A Reality Check on Aging: We Can’t Inject Our Way Out of Time
The dangers of supplemental hormones to counter aging.
If we’re honest, all of us want our older bodies to perform like our younger ones. We want our 60-year-old joints to move like they’re 30, our libido to fire like it did in our 20s, and our faces to reflect back the smooth, line-free version of ourselves we see in old photos. So we tinker. We tighten. We test. We throw injections, supplements, and exogenous hormones at the mirror and hope to find youth staring back at us.
But I think we need a little reality check, don't you?
Aging isn’t a malfunction. It’s a design.
Think of the body like a car. A well-built, well-loved older model can still run great—but it’s not a Tesla. It’s not meant to be. You can shine up the fenders, upgrade the tires, maybe replace the battery, and give it new paint—but if you expect it to corner like it did off the lot at 22, you're setting yourself up for a letdown.
We’ve confused maintenance with magic. We believe that if we do enough—take the right supplements, slather the right creams, get the right injections—we can somehow trick biology into thinking we haven’t aged. We’re treating aging like it's optional. Guess what? It’s not.
And those of us in the wellness field must stop using the term “reverse aging.” It’s wrong, misleading, and encourages people to think that aging is bad, something to change, not nurture. Thus, it creates general dissatisfaction with age.
Hormones, Hype, and Hopeful Thinking
Let’s talk hormones that are now used to specifically address aging—testosterone, estrogen, HGH—all the ones that promise to make us feel "young again."
They are the prime example of chasing youth. It’s tempting, I get it, especially when your trusted friend swears by them or your spouse is doing it and says, “Just try it.” But adding hormones isn’t like topping off a gas tank. It’s more like installing a turbocharger into a 200,000-mile engine. Sure, it might give you a little boost. But what does it do to the long-term integrity of the system?
Exogenous hormones, which are hormones that we introduce externally rather than produce internally, either through oral supplements, cutaneous or subcutaneous application, or injections, can bring real side effects:
Testosterone supplementation can shrink natural testosterone production, potentially leading to testicular atrophy, mood swings, and cardiovascular risks.
Estrogen therapy, especially without balance, can raise risks for certain cancers, blood clots, and stroke in some individuals.
And don’t even get me started on unregulated bioidenticals or sketchy “anti-aging clinics” that make a fortune selling us hope.
I’m not saying all hormone therapy is bad. There are legitimate medical uses, like treating actual hormone deficiencies or navigating challenging menopause symptoms. But we must stop pretending it’s the secret to reversing age. It’s not. It’s a management tool, not a miracle cure. Let’s stop confusing the two.
Hormones That Decline with Age (And What That Really Means)
Let me dive a little deeper into hormones and regulating them artificially, because I’m hearing about people wanting to try them as an anti-aging intervention.
Here’s a breakdown of the most well-known hormones that decrease with age, what they actually do, and how much of the anti-aging hype is grounded in science versus marketing. Knowing this might give you a new perspective on how we are using medications to “reverse aging.”
🧡 Estrogen
Estrogen is best known as the female sex hormone, but it does far more than regulate reproductive function. It also supports bone health, maintains skin elasticity, influences mood, and plays a protective role in heart and brain health.
In women, estrogen levels drop significantly during menopause. This decline can contribute to decreased bone density, thinner, drier skin, mood shifts or brain fog, and vaginal and urinary discomfort, to name the most common symptoms.
Estrogen also exists in men, though in smaller amounts, and also plays a role in cardiovascular and brain function.
Estrogen levels in women don’t just fall off a cliff at menopause—they begin a slow, subtle decline in the mid-30s, then take a dramatic nosedive during perimenopause and menopause.
Here’s how it breaks down:
30s: Estrogen begins to decline very gradually, often without noticeable symptoms. This is when subtle changes in mood, cycle length, or PMS severity may begin.
Early 40s (Perimenopause): Estrogen levels become more erratic. They don’t just decline—they fluctuate. You might have months with high estrogen, then sudden drops. This can lead to symptoms like breast tenderness, anxiety, and heavy periods.
Menopause (Average age ~51): Estrogen levels drop sharply, often by 80% or more compared to premenopausal levels. This is due to the ovaries ceasing estrogen production. After menopause, only small amounts of estrogen are produced, mostly from fat tissue and the adrenal glands.
We often frame estrogen decline like it’s some design flaw—as if the body forgot to keep pumping youth juice into our systems. But what if it’s not a flaw? I argue that it’s actually a shift in priorities.
Estrogen decline isn't inherently bad—it’s biologically intentional.
Think about it: The female body is exquisitely calibrated to support reproduction. Estrogen’s job, in large part, is to mature and release eggs, thicken the uterine lining for potential implantation, and maintain pregnancy-supportive environments.
When reproduction is no longer on the table, evolutionarily speaking, maintaining high estrogen becomes unnecessary—and potentially costly.
That’s not dysfunction. That’s efficiency. Okay, moving on to other hormones…
🌶️ Testosterone
Testosterone levels in men begin to decline gradually starting in their 30s—about 1% per year. This phenomenon is sometimes called andropause, though it's not as sudden or dramatic as menopause.
As testosterone dips, men may experience reduced muscle mass and strength, lower libido and sexual performance, decreased motivation and vitality, and possible bone density loss.
Women also produce testosterone via the ovaries and adrenal glands, and their levels decline over time, too. A decline in testosterone is a normal part of aging. It doesn’t always require intervention and doesn’t mean something is broken. Let’s look at it from your body’s perspective.
When we supplement testosterone, especially in an aging body, we’re essentially telling it to override its natural programming. The aging process involves a purposeful shift—from growth and reproduction to maintenance and preservation.
Testosterone, a hormone deeply tied to muscle building, libido, red blood cell production, and metabolic drive, naturally declines with age because the body is adjusting its priorities. It’s saying, “Let’s slow down. Let’s conserve energy. Let’s reduce the strain on cardiovascular and reproductive systems and focus on longevity.”
Introducing exogenous testosterone flips that message. It tells the body, “We’re still in youth mode—keep building, keep driving, keep pushing.” This doesn’t come without cost. The body often shuts down its own testosterone production in response, disrupting the delicate feedback loop of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. That can lead to testicular shrinkage in men and hormone imbalance in women. The aging system is now being asked to perform like a younger model, despite wear and tear under the hood.
Physiologically, it’s like bolting a turbocharger onto an engine with 200,000 miles on it. You might get a temporary performance boost, but you’re also increasing the risk of breakdown—whether that’s joint strain, cardiovascular complications, or insulin resistance. The intention may be to feel more vital, but what we’re really doing is overriding a very intelligent recalibration.
This doesn’t mean testosterone therapy is always wrong. For some, it’s helpful. But it’s not just a supplement—it’s a system override. And when we do that, we need to know exactly what we’re asking the body to do—and whether that aligns with how we actually want to age. Ok, let’s look at Growth Hormone.
🌱 Growth Hormone (GH)
GH, or growth hormone, affects cell regeneration, metabolism, and body composition. It's a natural secretion that drops with age, which is associated with an increase in fat mass (one main reason our percent body fat increases with age), a decrease in lean muscle, and slower recovery from injury.
Some anti-aging clinics promote GH as a youth-restoring therapy, but long-term use can cause joint pain, insulin resistance, swelling, and possibly increase cancer risk. From my perspective, it’s not a shortcut—it’s a high-stakes gamble.
GH potentiates growth, cell regeneration, and tissue repair—vital functions during childhood and early adulthood. But as we age, GH levels decline, and that’s not a mistake. It’s part of the body’s natural shift from high-performance growth mode to a slower, more sustainable rhythm. When we reintroduce growth hormone into an aging body—especially for anti-aging or performance purposes—we're essentially flipping the system back into high gear, encouraging rapid cell division and increased metabolic activity.
The concern is that this kind of stimulation doesn’t discriminate between healthy and potentially damaged cells. GH boosts the production of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1), a hormone strongly linked to cell proliferation. In aging tissues—where cells are more likely to carry mutations or DNA damage—this increase in growth signals can potentially fuel the development of cancer.
Studies have associated elevated IGF-1 levels with a higher risk of cancers like breast, prostate, and colorectal. While GH doesn’t directly “cause” cancer, it may accelerate the growth of cells that have already begun to divide abnormally. In other words, it can fertilize the wrong garden. That’s why GH therapy should never be used casually. It’s not just about looking younger—it’s about understanding the long-term risks of pushing the body into a state it has wisely chosen to leave behind.
🪻 Melatonin
Melatonin, produced by the pineal gland, helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle. As we age, melatonin production decreases, leading to difficulty falling asleep, nighttime wakefulness, and disrupted circadian rhythm.
Melatonin is often considered harmless because it’s “natural,” but supplemental melatonin isn’t risk-free, particularly when used regularly, in high doses, or without guidance.
This is why many older adults report changes in sleep quality. Melatonin supplements can help in the short term, but continuous supplementation is not the answer. Supplemental melatonin can be helpful for short-term sleep disruptions, like jet lag or shift work, but long-term or excessive use may disrupt your body’s melatonin production and throw off your circadian rhythm rather than support it.
Risks and concerns include:
Hormonal disruption – Melatonin doesn’t just regulate sleep; it also influences reproductive hormones, especially in children and adolescents. In adults, high doses can interfere with ovulation, menstruation, or testosterone levels.
Grogginess and next-day drowsiness – Especially with higher doses or slow metabolizers, melatonin can lead to feeling foggy the next day—ironically impairing the energy you were trying to regain.
Mood changes – In some people, especially those with mood disorders, melatonin can worsen depression or anxiety, likely due to its influence on serotonin pathways.
Drug interactions—Melatonin can interact with blood thinners, immune suppressants, diabetes medications, and blood pressure medications, sometimes intensifying its effects in unpredictable ways.
Dosing confusion – Most over-the-counter melatonin in the U.S. is overdosed by several milligrams. Your body's natural amount is around 0.3 to 0.5 mg, but many supplements contain 3 to 10 mg—far more than needed and potentially counterproductive.
So while melatonin can be a helpful tool when used thoughtfully, it’s not a benign sleep vitamin. Like any hormone, it carries risks when used without strategy. The body values rhythm and balance—more isn’t always better.
☀️ DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)
The adrenal glands produce DHEA, a precursor hormone that helps form estrogen and testosterone. It begins its decline in early adulthood and can affect energy levels, immune function, mood, and libido.
Because of its role in hormone synthesis, it’s often marketed as an anti-aging miracle. But again, evidence is mixed, and its long-term safety remains unclear. Supplementing with DHEA can disrupt your natural hormonal feedback loops, especially without monitoring.
Everyone metabolizes DHEA differently. In some people, it may increase testosterone more. In others, estrogen. And in some, it may go nowhere useful at all, depending on age, liver function, and enzyme activity.
And while DHEA may seem gentler than testosterone or estrogen replacement, side effects can still occur, especially at higher doses or with long-term use: acne, oily skin, hair loss, irritability, abnormal periods, or hormone imbalance. Plus, because it can mildly stimulate cell growth, there’s a theoretical concern about hormone-sensitive cancers, just like with the other hormones mentioned.
The Bigger Picture
Every hormone plays a role in a complex, interconnected system. When one changes, others often follow—sometimes in unpredictable ways. That’s why chasing a “younger version” of yourself with hormone therapy can become a slippery slope.
Yes, there are legitimate medical reasons for hormone replacement. But it should never be a reaction to pressure, insecurity, or cultural expectations about what aging should look like.
Before adding anything into your body, ask:
Am I doing this for me, or to meet someone else’s ideal?
What are the long-term risks and tradeoffs?
Is this helping me become the strongest version of who I am now—or just a desperate attempt to rewind time?
Aging well isn’t about looking 30 forever. It’s about being strong, kind, clear-thinking, and present. If there’s a secret, that’s probably it.
Vanity as a Virtue? Let’s Rethink That.
We live in a culture that’s elevated vanity into a virtue. Looking youthful has become synonymous with being valuable. But what if character aged better than collagen? What if being kind, wise, and grounded in who we are mattered more than whether our face looked 10 years younger?
I worked with a few older clients. One in particular comes to mind. She looks good; her face resembles someone 10 years younger. But she can’t walk very well, and her eyesight is rapidly deteriorating. As she shared her aging wisdom with me, she told me she was convinced she looked so good because she “saved” herself over the years by not lifting heavy things or pushing herself too hard.
She didn’t strain herself—she relied on others to do the heavy work. She did not risk wrinkles by crying or going out in the sun. She let others do the hard work, not helping when she could, or being outside and enjoying nature, because she didn’t want to appear old later in life. Now that she’s older, she still looks put-together, even though her strength and mobility have waned significantly. So in one sense, her plan worked; she looks great. On the other hand, saving herself didn’t benefit her mobility in her later years.
This led me to question: What was all that saving for? And how about us? We all get a say in how we age. Are we content with our efforts so far? Do they align with what we want to bring to the world or leave it with?
I get that pushing too hard and too long can wear us out. I’ve seen people wear themselves out before their time, so I’m not saying we should run ourselves down to nothing. There is a balance—a beautiful one—between living fully and preserving wisely.
We all pay a cost for our choices. Whether we save our energy for later or spend it now, there’s a tradeoff between prioritizing performance or presence, whether we chase the mirror or live our life pushing ourselves physically.
The fountain of youth doesn’t exist. But the well of wisdom is real, and it’s deep. I believe the lines on your face are not cracks in your worth. They’re proof that you’ve lived, laughed, and wept. You felt deeply, and you’re still here, and how you show up matters no matter how old you are.
So yes, prioritize hydrating, moving, eating well, and sleeping, because they significantly affect your health. But don’t do it to escape aging. Do it to honor the gift of aging.
See you on Thursday, health heroes.
Dr. Alice
A little more about Dr. Alice Burron and Strategic Action Health:
Dr. Burron is a co-founder of Strategic Action Health, dedicated to helping organizations help their employees make better health decisions. Come check us out here!
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