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great article on sex hormones and neuroprotection.  This article summarizes the research on estrogen, progesterone, and aromatase activity in in vitro and in vivo studies.  Additionally, the study reviews the androgenic neuroprotection in men.  Who has said that hormones are not needed post menopausal again?  Maybe, that is the sign that they need the neuroprotective effect of hormones.

Nice review of the proposed complex interaction between hormones and prostate cancer.  The complex nature of the development of cancer will likely eliminate the complete elucidation of the mechanism of prostate cancer.  However, there are many pieces that would favor: increased aromatase activity appears to play a significant role int he development of prostate cancer, clearly intraprostatic hormones are different than serum making serum evaluation of sex hormones irrelevant--the move should be to salivary hormones, and the growing knowledge of DHT metabolites in the protection of prostate cancer--3 beta androstanediol.

Another study supports saliva hormone testing.  This study involved 2,722 individuals and tested estradiol, progesterone, DHEA and testosterone in men and women.  All of these are sex hormones.  Someone needs to tell the insurance companies that the overwhelming evidence supports saliva hormone testing.  But, that would mean they are even interested in the science.

somewhat flawed study in that they looked at serum sex hormones to evaluate men with gynecomastia compared to controls.  A better eval would have been of saliva or blood spot.  Free levels will show more subtle changes physiologically than will serum as to the sex hormones.  The study did find decreased sexual function in the men with gynecomastia--indicating hormone issues not picked up by the serum.

sex hormones readily carried on human red blood cells.  Reason transdermal progesterone is picked up in saliva and not serum.  Sex hormones are lipophillic and blood is water soluble.

a large collaborative analysis finds no association between ANY sex hormones and prostate cancer.  

Sex hormones in head and neck cancer.  The jury is still out and probably follows other hormone sensitive cancers.  

very good review of the differences in MS and hormones between the sexes.

This study looked at combined sex hormone analysis via gas chromatography-mass spec.  Levels were able to be detected as low as 0.002 mcro/L in saliva.  This study validates the GC-MS for the use of multiple, simultaneous steroid hormone analysis

hormones are the link between the brain and sex for men?  Yes, but a little more complex than that: interaction between the immune system (inflammation) and the endocrine system (hormones).

study looked at post hormonal effects on atherosclerosis after castration for prostate cancer.  They found significant decrease in sex hormones, significant increase in the E2:T ratio and an increase in atherosclerosis.

The results of this study: body composition i.e. fat, effects hormone levels, rather then hormone effecting body composition.  

nice and short review on testosterone and men's  health.

Hormones and autoimmune disease.  This article specifically touches on SLE.  Good discussion on the biochemical signaling of hormones and their contribution to the increased autoimmunity found in women.

good review of sex hormones and LUPUS; whether it is causative or not, sex hormones trends exist in LUPUS i.e. low DHEA in both sexes, low progesterone in women, and low Testosterone in women>men.

Nice review of all the sex hormones and their relationship to CVD in men.  

older study and only the abstract.  However, sex hormones play role in inflammation and autoimmune disease.

No test is perfect. This study analyzes problems with saliva hormone testing.  The authors of this study found saliva testing optimal for cortisol and less so for sex hormones.  Other studies have contradicted this conclusion.

Only abstract available here.  Low adrenal hormone output and low sex hormone production associated with increase RA.  Causation not proved here.

low adrenal hormone output and sex hormone output associated with RA; low adrenal output may pose a more direct effect.  This is likely why pregnancy is associated with a decrease with RA and the postpartum is associated with an increase.