 

Why hormones matter for health

Hormones are critically important to our health. They are present in all multicellular organisms, regulating a wide variety of functions that contribute to our overall wellbeing. Hormones affect our physical health through bodily functions, metabolism and weight, puberty, fertility, and more, as well as our mental health through mood and energy. 

Some key health and wellbeing functions that hormones affect include:  

• Appetite: Hormones regulate hunger and fullness levels, releasing signals to inform the brain that you need to start or stop eating.   

• Energy levels: Hormones regulating metabolism, sleep, and stress combine to define our overall energy levels. Imbalance can lead to fatigue. 

• Fertility: Hormones control reproductive functions in both men and women, regulating sperm production and testosterone levels in the former and the menstrual cycle and ovulation in the latter. 

• Growth: Growth of organs, bone, and muscle mass from infancy through adolescence is controlled by hormones. 

• Metabolism: Hormones regulate how the body converts food into energy and how and where fat is stored.  

• Mood: A wide variety of hormones contribute to regulating your mood, with deficiencies or imbalances potentially leading to mood disorders like depression and anxiety. 

• Puberty: Significant hormonal changes occur during adolescence, when children begin to transition to adulthood and experience a surge of hormones that affect their growth, fertility, and appearance. 

• Sleep: Hormones influence sleep by regulating sleep cycles and affecting sleep quality and length. 

• Stress: Hormones trigger physical responses like increased heart rate in response to stress. Chronically high levels of these hormones can have serious long-term mental and physical health effects. 

• Weight: Through a combination of affecting appetite, calorie burning, and fat storage and distribution, hormones have a significant impact on weight regulation. 

As you can see, hormones play a vital role in many different aspects of physical and mental health. Overproduction or underproduction of hormones leads to hormonal imbalance, which sometimes may affect your wellbeing and manifest itself in a wide range of symptoms. 

What is a hormonal imbalance?

Hormonal imbalance occurs when the body overproduces or underproduces different hormones, upsetting the regular balance and affecting normal bodily functions. Because hormones are involved in so many processes, fluctuations in their levels may have an impact on your body’s normal balance.

Because the list of functions affected by hormones is so extensive, the signs of hormone imbalance are equally wide-ranging. Symptoms can also indicate multiple hormonal imbalances; low energy levels, for example, could be a result of hormones affecting metabolism, sleep, stress, and more.

How hormonal imbalance affects men and women

While there are symptoms that affect both men and women, there are also symptoms that are unique to each sex. 

Some common symptoms of hormonal imbalance include: 

Universal hormonal imbalance symptoms 

• Acne or oily skin 

• Concentration or memory loss, sometimes referred to as “brain fog” 

• Fatigue, lethargy, or low mood 

• Hair loss or thinning 

• Infertility 

• Loss of strength and reduced muscle mass and bone density 

• Mood swings, depression, or anxiety 

• Reduced libido 

• Trouble sleeping or poor sleep quality 

• Weight change and increased body fat  

Female hormonal imbalance symptoms 

• Menstrual changes, including irregular, heavy, or missed periods 

• Pain during sex 

• Vaginal dryness 

• Breast discharge 

Male hormonal imbalance symptoms 

• Erectile dysfunction  

• Issues with sperm production 

• Reduced facial or body hair growth 

Most of the universal symptoms are caused by an imbalance of hormones that both sexes produce. Symptoms unique to either men or women are mostly related to sex and reproduction, or influenced by levels of testosterone and oestrogen, hormones more prevalent in males and females respectively. 

It’s important to note that there is no completely comprehensive list of hormonal imbalance symptoms. Hormones control so much of the body, the variations and symptoms of hormonal imbalance are accordingly extensive. 

Types of hormone testing

Hormone levels can be tested by taking samples of blood, saliva, or urine, as hormones are found in all three substances. Blood testing is the most accurate and reliable method.

Tests can either be for one specific hormone, sometimes prescribed if your doctor thinks you are showing signs of a particular deficiency, excess, or imbalance, or for a range of hormones.

YorkTest offers both female and male hormone tests that check for multiple key hormone markers:

YorkTest Female Hormones Test 

For women concerned about ovulation and fertility, as well as broader wellbeing issues like mood, weight, or energy levels, the YorkTest Female Hormones Test provides comprehensive blood test results based on analysis of 6 key hormone markers: 

1. Luteinizing hormone (LH): This regulates the menstrual cycle and triggers ovulation. 

2. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): This also plays a key role in the menstrual cycle, stimulating egg follicle growth. 

3. Prolactin: Produced by the pituitary gland, prolactin promotes the production of breast milk. 

4. Testosterone: More prevalent in males but also important for females, testosterone influences libido, energy, mood, and bone and muscle strength. 

5. Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG): This regulates testosterone and oestrogen levels, maintaining balance in sex hormones. 

6. Free androgen index (FAI): The FAI estimates the amount of free or active testosterone in the blood and may help identify excess androgens.

YorkTest Male Hormones Test 

For men’s health concerns, including low testosterone, reduced sex drive, loss of muscle mass, or low energy levels, the YorkTest Male Hormones Test measures 8 key hormone markers to identify potential causes. Some of the hormone markers overlap with the women’s test, but are tested for different reasons. 

1. Luteinizing hormone (LH): In men, this stimulates the production of testosterone and sperm cells.  

2. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): FSH signals the sustained creation of sperm. 

3. Testosterone: A key male hormone, testosterone is responsible for sex function, muscle mass and bone density, body fat regulation, sleep, and mood. 

4. Prolactin: Prolactin regulates testosterone levels, while imbalance can lead to decreased libido and erectile dysfunction.  

5. Albumin: A protein that transports hormones in the blood, albumin is a key part of active hormone regulation.  

6. Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG): Like albumin, SHBG binds to and transports hormones like testosterone. 

7. Free androgen index (FAI): As with women, the FAI estimates active or free testosterone in the blood.  

8. Free testosterone: Unbound, free testosterone is important for building muscle and bones for men.

These tests are not intended to diagnose medical conditions. Only a healthcare professional can make a diagnosis.

How hormone testing works

Hormone blood testing works by analysing a sample of blood and measuring the concentration of specific hormones within it.  

The YorkTest male and female hormone tests, suitable for those over 20 years old, contain simple instructions to administer a finger-prick blood test at home with a sterilised lancet. You then post your sample to a lab for analysis. Within a week, results will be available that are clear and easy to understand, signposting any areas of concern, which you can then explore with your GP. 

For women, it’s important to take the test on day 3 of your menstrual cycle, regardless of your cycle length, as this will be more likely to show signs of menopause or low ovarian reserve. If you aren’t menstruating, you can take the test at any time. The test is unsuitable for anyone undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or taking hormonal contraception. 

For men, the test should be taken in the morning. 

Understanding your hormone test results

YorkTest’s hormone tests provide results, formatted in easily digestible reports that are simple to understand. They are available through the secure, user-friendly Customer Wellness Hub, with no traditional hospital visit or testing required. 

Areas of concern or hormonal imbalance in your results are clearly flagged, indicating excesses or deficiencies of different hormones, so that you can discuss any potential issues with your GP or a qualified medical professional. If the test has indicated significant concerns, they can then provide medical advice and recommend courses of action to rectify any issues. 

How hormone testing supports your health

Getting a clear picture of your hormonal makeup gives you insight into what your body needs to function at an optimum level. Considering the vast influence of hormones throughout the body, understanding your hormone levels gives you a conscious opportunity to adjust your lifestyle to take charge of many different aspects of your physical and mental health.  

From adjusting your diet to address hormonal appetite and metabolism issues, to altering exercise regimes to combat mood swings, low energy, and stress, hormone testing may improve your understanding of your body.

FAQs

Why do hormones matter for health? 

Hormones regulate the body, controlling its functions by passing messages between organs. Even a slight hormonal imbalance can have severe effects on your appetite, energy levels, fertility, growth, metabolism, mood, sleep, stress, and weight, so it’s vital to be aware of your hormone levels. This understanding opens the door to making informed, proactive lifestyle choices to improve you physical and mental health. 

How do hormones affect men and women? 

There are a wide variety of hormones, which all have different relationships with men and women. Some affect men and women differently, while some are consistent across both, with yet more affecting only one sex. Female-only hormonal reactions include menstrual changes, pain during sex, and vaginal dryness. Male-only hormonal reactions consist of erectile dysfunction, issues with producing sperm, and reduced body or facial hair. 

What is a hormone test? 

A hormone test is a method of measuring the concentration of hormones in a sample, which can be either blood, saliva, or urine. Once a sample is collected, it is analysed in a laboratory by a trained professional to identify the levels of different hormones present. 

What do my hormone test results mean? 

Hormone test results will illustrate the concentration of a range of hormones. The YorkTest versions test 6 key hormone markers for women and 8 key hormone markers for men. Excesses or deficiencies will be signposted, which you can then discuss with your GP or other health professional.