The Testosterone Drop and Estrogen Storm

What’s happening to men and women—and how to test before it’s too late

When Daniel, a 34-year-old lawyer, came in for his first consult, he looked exhausted. “I’m working out five days a week,” he said, “but I can’t put on muscle. My energy crashes by 3 p.m. And my wife jokes that I’ve lost my edge.” His bloodwork confirmed what I suspected: testosterone levels that would have been considered low for a man in his 50s just one generation ago.

On the other side, Clara, a 29-year-old teacher, had a different story: irregular cycles, weight gain around the middle, and anxiety that seemed to spike every month. Her gynecologist had recommended birth control to “regulate” things, but deeper testing revealed disrupted estrogen–progesterone balance and early signs of thyroid stress.

Daniel and Clara aren’t isolated cases. They represent what large-scale studies now show: men and women are hormonally imbalanced in ways our parents and grandparents weren’t.

Hormones under siege
The science backs this up. The Massachusetts Male Aging Study documented a steady decline in testosterone between the 1980s and early 2000s, not explained by age or body weight. A global meta-analysis found sperm counts have dropped by about 50% since the 1970s, with the decline now accelerating. For women, puberty is arriving earlier—roughly three months earlier per decade since the late 1970s—shaping hormone exposure over a lifetime in ways that raise risks of cycle disorders and metabolic disease.

What’s driving this shift? Researchers point to multiple layers:

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs): Phthalates, bisphenols (like BPA), and pesticides are now so widespread that the Endocrine Society has labeled them a major health threat.

Metabolic stress: Obesity and insulin resistance alter hormone-binding proteins, shifting estrogen–testosterone balance in both sexes.

Lifestyle disruption: Stress, blue light, and sleep loss spike cortisol and blunt anabolic hormones.

Developmental timing effects: Earlier puberty in girls and lower baseline testosterone in boys create long-term ripple effects for fertility, mood, and vitality.

The result? A hormonal landscape that’s profoundly different from a few decades ago.

The hidden cost of hormone imbalance
Why does this matter for you? Because hormonal health isn’t just about reproduction—it’s about quality of life. Low testosterone leaves men fatigued, unfocused, and at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Estrogen and progesterone imbalance drives PMS, PCOS, thyroid issues, and mood instability in women. Left unchecked, these imbalances ripple outward: strained marriages, diminished work performance, even generational effects as parents pass along vulnerabilities to their children.

Daniel’s fatigue wasn’t just about the gym—it was about how he showed up at work and at home. Clara’s irregular cycles weren’t just an inconvenience—they were early warning signs her body was out of sync with its environment.

The DUTCH Test reveals what routine labs miss
Here’s the sobering truth: hormonal imbalance isn’t a fringe issue anymore. It’s the new normal. But normal doesn’t mean healthy.

The smartest first step isn’t guessing—it’s testing. This is where the DUTCH Test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) comes in. Unlike a standard blood draw, DUTCH captures not only your hormone levels but also their metabolites—showing how your body is actually using and clearing hormones. It measures sex hormones, adrenal stress hormones like cortisol, and even organic acids tied to metabolism.

That means a man like Daniel can see if his testosterone is being shunted down the wrong metabolic pathway, while a woman like Clara can uncover whether her estrogen dominance is paired with sluggish detoxification. Armed with this map, a practitioner can build a customized program—whether that’s nutrition, supplements, lifestyle changes, or targeted biohacking tools—to bring hormones back into balance instead of just masking symptoms.

So if you’ve been feeling “off,” stop guessing. The DUTCH Test is available for both men and women and offers a clear window into what’s really happening behind the scenes of your biology. Because the real question isn’t whether your hormones are under pressure—they are. The question is: will you take the step to measure them, so you can finally rebalance them?

Stay vital,

Richard Labaki

Holistic Therapist ​/ ​Longevity Architect 

Women in the Mood

By Richard Labaki

Women often complain about men being utterly consumed by sex to the point of losing their mind.  And while there is truth to this matter, women tend to forget or overlook the fact that they are also sexual creatures (actually highly advanced sexual beings compared to men!)  After all, they are the ones blessed with an organ that serves no other purpose but pure sexual pleasure (the clitoris).  This tiny but mighty organ has around 8,000 sensory nerve endings interacting with over 15,000 other nerve endings in the pelvis - as opposed to the 4,000 found in the penis (as claimed by certain scientists.)  So if we put things into perspective, women are obviously designed to experience heightened sexual pleasures at a level we men could never feel or even comprehend!  Unfortunately, social and religious norms have been playing a suppressing role when it comes to female sexual expression and urges.  This could partly explain why most women are uncomfortable with their sexuality – consequently, resenting men for being more expressive and open in this regard.  I am not a sociologist or psychologist to present an academic view on the topic.  But I simply wish to share my perspective on the physiological elements pertaining to female sexuality in light of the recent release of the “Pink Viagra” – Flibanserin (Addyi) – for women.    

   by  *jocam* 

Those who know me too well are aware of my hatred of pharmaceutical drugs in general (of course there are exceptions, especially when it comes to the emergency room where certain meds could mean the difference between life and death.)  So by default, a drug designed for female sexuality could only instigate my ridicule and sarcasm.  Such drugs, even if they do work for some people and under certain circumstances, could only come with a mélange of side effects, especially if used for a prolonged period.  Simply put, all of our physiological functions could be balanced through our lifestyle habits, food intake and supplement use.  But if things are in disarray like when we come under severe stress, these functions – including libido – will be adversely affected.  Too much of the stress hormone cortisol could spell disaster for both men and women in terms of overall health and sexual desire/performance.  So in effect, you don’t boost libido/sexual performance by taking some drug manufactured by Big Pharma.  You work on reducing your stress levels in a proactive manner, and this in turn will reflect positively on your sex drive and performance.  Activities like yoga, meditation, tai chi, massage and others have all been shown to be effective in counteracting the ill effects of stress.  And there are of course adaptogenic herbs that help tremendously in this regard.

Another important aspect regarding the female libido is testosterone levels.  If you have been minutely awake during biology class at school then you should know that this is the male hormone.  Well, in reality women have testosterone too but not in high levels compared to men.  However, this hormone is very critical when it comes to female health and sexual satisfaction.  In other words, if a woman suffers from low levels of this hormone then she will surely suffer sexually.  But how to remedy this problem?  Luckily, certain nutrients and herbal extracts have been shown to regulate female hormones and boosting testosterone levels naturally.  Good testosterone levels in women have been linked to improved energy, mood and motivation, in addition to increased bone strength and body-fat burn. 

Reclaiming the feminine mojo

As mentioned earlier, there are safe and natural ways to boost testosterone production in the female body – thanks to various herbs, vitamins and minerals.  Here are some of my favorite ones given their effectiveness and relative safety.

Chasteberry (Vitex): This herb is probably one of the best hormonal balancer for women – with an impressive record.  Vitex has been shown to regulate estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. 

Tribulus Terrestris: I love this one.  I have used it for athletic purposes, since it naturally improves testosterone production.  However, it has also been shown to increase testosterone in women in a gentle way – leading to improved sex drive.

Tongkat Ali:  This herb from Southeast Asia (used mainly in Malaysia) increases libido and stimulates the production of testosterone.

Horny Goat Weed: This one increases testosterone and improves blood circulation (blood flowing into the right places also leads to improved sexual desire/performance.)

Zinc: An important mineral for overall health, zinc has been shown to increase testosterone levels.

All the aforementioned herbs and nutrients have been proven by science to be effective in increasing testosterone levels naturally.  Nevertheless, you always need to consult with a therapist/professional before using them (some individuals might have certain health conditions that prohibit them from using these supplements.)

Women are entitled to enjoy an active and gratifying sexual life as much as men do.  And this should not be reliant upon a so-called “miracle pill” or “wonder drug”!  Stress, hormonal imbalance and other health conditions that negatively affect libido/sexual performance could be and should be solved through natural and sustainable means. 

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