The expanded Male Hormone Panel (eMHP)

Hormone imbalances in men can contribute to:

- Decreased libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Sleep disorders
- Decreased muscle mass and strength
- General fatigue/decreased energy
- Increased risk for coronary artery disease
- Hair loss or thinning Increased fat accumulation
- Urinary problems
- Prostate challenges
- Decreased sperm count
- Compromised immune function
- Low motivation or depression

Why use our Male Hormone Panel?

- It is affordable and less expensive than blood or urine tests.
- Noninvasive testing is pain-free and samples can be collected anywhere and at any time. Results are more clinically reflective of your unbound, bioavailable hormone levels and needs.
- Results can lead to an individualized and customized treatment plan using natural hormones.
- You will minimize hormone dosing mistakes (over or under). With salivary hormone testing, guesswork is minimized.

Why is it important to measure male hormones?

Optimal health is dependent on a balance of hormones, not just a single hormone. Measurements of hormones can be used in two general ways:

1) To estimate the body’s own hormone production as a baseline test
2) To monitor levels of hormones during and after Functional Nutrition strategies have been implemented

Monitoring hormone levels is necessary in order to optimize treatment. The information obtained from the Male Hormone Panel (MHP) will allow us to gain a better understanding of your current hormone levels and to create a treatment plan that is right for you.

The following 7 hormones are evaluated in the Male Hormone Panel (MHP):

Testosterone – This hormone is produced in the testes and is necessary for healthy male reproductive function. Testosterone helps to preserve lean body mass, bone density, cognitive function, red blood cell count, and libido. It is also the main testicular androgen and is a precursor to the highly potent dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Excessive amounts of testosterone promote hardening of the blood vessels, behavioral changes, prostate problems, and an increase in total cholesterol.

Androstenedione – Another important reproductive hormone precursor. Is a weak (androgen) and a precursor to both male and female hormones. Unmonitored intake in men can lead to excessive conversion to estrogens with minimal male hormone production. In women, unmonitored intake usually causes excess male hormone production with body and facial hair growth.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) – Is made from testosterone in certain tissues. Conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone frequently increases with age. Excess DHT is associated with enlargement of the prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP) and male pattern baldness.

DHEA and DHEA-S – A hormone produced in the adrenal glands as a precursor to testosterone and estrogen. Supplementation of DHEA is common in hormone replacement therapy. Unmonitored intake can easily alter the delicate balance between male and female hormones.

Estrone & Estradiol (Estrogens) – Frequently thought of as “female hormones”, estrogens play important roles in male health as well. High estrogens have been associated with breast enlargement, prostate cancer, fat redistribution, and obesity. Controlling estrogen levels can be helpful in treating systems of andropause. Estrone is an estrogen that both men and women produce in the fat cells. The more fat, the more estrone, which in turn promotes fat deposits. It is produced from androstenedione. Excess levels of estrone can cause breast enlargement and contribute to prostate enlargement. Estradiol is another estrogen that is much more powerful than estrone. It is partially formed in the testes but mostly in the other body tissues from both the testicular and adrenal androgens. High estradiol levels have been associated with breast enlargement, fat redistribution, and obesity.

Progesterone – Progesterone is often perceived as a ‘female’ hormone, however it is also produced in men and is a precursor to testosterone and estrogens. Elevated progesterone may be due to unintentional exposure and can lead to elevations in other hormones. It is a natural calming agent to the nervous system. It also keeps in check excessive DHT production in check and counterbalances the effects of excessive estrone. Unmonitored intake can lead to breast enlargement, depression and weight gain.

The Expanded Male Hormone Panel (eMHP) also includes:

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is a hormone that stimulates sperm production. It is released from the pituitary gland in the brain.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is another pituitary hormone that stimulates testosterone production by the testes. With Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone, our Expanded Male Hormone Panel gives more information about the possible underlying cause of many common male hormone problems.

Helpful Links and References

1. Inder WJ, Dimeski G, Russell A. Measurement of salivary cortisol in 2012 - laboratory techniques and clinical indications. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2012 Nov;77(5):645-51. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2012.04508.x. PMID: 22812714.
2. Lane AR, Hackney AC. Relationship between salivary and serum testosterone levels in response to different exercise intensities. Hormones (Athens). 2015 Apr-Jun;14(2):258-64. doi: 10.14310/horm.2002.1561. PMID: 25553763.
3. Arregger AL, Contreras LN, Tumilasci OR, Aquilano DR, Cardoso EM. Salivary testosterone: a reliable approach to the diagnosis of male hypogonadism. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2007 Nov;67(5):656-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2007.02937.x. PMID: 17953627.
4. Clifton S, Macdowall W, Copas AJ, Tanton C, Keevil BG, Lee DM, Mitchell KR, Field N, Sonnenberg P, Bancroft J, Mercer CH, Wallace AM, Johnson AM, Wellings K, Wu FC. Salivary Testosterone Levels and Health Status in Men and Women in the British General Population: Findings from the Third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3). J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Nov;101(11):3939-3951. doi: 10.1210/jc.2016-1669. Epub 2016 Aug 23. PMID: 27552539; PMCID: PMC5095233.
5. Afrisham R, Sadegh-Nejadi S, SoliemaniFar O, Kooti W, Ashtary-Larky D, Alamiri F, Aberomand M, Najjar-Asl S, Khaneh-Keshi A. Salivary Testosterone Levels Under Psychological Stress and Its Relationship with Rumination and Five Personality Traits in Medical Students. Psychiatry Investig. 2016 Nov;13(6):637-643. doi: 10.4306/pi.2016.13.6.637. Epub 2016 Nov 24. PMID: 27909455; PMCID: PMC5128352.