5a-THF/THF Ratio

Urine
check icon Optimal Result: 0.6 - 1.6 Ratio.

The 5a-THF/THF ratio measures the balance between two cortisol metabolites—5a-tetrahydrocortisol (5a-THF) and tetrahydrocortisol (THF). This ratio reflects the relative activity of two key enzymes involved in cortisol metabolism: 5a-reductase and 5b-reductase.

A higher ratio indicates increased 5a-reductase activity, meaning more cortisol is being converted into 5a-THF. A lower ratio reflects higher 5b-reductase activity, suggesting a different pathway of cortisol breakdown.

By evaluating this ratio, healthcare professionals can gain insight into an individual’s cortisol metabolism, adrenal function, and stress response patterns. Imbalances in this ratio may influence overall hormonal health, energy levels, and how effectively the body adapts to stress.

What does it mean if your 5a-THF/THF Ratio result is too high?

A higher 5a-THF/THF ratio indicates a greater conversion of cortisol to 5a-THF, suggesting a higher 5-alpha reductase activity.

All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.

What does it mean if your 5a-THF/THF Ratio result is too low?

A low 5a-THF/THF ratio in women can be indicative of altered cortisol metabolism. This ratio reflects the balance between two specific cortisol metabolites: 5-alpha-tetrahydrocortisol (5a-THF) and tetrahydrocortisol (THF). A reduced 5a-THF/THF ratio suggests a relatively higher activity of 5-beta reductase compared to 5-alpha reductase, leading to an increased conversion of cortisol to THF. This imbalance may have implications for hormonal health and stress response. It could potentially be associated with symptoms related to lower androgen expression and relative androgen deficiency.

Further evaluation and treatment may be necessary to address any underlying issues related to cortisol metabolism and hormonal health.

To improve this ratio, consider the following:

→ Stress Management: Chronic stress can lead to excessive cortisol secretion and impact the ratio. Implement stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, and relaxation therapies.

→ Thyroid Function: Hypothyroidism can slow down cortisol metabolism and affect the ratio. Ensure optimal thyroid function through thyroid hormone management and regular monitoring.

→ Nutrition: A balanced diet rich in nutrients can support adrenal health and cortisol metabolism. Focus on whole foods, adequate hydration, and avoid excessive caffeine and sugar intake.

→ Supplements: Consult with a healthcare provider about the potential benefits of specific supplements or botanicals that may help regulate cortisol levels.

→ Lifestyle: Adequate sleep, regular exercise, and a healthy lifestyle can positively impact cortisol metabolism and hormone balance.

It's essential to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance and to address any underlying health conditions contributing to the low 5a-THF/THF ratio. Hormone testing and thorough evaluation can help determine the most appropriate interventions to rebalance cortisol metabolism and improve overall hormonal health in women.

Laboratories

Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place

We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.

lab corp logo
genova diagnostics logo
quest diagnostics logo
dutch test logo
doctors data logo
vibrant america logo
diagnostic solutions logo
zrt laboratory logo
the great plains laboratory logo
cyrex laboratories logo
spectracell logo

Pricing Table

decoration

Personal plans

$15/ month

Complete Plan

Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Begin with first report entered
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

$250/ once

Unlimited Account

Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Receive 10 reports entered for you
  • Skip the $15/month subscription — no recurring payments ever

$45/ month

Pro Monthly

Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track lab results for multiple clients
  • Customize reference ranges per client
  • Export lab histories and reports
  • Begin with first report entered by us
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

About membership

What's included in a Healthmatters membership

microscope icon Import Lab Results from Any Source

person icon See Your Health Timeline

book icon Understand What Your Results Mean

textbook icon

textbook icon Visualize Your Results

folder icon

folder icon

card icon Securely Share With Anyone You Trust

Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story

What Healthmatters Members Are Saying

5 stars rating

I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with  any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.

Anthony

Unlimited Plan Member since 2021

5 stars rating

What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!

Karin

Advanced Plan Member since 2020

5 stars rating

As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!

Paul

Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.

Frequently asked questions

Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.

  • Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
  • Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.

With a Healthmatters account, you can:

  • Upload lab reports from any lab
  • View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
  • Track trends and monitor changes over time
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export and share your full lab history
  • Access your results anytime, from any device

Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.

Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:

  • The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
  • GI-MAP,
  • The NutrEval FMV®,
  • The ION Profile,
  • Amino Acids Profile,
  • Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
  • Organic Acids Test,
  • Organix Comprehensive Profile,
  • Toxic Metals,
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC),
  • Metabolic panel,
  • Thyroid panel,
  • Lipid Panel,
  • Urinalysis,
  • And many, many more.

You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.

If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.

shield icon

We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

gdpr compliance image hipaa compliance image