What are sex hormones?
Sex hormones are chemical messengers made mainly in the ovaries, testes and adrenal glands. Everyone has estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, in different amounts. They are coordinated by signals from the brain, including LH and FSH, which tell the reproductive organs when to produce hormones. These hormones influence bone strength, muscle, skin, libido, mood, sleep and heart health, and their levels shift naturally across the month and through life stages.
How your genes play a role
Genes shape every step of this system. Some build the receptors that receive hormone signals, influencing how strongly your tissues respond. Others make enzymes that convert one hormone into another, such as testosterone into estrogen. Still others produce carrier proteins that control how much hormone is free and active in your blood. Small differences can add up to a hormonal profile that is uniquely yours.
Hormonal shifts can be felt in quiet, everyday ways: energy, sleep, skin and mood. Understanding how your body may make, convert and respond to sex hormones can help you make sense of these patterns. It can also add context to life stages such as perimenopause or age related changes in testosterone. Your results are a helpful companion to blood tests and conversations with your clinician.
What your report shows
Your Sex Hormones results are explained in plain language in your private EvoDNA account, alongside the other areas in your kit.
- Receptor sensitivityHow your estrogen and androgen receptor genes may influence tissue response.
- Hormone conversionHow actively your body may convert testosterone into estrogen and other forms.
- Free hormone levelsVariants in carrier protein genes linked to how much hormone is available to your cells.
- Brain signalsGenes involved in the signals that coordinate hormone production.
| Gene | What it does | Result |
|---|---|---|
| ESR1 | Codes for the main estrogen receptor, which lets tissues… | Typical |
| AR | Codes for the androgen receptor, which allows cells to… | Moderate effect |
| CYP19A1 | Makes aromatase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen. | Typical |
Each result comes with a plain-language explanation and practical points to discuss with your clinician.
Illustration only. Your report reflects your own genetic results.
Genes we analyze
| Gene | Role |
|---|---|
| ESR1 | Codes for the main estrogen receptor, which lets tissues such as bone, breast and brain respond to estrogen. |
| AR | Codes for the androgen receptor, which allows cells to respond to testosterone. |
| CYP19A1 | Makes aromatase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen. |
| SHBG | Makes sex hormone binding globulin, a carrier protein that controls how much hormone is free and active. |
| SRD5A1 | Makes an enzyme that converts testosterone into a more potent form called DHT. |
Full panel: 15 genes
ESR1, ESR2, PGR, AR, 17β-HSD, CYP19A1, SRD5A1, SHBG, LH, FSH, GnRH, FSHR, LHR, AMH, AMHR2
Putting results to use
Many people use their results as a starting point for conversations with their clinician about:
Many hormones follow daily rhythms, so steady sleep is often a starting point with clinicians.
Resistance exercise is widely discussed for its role in muscle, bone and hormone health.
Enough protein, healthy fats and fiber may support the building blocks of hormones.
Ongoing stress can influence hormone signals, so calming routines may be part of the picture.
Questions
Does this replace a hormone blood test?
No. Blood tests measure your current hormone levels, while your genes show how your body may tend to make and respond to hormones. The two work well together.
Is this report relevant for men?
Yes. Men also make and use estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, and the same genes help shape their hormonal balance.
Can my results guide hormone therapy?
Your results can add useful context, but decisions about any hormone treatment should always be made with your clinician.
Only interested in this area? The Sex Hormones Genetic Report is available on its own for $99.00.
