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Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Reproductive Hormone Levels in Females and Males: A Review of Human Trials
Abstract
Intermittent fasting is a popular diet for weight loss, but concerns have been raised regarding the effects of fasting on the reproductive health of women and men. Accordingly, we conducted this literature review to clarify the effects of fasting on reproductive hormone levels in humans. Our results suggest that intermittent fasting decreases androgen markers (i.e., testosterone and the free androgen index (FAI)) while increasing sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels in premenopausal females with obesity. This effect was more likely to occur when food consumption was confined to earlier in the day (eating all food before 4 pm). In contrast, fasting did not have any effect on estrogen, gonadotropins, or prolactin levels in women. As for men, intermittent fasting reduced testosterone levels in lean, physically active, young males, but it did not affect SHBG concentrations. Interestingly, muscle mass and muscular strength were not negatively affected by these reductions in testosterone. In interpreting these findings, it is important to note that very few studies have been conducted on this topic. Thus, it is difficult to draw solid conclusions at present. From the limited data presented here, it is possible that intermittent fasting may decrease androgen markers in both genders. If this is the case, these results would have varied health implications. On the one hand, fasting may prove to be a valuable tool for treating hyperandrogenism in females with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) by improving menstruation and fertility. On the other hand, fasting may be shown to decrease androgens among males, which could negatively affect metabolic health and libido. More research is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.
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“Adherence to TRE may be a promising strategy for the treatment of hyperandrogenism in females with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and may also lead to reduced levels of free and total testosterone in men (Cienfuegos et al. 2022).”
From The Effects of Fasting and Caloric Restriction on Reproductive Hormones: A Systematic Review, Meta‐Analysis, and GRADE Assessment (2026) · cites this paper as Cienfuegos et al. 2022
In the citing paper
“Adherence to TRE may be a promising strategy for the treatment of hyperandrogenism in females with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and may also lead to reduced levels of free and total testosterone in men (Cienfuegos et al. 2022).”
From The Effects of Fasting and Caloric Restriction on Reproductive Hormones: A Systematic Review, Meta‐Analysis, and GRADE Assessment (2026) · cites this paper as Cienfuegos et al. 2022
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“The clinical significance of these testosterone reductions and their impact on sexual function remain unclear [13].”
In the citing paper
“Evidence quality assessment (Section 3.1.2—Reproductive Hormones in Males): MODERATE—supported by one 12-month RCT in obese adults (Cienfuegos et al. [12]) and one systematic review (Cienfuegos et al. [13]), with additional data from Ramadan fasting studies [10,14,15].”
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“In females, IF shows promise for improving hyperandrogenism and menstrual regularity in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), mediated by enhanced insulin sensitivity and reduced free androgen index.”
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Brogi, S., Tabanelli, R., Puca, S., & Calderone, V. (2024) · Foods · doi:10.3390/foods13131960 · Cited by 26
Intermittent Fasting: Myths, Fakes and Truth on this Dietary Regimen Approach
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Examining Associations Between Fasting Behavior, Orthorexia Nervosa, and Eating Disorders
Domaszewski, P., Rogowska, A. M., & Żylak, K. (2024) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu16244275 · Cited by 8
La Vignera, S., & Condorelli, R. A. (2026) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu18111817 · Cited by 3
Ghoreishy, S. M., Rafiei, S., Atabaki, Y., Jafarbeglou, N., Hamidi, N., Noormohammadi, M., Fatahi, P., Ghaemi, S., Shidfar, F., & Shidfar, F. (2026) · Food Science & Nutrition · doi:10.1002/fsn3.72078
Metadata
- Authors
- Cienfuegos, S., Corapi, S., Gabel, K., Ezpeleta, M., Kalam, F., Lin, S., Pavlou, V., & Varady, K. A.
- Affiliations
- Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60647, USA
- Venue
- Nutrients
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2022-06-03
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 2343
- ISSN
- 2072-6643
- Cited by
- 82
- References
- 13
- Language
- en
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