09/30/2026
A new analysis of NHANES data looked at 4,330 adults, including 2,194 women, and examined the relationship between s*x hormones, menopause hormone therapy (MHT), and handgrip strength.
In women, estradiol and free estradiol had the strongest associations with grip strength.
Interestingly, the free androgen index was associated with strength in both men and women, while total testosterone was not.
The MHT findings were also interesting.
Older women with a history of MHT had, on average, 1.9 kg greater handgrip strength than women who had not used MHT. The difference increased with age—from about 2.4% at age 60 to 14.3% in women age 80 and older.
The authors concluded that age-related declines in s*x hormones, particularly bioavailable hormones, may contribute to loss of muscle strength, and that MHT may be associated with less decline in strength as women age.
Important caveat: this is observational data, so it cannot tell us that MHT caused the difference in strength.
But it does add to the evidence that estrogen and other s*x hormones have effects throughout the body—and that the conversation about menopause hormones shouldn’t be limited to hot flashes and vaginal symptoms.
Muscle and physical function are part of healthy aging too. And I might argue essential.
Logue Cook RN, Turcu AF, Karvonen-Gutierrez CA, Hunter SK. S*x hormones and menopause hormone therapy predict muscle strength across the lifespan. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2026 Sep 1;141(3):731-744. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00366.2026. Epub 2026 Jul 28. PMID: 42518302; PMCID: PMC13555377.
