Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — evidence based health
The Birth Control Pill Coin Flip – Heads or Tails?
Posted by Dr. Kate Placzek on
The contraceptive pill is one of the most widely used medications in the world — but its effects on mood, brain chemistry and hormone balance are still poorly understood. This article explores how synthetic hormones disrupt oestrogen, progesterone, cortisol and neurotransmitters, and why some women are far more vulnerable to depression and anxiety as a result.
Guidance of Interpreting Hormone Testing Levels for Contraceptive Users
Posted by Dr. Sherry LaBeck on
Hormonal contraception suppresses ovarian function, which means saliva and blood spot hormone test results will appear artificially low — but this doesn’t mean hormone levels at the tissue level are low. This guide explains how to interpret hormone test results correctly when using the pill, patch, ring or IUD, and when to collect your sample for the most meaningful data.
Prostate Cancer Prevention – Identifying Areas of Susceptibility
Posted by Dr. Allison Smith on
Prostate cancer takes years to develop from a normal cell to a detectable tumour — which means there is a meaningful window for prevention. Three key risk factors are both testable and modifiable: BPA exposure, arsenic accumulation, and catechol oestrogen imbalance. This article explains how each one works and what men can do about it.
Ensuring an Accurate Dose: Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Posted by Hormone Lab UK Editorial Team on
Explore why many men on topical testosterone replacement therapy may be unintentionally over-dosed due to outdated serum testing methods and misunderstood dosing principles. Learn how saliva and dried blood spot testing better reflect bioavailable testosterone delivered to tissues, why physiological dosing matters, and how excessive testosterone may suppress natural hormone production, reduce receptor sensitivity, and negatively affect long-term symptom management and hormonal balance.
The Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) and Adrenal Function
Posted by Hormone Lab UK Editorial Team on
The Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) — the 50% surge in cortisol that occurs in the first 30 minutes after waking — is one of the most sensitive markers of HPA axis health. Discover how CAR differs from the standard diurnal cortisol curve, which conditions are linked to blunted or exaggerated CAR, and how three timed morning saliva samples can reveal adrenal function in ways a single cortisol test cannot.