Hormone Optimization, the Clinical Way
Dr. Kyle Gillett's framework builds six foundations, diet, exercise, sleep, stress, sunlight and purpose, on comprehensive lab testing. That testing covers total and free testosterone, LH, FSH, estradiol, SHBG and thyroid. Rather than chasing a number with supplements, he finds and treats the root cause, often sleep or metabolic health, reserving medical therapy for genuine, monitored cases.
Build the six foundations Diet, exercise, sleep, stress, sunlight, purpose
Gillett's six pillars come before any pharmacology. Most cases improve substantially when these are genuinely in place.
Get a comprehensive hormone panel Total & free T, LH, FSH, sensitive estradiol, SHBG, prolactin, thyroid, metabolic
A broad panel distinguishes the cause: primary vs secondary, metabolic, thyroid, prolactin or lifestyle. You cannot treat what you have not measured.
Treat the underlying driver first Address sleep apnea, obesity, metabolic and medication causes
Often the fix is upstream: treating sleep apnea, improving metabolic health, or changing a medication can restore testosterone without hormones.
Use supplements only where indicated Vitamin D and zinc if low; creatine; ashwagandha for stress
Gillett uses targeted supplements to fill gaps, correct deficiencies, and manage stress, not as testosterone boosters in themselves.
Manage cortisol Ashwagandha (KSM-66) where appropriate; stress practices
Chronic stress and high cortisol suppress testosterone. Managing stress, sometimes with an adaptogen like ashwagandha, supports recovery.
Medical therapy when warranted, with fertility in mind Under a hormone specialist; fertility-preserving options exist
When hypogonadism is real and lifestyle is not enough, a specialist may treat it. Done properly, this includes protecting fertility rather than ignoring it. This is prescribed and monitored, never self-directed, and not sold here.
This protocol works from your actual levels. Testing partner coming soon.
- Comprehensive hormone & metabolic panel
We may earn a referral fee if you book testing through a future partner link; it will never affect which tests are listed here. This is not medical advice or a diagnosis.
Testosterone is downstream of many systems, so a single supplement rarely fixes it.
View sources
Dr. Kyle Gillett: Tools for Hormone Optimization in Males (Huberman Lab)
Dr. Kyle Gillett: Tools for Hormone Optimization in Males (Huberman Lab Podcast 102)
Dr. Kyle Gillett on androgen sensitivity and testosterone (his own account)
Gillett Health: hormone optimization resources
Not medical advice. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a qualified clinician before changing your health routine.
Independent curation. YourProtocol is an independent platform. This protocol is based on the publicly available work of Kyle Gillett and is not created, reviewed, endorsed by, or affiliated with Kyle Gillett or MD · Gillett Health.
Is this for you
- Men who suspect genuinely low testosterone
- People who want a doctor's labs-first framework
- Anyone who wants the root cause found, not masked
- Those considering medical treatment who care about fertility
Cautions
- This is a clinical framework, not a self-treatment plan. Hormone therapy and fertility-preserving medications are prescribed and monitored by a physician; we do not sell or dose them.
- Comprehensive testing should be interpreted by a clinician; patterns matter more than any single number.
- Supplements here correct deficiencies and manage stress; they are not testosterone boosters and are not a substitute for diagnosis.
- If you want to preserve fertility, raise it explicitly with your doctor before starting any hormone therapy.
- Educational only, not medical advice.
Common questions
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