The Complete Guide to Men’s Hormone Health: Testosterone and Beyond
- Ritual Functional Medicine
- Oct 19
- 3 min read
Men’s hormone health is about far more than testosterone. At Ritual Functional Medicine, we help restore optimal levels of testosterone, DHEA, and thyroid hormones, helping men improve energy, focus, strength, and longevity. By addressing hormones and their root causes through functional medicine, men can look and feel their best at every age.
It’s not just women who face hormone changes. Many men begin noticing shifts in energy, focus, and motivation as early as their 30s, but most chalk it up to “just getting older.” In reality, these symptoms often point to subtle hormone imbalances that can be optimized for better health, vitality, and performance.
At Ritual Functional Medicine, our approach is rooted in physiology, research, and functional medicine to restore hormone balance and address the root causes behind low energy, mood changes, and metabolic slowdown.
Testosterone: The Foundation of Men’s Health
Testosterone is more than a “male hormone.” It’s essential for maintaining lean muscle, healthy metabolism, sharp cognition, motivation, mood, and cardiovascular health.
As testosterone naturally declines with age, symptoms can include:
Low energy or fatigue
Reduced strength and muscle mass
Brain fog and low motivation
Weight gain or increased belly fat
Mood changes or irritability
Decreased libido or sexual performance
While many men are told their testosterone levels are “normal,” optimal levels vary by individual. That’s why we don’t chase average levels, we restore hormones to where you feel and function your best.
We utilize bioidentical testosterone therapy in our care to support long-term vitality and disease prevention.
DHEA: The Resilience Hormone
Often overlooked, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) plays a crucial role in how men respond to stress and inflammation.
Produced by the adrenal glands, DHEA acts as a precursor to both testosterone and estrogen and supports immune function, mental clarity, and mood regulation.
Low DHEA can contribute to:
Fatigue and burnout
Reduced stress tolerance
Decreased libido
Brain fog or anxiety
We evaluate DHEA alongside cortisol to understand adrenal function and stress resilience. We then restore balance through lifestyle optimization and bioidentical supplementation when needed.
Thyroid: The Unsung Metabolic Powerhouse
Your thyroid drives your metabolism, energy, and cellular performance. Even slight changes in thyroid hormone levels can lead to symptoms that mirror “low T”: fatigue, weight gain, low motivation, and slowed recovery.
In functional medicine, we go beyond basic TSH testing to assess:
Free T3 and Total T3 (active thyroid hormone)
Reverse T3 (a marker of impaired thyroid conversion)
Thyroid antibodies (to screen for autoimmunity)
Optimizing thyroid function can dramatically improve how men feel by enhancing energy, metabolism, mood, and even testosterone production.
The Functional Medicine Difference
Hormones don’t operate in isolation. They’re influenced by sleep, nutrition, gut health, toxins, stress, and inflammation. That’s why our approach integrates:
Comprehensive bloodwork and functional testing
Nutrition and lifestyle optimization
Precision supplementation
Genomic insights to personalize care
By addressing the why behind hormone imbalance, not just replacing what’s low, we help men build true vitality from the inside out.
What to Expect at Ritual Functional Medicine
Our Men’s Health & Hormone Deep Dive is the first step toward optimization. In this 60-minute telemedicine visit, we’ll connect the dots between your symptoms, comprehensive lab results, and goals. From there, we create a personalized plan that may include testosterone therapy, DHEA support, thyroid optimization, and functional medicine interventions for gut healing, inflammation, and cardiometabolic health. These are all accessible in our Health & Hormone Optimization Program.
Our Health & Hormone Optimization Program includes:
Advanced lab testing and data-driven analysis
Bioidentical hormone therapy (when appropriate)
Ongoing provider and health coach support
A sustainable plan for long-term health and performance