Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living

The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trial cast a long shadow over hormone replacement therapy — but it enrolled women well over a decade past menopause. Two newer trials, ELITE and KEEPS, specifically studied HRT started early in the postmenopausal period. Their findings on cardiovascular health, sexual function, sleep, mood and cognition paint a more nuanced and encouraging picture. Here is what the latest research shows.

An FDA-approved testosterone gel was shown to significantly increase cardiovascular risk in older men — but does this mean testosterone therapy is dangerous? ZRT Laboratory’s research suggests the real problem lies in how testosterone is measured. Venous serum testing dramatically underestimates tissue exposure to topical testosterone, leading to pharmacological overdosing that goes undetected. This article explains why the testing method matters as much as the dose.

Vitamin D is not just a vitamin — it is a steroid hormone that plays a critical role in fertility, conception, placental development and fetal health. From improving ovulation in women with PCOS to supporting sperm motility in men, adequate vitamin D levels matter at every stage of the journey to parenthood. Discover why testing before and during pregnancy is increasingly recommended.

Persistent skin problems — from acne and dryness to unwanted hair growth and premature wrinkling — are often rooted in hormone imbalance. Oestrogen, testosterone, DHT, progesterone, thyroid hormones, cortisol and vitamin D all play distinct roles in skin health. This article explains the connections and how hormone testing can help identify the underlying cause.

The decline in oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone as we age is one of the primary drivers of skin thinning, wrinkling, dryness and loss of elasticity. But hormones affect skin in more ways than most people realise — from DHT-driven acne and unwanted hair growth to the risks of over-supplementation. This article explains the key hormonal connections to skin wellness and how targeted testing can guide safe, effective hormone use.