Hormones Pathway Report FAQ

What are the Hormones Pathway Reports?

SelfDecode offers two Hormones Pathway Reports — one for male hormonal biology and one for female hormonal biology. The report you see in your account is automatically matched to the sex you entered in your profile, so you'll only ever see the one relevant to you.

Each report maps how your genes influence every stage of your steroid hormone system, from production and conversion through to clearance and detoxification. Rather than flagging individual genes in isolation, these reports show how your genes interact across the full hormonal pathway — helping you identify exactly where your body may be thriving and where it may be hitting a bottleneck.

How to Access the Hormones Pathway Report

Your Hormones Pathway Report is automatically matched to the sex in your SelfDecode profile. To find it:

  1. Go to your Report Overview Page.
  2. Search "Hormones Pathway" to go directly to your report.
  3. To browse all available pathway reports, search "Pathway" for a broader list.

If you believe your report doesn't match your profile, check your profile settings to confirm your sex is entered correctly, or email us at support@selfdecode.com

Male Hormones Pathway Report

What does the Male Hormones Pathway Report analyze?

The Male Hormones Pathway Report examines your genetic variations across two interconnected pathways — the Androgen & Cortisol Pathway and the Estrogen Pathway — covering how your body produces, converts, and clears male hormones from cholesterol all the way through to their final metabolites. It's designed for anyone who suspects their hormonal biology may be affecting their energy, body composition, mood, prostate health, or stress response.

Which genes are included?

The report analyzes key genes across the full male hormonal system, including:

  • Steroid and androgen synthesis — CYP17A1, HSD3B1, SULT2A1, controlling testosterone production from cholesterol through DHEA and androstenedione
  • Cortisol regulation — HSD11B1, which governs cortisol activation and clearance; chronic imbalance here can undermine testosterone levels and metabolic health
  • DHT conversion and androgen sensitivity — AR (androgen receptor), which affects hair health, prostate risk, and how strongly your body responds to androgens
  • Hormone binding — SHBG, which determines how much testosterone is free and biologically active versus bound and unavailable
  • Estrogen conversion and metabolism — CYP19A1 (aromatase), CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1, CYP3A4, controlling how testosterone converts to estrogen and how that estrogen is then metabolized and cleared
  • Estrogen clearance — COMT and MTHFR, which govern methylation and detoxification of estrogen metabolites

How does this report help me?

It helps you understand:

  • How your genes influence testosterone synthesis at every step of the production pathway
  • Whether your genetics predispose you to excess cortisol production or poor cortisol clearance — and how that affects testosterone and mental clarity
  • How your body converts testosterone to DHT, and what your AR variants mean for prostate and hair health
  • How efficiently your body converts and clears estrogen — an often-overlooked factor in men that affects body composition, cardiovascular health, and hormonal balance

What kind of recommendations will I see?

You'll receive personalized, prioritized suggestions based on your specific variants — not generic advice. Examples include targeted zinc or magnesium dosages to support testosterone synthesis, DIM or calcium-D-glucarate to support estrogen clearance, cortisol-modulating adaptogens where relevant, and lifestyle strategies tied to your specific genetic bottlenecks. Each recommendation explains the biological mechanism behind it.

What lab markers are included?

The report pairs your gene results with relevant lab markers including Total Testosterone, DHT, and PSA, so you can see whether your genetic tendencies are showing up in your measured physiology.

Female Hormones Pathway Report

What does the Female Hormones Pathway Report analyze?

The Female Hormones Pathway Report examines your genetic variations across the Androgen & Cortisol Pathway and the Estrogen Pathway — covering how your body produces, activates, metabolizes, and detoxifies female hormones. It's designed for anyone experiencing symptoms that may be tied to hormonal imbalance, including mood swings, fatigue, cycle irregularities, PCOS, estrogen dominance, or perimenopause concerns.

Which genes are included?

The report analyzes key genes across the full female hormonal system, including:

  • Steroid and androgen synthesis — CYP17A1 and HSD3B1, which influence androgen levels and PCOS risk
  • Estrogen production — CYP19A1 (aromatase), which controls how much estrogen your body produces
  • Estrogen activation — HSD17B1, which converts estrogens into their more potent active forms
  • Hormone binding — SHBG, which determines how much estrogen and testosterone is free versus bound
  • Estrogen metabolism — CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1, and CYP3A4, which determine which metabolic pathway your estrogen follows; some pathways produce more harmful metabolites than others
  • Cortisol and progesterone balance — HSD11B1, which shapes the competition between progesterone and cortisol under stress, affecting cycle regularity and stress resilience
  • Estrogen clearance and methylation — COMT and MTHFR, which govern whether used estrogen is safely cleared or allowed to accumulate as potentially harmful metabolites

How does this report help me?

It helps you understand:

  • The complete picture of how your body produces, activates, and detoxifies estrogen — and whether any stage may be creating imbalance
  • How your genetics influence the progesterone-cortisol balance, and whether stress may be disrupting your cycle or hormonal resilience
  • Whether your androgen pathway genes raise your risk for elevated androgens contributing to PCOS symptoms like acne, hair thinning, or irregular cycles
  • How effectively your body clears used estrogen through methylation and detox pathways — and whether genetic variants in COMT or MTHFR may be allowing harmful metabolites to build up

What kind of recommendations will I see?

You'll receive personalized, prioritized suggestions based on your specific variants. Examples include targeted DIM or sulforaphane dosages to support estrogen metabolism, methylation support through active B vitamins where COMT or MTHFR variants are present, adaptogenic herbs for cortisol-progesterone balance, and dietary strategies tied to your specific pathway results. Each recommendation explains the biological mechanism behind it.

What lab markers are included?

The report pairs your gene results with relevant lab markers so you can see whether your genetic tendencies are showing up in your measured physiology — helping you and your healthcare provider build a more complete hormonal picture.

Questions that apply to both reports

Does this report diagnose any conditions?

No. Neither report diagnoses any hormonal condition. They provide insight into your genetic predispositions and help identify potential lifestyle and nutritional adjustments to support better hormonal balance. We recommend discussing your results with a healthcare provider, particularly if you have existing hormonal health concerns.

Can I use my existing DNA data for these reports?

Yes — if you've already uploaded your DNA to SelfDecode, your report will automatically generate once your file has successfully scanned and you complete the report purchase.

Who should consider these reports?

The Male Hormones Pathway Report is especially valuable for individuals who:

  • Suspect low testosterone, high cortisol, or excess estrogen conversion may be affecting their energy, mood, or body composition
  • Want to understand their prostate or DHT-related genetic risk
  • Are optimizing hormonal health through diet, supplementation, or lifestyle

The Female Hormones Pathway Report is especially valuable for individuals who:

  • Experience cycle irregularities, mood swings, fatigue, or symptoms of estrogen dominance
  • Have been diagnosed with or are concerned about PCOS, perimenopause, or endometriosis
  • Want to understand whether their body is effectively clearing estrogen and where methylation or detox support may help

Next steps

Review your report: Log in to your SelfDecode account and open your Hormones Pathway Report to explore your personalized insights.

Apply your recommendations: Implement the lifestyle, diet, and supplement suggestions that best fit your needs and genotype.

Run suggested lab markers: Work with a healthcare professional to test relevant hormone levels and confirm whether your genetic tendencies are being expressed in your current physiology.

Discuss with your practitioner: Share your results to create a more targeted, data-driven hormonal health plan.

Looking for help with your results?

SelfDecode has two AI options to help you explore your health data:

  • DecodyGPT — our built-in AI health coach, available directly in your account
  • Connect via MCP integration — link your SelfDecode data to ChatGPT or Claude for AI-powered insights using your own account

Want more from your SelfDecode plan?

The Ultimate Bundle includes all of our current premium reports in one package:

Upgrade from your dashboard or email support@selfdecode.com with questions.

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