How Genetics and Hormones Work Together

Key Takeaways from Our Webinar with Dr. Tara Scott

We recently hosted a webinar with Dr. Tara Scott, widely known as The Hormone Guru. Dr. Scott is a board-certified OB/GYN with additional certifications in Functional, Integrative, and Anti-Aging Medicine. With more than 25 years of experience and a nationally recognized educational platform, she specializes in uncovering the root causes of hormone imbalances.

During the webinar, Dr. Scott walked through how genetics directly influences hormone pathways, why people react so differently to the same hormone levels, and how clinicians can use genomics to guide individualized treatment.

Below are the key insights from her session.

Watch the full webinar here: 

How Genetics Shape Hormone Balance

Hormones impact far more than reproductive function. They influence mood, energy, weight, sleep, metabolism, and long-term health. Dr. Scott emphasized that the same hormone level or therapy can be experienced very differently from one person to the next.

A reason for this is genetics.

“Genomics gives us a key piece of the puzzle for understanding how each person processes hormones, toxins, and medications.”
— Dr. Tara Scott

Every enzyme involved in hormone production, detoxification, or clearance is genetically coded. Small variations (SNPs) can make enzymes run faster, slower, or differently—shaping how someone responds to hormone changes.

Estrogen Metabolism: Why It Looks Different in Every Patient

Dr. Scott explained why clinicians must understand estrogen detox pathways, not just hormone levels.

She explained:

“It’s not that estrogen is ‘good’ or ‘bad’—the issue is how your body makes it, moves it, and gets rid of it.”

Genetic variations in key pathways can shift metabolism toward more “protective” metabolites or toward metabolites that require stronger clearance support.

CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYP3A4

These genes influence whether estrogen moves down pathways that are more favorable or more reactive. A CYP1B1 variant paired with a slow COMT gene, for example, can create a “bottleneck” where metabolites accumulate.

COMT + Methylation Genes

COMT is central to estrogen detox and also helps clear dopamine and norepinephrine. Variants here may contribute to:

• Estrogen accumulation
• Heightened stress response
• PMS or perimenopause mood shifts
• Sensitivity to B-vitamins

Gut + Glutathione Genes

Glutathione-related SNPs and gut enzyme activity (like β-glucuronidase) influence how efficiently estrogen is eliminated, or recirculated.

These insights help clinicians determine whether symptoms are related to dose, detox, or both.

Methylation, Neurotransmitters, and Mood

Dr. Scott highlighted the strong relationship between hormone metabolism and mental health.

Because COMT and MAO regulate both estrogen metabolites and neurotransmitters, slower variants often affect:

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Sleep
• Mood swings
• PMS and perimenopause symptoms

This becomes especially noticeable during hormonal transitions—puberty, postpartum, perimenopause when metabolic “traffic” increases.

PMS, PCOS, and Perimenopause Through a Genomic Lens

While genetics does not diagnose these conditions, Dr. Scott explained that genomics helps clarify why symptoms appear the way they do.

• PCOS: infrequent ovulation → baseline estrogen dominance; slow detox SNPs can intensify symptoms.
• Perimenopause: fluctuating estrogen + reduced progesterone → mood and metabolic symptoms amplified by methylation or detox SNPs.
• PMS: neurotransmitter SNPs (COMT/MAO) can make mood symptoms more pronounced.

This helps clinicians determine whether the root issue is hormonal output, detox efficiency, or neurotransmitter handling.

Why Genetics Makes Hormone Care More Personalized

By combining genomic data with hormone metabolite testing and patient symptoms, clinicians gain a clearer picture of how to support:

• Hormone therapy dosing
• Estrogen detox
• Mood and stress regulation
• Liver and gut pathways
• Nutrient needs
• Long-term wellness

Dr. Scott summarized it:

“Genetics loads the gun. Epigenetics pulls the trigger.”

Your genes create the blueprint, but environment, lifestyle, and nutrition determine how those genes behave.