Why your hormone levels determine your energy, libido, and performance
The term hormone level refers to the concentration of certain hormones in the blood at a given time. For men, hormone levels are not an abstract laboratory value, but a real factor influencing physical, mental, and sexual performance.
If you regularly feel exhausted , unfocused, irritable, or lacking in motivation, an imbalanced hormone level could be the cause, even if you appear outwardly "healthy." This is because hormones like testosterone, cortisol, thyroid hormones, and estradiol regulate almost all bodily processes in the background: from muscle building to mood, from fat metabolism to sleep.
Especially during times of constant stress, lack of sleep and physical strain, many men become hormonally unbalanced without realizing it.
What exactly does "hormone level" mean?
A hormone level describes the measurable blood value of a specific hormone – e.g., testosterone, estradiol, cortisol, TSH, fT3, or insulin. This value can fluctuate depending on the time of day, stress level, diet, and physical activity – therefore , blood drawn in the morning, on an empty stomach, and using standardized methods is particularly informative.
Important: A single hormone level is rarely very informative. The ratios between different hormones are also crucial – for example, testosterone to estradiol or testosterone to LH – and especially the symptoms a patient experiences at a given time depending on their hormone levels.
Why are hormone levels so important in men?
Hormone levels control key systems in the male body:
- Testosterone: Muscle growth, libido, energy, mental strength
- Cortisol: Stress processing, sleep, belly fat
- fT3 / fT4 (thyroid): metabolism, temperature, concentration
- Estradiol (E2): Bone stability, libido, fat distribution
- LH/FSH: Control of the body's own testosterone production and spermatogenesis
When one of these systems becomes unbalanced, you will feel it - often through vague symptoms that are difficult to categorize.
Typical symptoms of an imbalanced hormone level
- Fatigue despite sufficient sleep
- Decline in libido or erection problems
- Weight gain, especially around the abdomen
- Muscle atrophy despite training
- Mood swings, irritability
- Sleep problems, especially waking up at night
- Concentration problems (“brain fog”)
- Poor recovery after exertion
Many men often interpret these symptoms as a "normal aging process", when in fact there is often a treatable hormonal imbalance.
How are hormone levels measured?
The most reliable results are obtained from a blood test, ideally in the morning, on an empty stomach, under standardized conditions. The following markers are particularly relevant for men:
- Total testosterone and free testosterone
- SHBG (Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin)
- DHEA-S
- Cortisol (morning)
- TSH, fT3, fT4 (thyroid function)
- LH, FSH (pituitary control)
- Estradiol (E2)
- Prolactin
- Possibly insulin, glucose, HOMA index
The course of the disease over several months is also crucial; therefore, regular monitoring is recommended, especially if symptoms are present or therapy is ongoing.
Tip: With the premium hormone analysis from Adon Health, you can get a good perspective on your hormone status from the comfort of your own home – including testosterone, thyroid, FSH, LH, estradiol, SHBG and more.
What influences hormone levels?
Your hormone profile is influenced by many lifestyle factors:
- Sleep quality and length – even just one week with less than 5 hours of sleep can reduce testosterone levels by up to 15%.
- Nutrition - Micronutrient deficiencies (zinc, vitamin D, magnesium) disrupt hormone production
- Body fat percentage – especially excessive abdominal fat increases aromatase activity (conversion of testosterone to estrogen); however, too low a body fat percentage can also lead to a hormonal imbalance.
- Exercise – regular strength and endurance training can have a positive effect on hormone balance, but overtraining has a negative effect.
- Stress – chronically high cortisol levels block testosterone and DHEA
- Alcohol and smoking promote estrogen dominance and hormone degradation.
Certain medications (e.g., antidepressants, statins, opioids) can also affect hormone levels.
Conclusion
A balanced hormone level is the foundation for energy, vitality, sexual function, and mental stability . Recognizing and specifically testing for the symptoms of a hormonal imbalance allows for early intervention before chronic fatigue, loss of libido, or metabolic problems develop.
Tip: With the premium hormone analysis from Adon Health, you can conveniently get a good perspective on your hormone status from home, including testosterone, thyroid, FSH, LH, estradiol, SHBG and more.
