Mean fundamental frequency (f0) has been found to be affected by hormones. In females, studies show contradicting results regarding the influence of hormonal changes across the cycle on f0. Some studies have suggested hormonal changes due to menopause are responsible for the decrease in female f0 with age, while others point to an earlier onset of this decrease.

Here, the effect of hormones (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone) on mean f0 within speakers across the cycle and between speakers was investigated in 62 German participants. In addition, the factors age, height and speech material were included.

Results reveal that mean f0 was not affected by cycle phase. Also, variation in mean f0 across speakers could not be explained by variation in investigated hormones. In contrast, a clear effect of speakers' age on mean f0 was found, irrespective of hormone levels, height and speech material, pointing to other factors contributing to a lower mean f0 with increasing age in females.