Understanding Your Hormones

Understanding Hormones in Men and Women: The Key to Health and Well-being

Hormones play a vital role in the human body, acting as chemical messengers that regulate essential functions such as metabolism, growth, mood, sexual health, and overall well-being. For both men and women, hormones are crucial for maintaining a balanced state of physical and mental health. However, the types and effects of hormones can differ significantly between the sexes due to biological differences. Understanding these differences is key to optimizing health at every stage of life.

What Are Hormones?

Hormones are substances produced by glands in the endocrine system and released into the bloodstream. They control and regulate various processes in the body, such as growth, reproduction, and mood. The major glands involved in hormone production include the thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, and reproductive organs (ovaries in women and testes in men).

While men and women share many of the same hormones, the levels and functions of these hormones often differ, leading to distinct physiological effects.

Hormones in Women

Women experience cyclical hormonal changes due to their reproductive systems. The primary hormones influencing women’s health are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone (though in lower levels than men).

Hormones in Men

Men are men mostly due to their testosterone levels. These levels run a huge range from 350 to 1500 ng/dl as Total testosterone, which is bound to a sex hormone binding globulin, SHBG. This level stays consistent throughout a man's life until about age 50 at which point it starts to drop. An unbound form, called Free Testosterone, ranges from only 52 to 280 pg/ml but varies at different ages. Free testosterone drops about 1% per year after its peak at ages 21-24 years.

To learn more about the details of how your hormones work,order- Listen To Your Hormones, a book written by Abraham Harvey Kryger, MD. The book is available on this site and delivered by USPS.