Tag Archives: testosterone

BHRT Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women

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The key in any hormone replacement therapy is restoring hormone balance within the endocrine system. Hormones used during regular hormone therapies are synthetic chemicals which may perform the same function as natural hormones.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy uses synthesised hormones but the difference is in their chemical structure. BHRT hormones have the same molecular structure as natural hormones hence they work in the same way. Wild yam and soy are used for production of bioidentical hormones.

This chemical structure ensures the hormones are recognized by the cells in the body as their own, this allows the same chemical response and hormone assimilation as with natural hormones.

Many women going through menopause praise the effects of BHRT, some say they have their lives back. What causes this this positive response is restored balance of hormones and in effect diminished symptoms of menopause.

Menopause has been considered an ageing process, but it is clear that the severity can be stopped and even reversed in regards to certain symptoms. This is due to the way the endocrine system works, meaning a problem in one area can cause a reaction in another part of the body as everything is interlinked.

This domino effect is especially visible when major hormone producing glands are affected. Thyroid hormones, for example, regulate many functions of the body, so decreased hormone release causes problems with weight, heart, brain, fatigue, hair loss and others.

Main hormones in women’s bodies related to menopausal complications are estrogens. One of them, estradiol, suddenly changes it’s levels which creates a domino effect. Ovaries suddenly decrease estrogen production causing the imbalance and side effects.

Some estrogen can be generated by woman’s fat cells but the rest has to be externally supplemented. It takes a while before the most of the production stops but the symptoms can be experienced throughout entire phase.

It’s not only estrogens that are important during menopause, there is a number of hormones that come into play during that period. In normal reproductive cycle the ovaries also synthesize testosterone and progesterone. All hormones are affected in one way or another.

This also applies to women who had their ovaries removed. In that case they have to go through hormone replacement therapy to counteract the effects of extreme hormone withdrawal symptoms.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is one of the treatments restoring hormonal balance. If multiple hormones need to be replaced they will be compounded by specialist pharmacy based on a prescription for a specific patient. Different hormones may have a different method of administration, some take a form of oral drugs, creams, injections, dermal patches.

Risk involved in any hormone therapy comes from the dose and length of treatment. Doses can be adjusted by the doctor based on frequent monitoring of the patient for side effects. Basically, too small a dose will show no improvement, too big a dose may cause side effects.

In case of menopause hormone replacement therapy is designed as a temporary treatment. In post menopause period the levels of hormones stabilise and symptoms caused by hormone fluctuations will lessen.

 

Hormone Therapy for Men With Bioidentical Hormones BHRT

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Hormone therapy for men is not something you often hear about. In women menopause is considered number one topic in regards to ageing symptoms. In case of men the equivalent of menopause is called andropause and in many cases it’s symptoms can be as dramatic as those in women.

In men the main hormone is testosterone produced by testicles, with age the production levels may change causing a domino effect which affects entire endocrine system, which in turn causes various symptoms to appear. The change is usually slow and the main reason behind all the issues can be missed.

Affected men often use medications to relieve the symptoms, but this is only a temporary solution, because the cause of the problems is not addressed. Men can wait a long time, blaming the aging and suffering the symptoms, while the solution is at hand. Simple tests for hormon levels can show where the problems start.

One of the most common hormone therapies in men has been associated with thyroid functions. After the surgery the patient needs to get a daily hormone supply for life. This is a common occurrence in men and widely known.

People however not many people seem to understand the andropause and it’s complications. They don’t take the action to find help until something goes really wrong. One of the things people should realise is that the sooner they start with hormone therapy the better chance they have of success.

One of the recent programs developer with men in mind is the BHRT, which stands for Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. Bioidentical hormones are chemically identical to the ones present within the body, in theory they should be assimilated by organs in the same manner as their natural counterparts.

Treatment is quite easy but the most important thing is to precisely establish the correct dose of hormones, and that requires a qualified professional with experience on the subject. The doctor should know the latest guidelines, they change frequently as more information is available based on studies of side effects.

BHRT will treat hormonal imbalance in men who experience symptoms like:

  • quick weight gain and gynecomasty
  • hair loss
  • decreasing bone density and muscle mass
  • low libido and loss of sexual performance including prostate problems
  • cardiovascular issues and heart problems
  • low energy, fatigue
  • frequent mood changes, depression
  • skin problems like spots, thinning, tone
  • mental issues like memory problems and mind sharpness

These are just a few of most common symptoms, the full list can be very long and relate to every part of men’s body.

BHRT treatment

The physician sets the dose for individual patient, every case is different and depends on many factors like present hormone levels, patient’s medical history, severity of symptoms. If the dose consists of more than one hormone it might be compounded by specialist pharmacy, as such combinations may not be available.

The next phase of the treatment will be close monitoring of the effects of the treatment and any necessary dose adjustments. The results can will vary from relieving the symptoms to actually reversing certain ageing processes, so man men can get back to their normal lives.

Testosterone Hormone Deficiency Relates to Aging Symptoms

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Testosterone hormone is commonly considered a male hormone, not many people realize that women heavily rely on testosterone supply from their teens until menopause. Although it is the same hormone present in both men and women, it works in a different way in cooperation with other hormones. There are many myths in common knowledge regarding testosterone and a number of false assumptions.

The role of testosterone starts in pre-natal life, it’s at this time when the gender is decided mostly based on the supply of testosterone. It is produced by ovaries and adrenal gland during pregnancy.

Testosterone in men

It is regarded as a manly hormone, in fact it is what makes a man a man. It is responsible for bone and muscle development and male reproductive organs. In adult males it is mainly produced by testicles throughout male’s life. In babies it is responsible for creating ‘male brain’.

Production of testosterone in adult males is 7-8 times more than in women, hence the dominating factor. One of the reasons for lower production in females is that females are more sensitive to this hormone.

Deficiency related to aging will affect males on many levels, more severe loses lead to male menopause also known as andropause.

Testosterone in women

This hormone is as natural in women as any other female hormone, it is important for development of sex organs. It is vital during pregnancy for correct fetus development and it determines the sex of the baby.

There are many symptoms related to testosterone deficiency in women. Low levels of this hormone will affect sex life, women lose interest in sex and they lack in sensation during intercourse. Other symptoms include fatigue, mood changes, low energy, headaches. On physical side the muscle mass and strength can get reduced, bone mass can get lowered, which affects the height. Other symptoms include dry eyes, hair loss, lack of stamina.

In case of aging symptoms related to lowered levels of testosterone one effective treatment is the hormone replacement therapy. It will establish how much of the hormone it is necessary to replace. In case of women there may be other hormones which need to be replenished as well, teh doctor will calculate the dose and may prescribe a dose compounded of various hormones.

The correct dose is the key to relieving the symptoms, any overdose may create unwanted side effects. In men this can be mood related and aggressive behaviour. In women the testosterone overdose may trigger signs male appearance including voice tone change.

Correct administration of testosterone will restore energy, muscles, bone density, and sex drive in both men and women. Although hormone therapy has been used since early 20th century, latest developments in medicine will provide the best solution. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) uses hormones chemically identical to those produced in human bodies, which theoretically increases absorption rate.

BHRT is one of the latest developments in hormone medicine, many women find it life changing, so it is definitely worth considering.

Balanced Hormones The Key To a Healthy Life

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Hormones in our bodies regulate multitude of functions. From thee start in pre-natal life till death hormones play a vital role in our lives. This role becomes visible when lack of hormones causes problematic symptoms.

Hormone deficiency happens as a cause of failure of any organ or gland producing specific hormones, this is incidental. In normal lives aging is the main cause of decrease in hormone production.

Main function of human bodies is reproduction, in relation to that main hormones in men and women are produced by reproductive organs. In women hormone levels fluctuate based on monthly reproductive cycle.

Around the age of 40 women’s ovaries cease to work an hormone production is limited. Every lady will go through three main stages: pre(peri)-menopause, menopause and post-menopause. Women will experience an array of symptoms related to drop in hormone levels.

Men have it a bit easier as men’s testicles can keep producing testosterone through entire men’s life. The drop in production is not as sudden but when it happens the symptoms can be as severe as those experienced by women.

The main cure in fighting the cause of hormonal imbalance is the hormone replacement therapy. It fights the cause not the symptoms by restoring correct levels of hormones.

Medicine has created bioidentical hormones  from natural sources like yams and soy. The chemical structure of bioidentical hormones is the same as in natural hormones found in the body. This, in theory, helps the body to assimilate them with greater efficiency and he body metabolizes them correctly.

Main hormones used by bioidentical hormone replacement therapy are the most important hormones. For women it would be estradiol, estrone, progesteron. For men, mainly testosteron is used during treatment.

Many studies confirm effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy, but every patient is approached as a separate case. Medical history as well as current hormone levels are important base for treatment plan.

Hormone doctor will decide on the best course of action and will prescribe specific drugs. In many cases prescribed hormone cocktail is tailored (compounded) for specific patient by specialising pharmacy. Also doses may change to reflect naturally occurring hormone peak cycles in women.

Whatever the course of treatment is, it is also necessary to adjust individual lifestyle to support therapy. Removing unhealthy habits and replacing them with new, healthy diet and exercise regimes, will help ease symptoms and support drug effectiveness.

 Many people undergoing hormone therapy improve beyond expectations. Women who used to experience severe symptoms say they have claimed their lives back. There is also a number of related health benefits as a ‘side effect’ of hormone therapy. Risk of certain age related diseases gets lowered.

the best advice before starting any treatment is to find a certified doctor who specialises in hormone therapy and is up to date with the latest developments in this field. Studies have shown that certain old methods can carry a risk especially in prolonged treatment.

The main risk comes from incorrect dose, hence a patients needs to be supervised and doses adjusted to eliminate risk of complications. Finding the right doctor is the most important step to assure the success with any form of hormonal therapy.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men

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Women are not the only ones affected by hormonal changes. Aging men go through Andropause also reffered to as Male Menopause.  Gradual loss of hormones affect every aging person.

There is a different way males are affected by hormonal changes. A dominating hormone in males is testosterone. It is associated with anything that make a man a man. Starting with gender through body form, muscle skeletal system, to brain and mental functions , testosterone is a ‘manly’ hormone.

Contrary to women the decline in male hormone levels is not as rapid. Male reproductivity is not based on cycles as in women. Men can be reproductive until very advanced age but the sexual activity is related to levels of testosterone.

Hormones in human bodies are produced by many glands. Peaks of activity of those glands depend mainly on the age of the person and genetics. The body has a small capacity to synthesize certain missing hormones but often it is not enough to keep the balance in entire endocrine system.

Once the hormones stop being produced the decline is steady. Men can suffer from symptoms like: fatigue, weight issues, loss of muscle, gaining fat, gynecomastia, diminished sex drive, irritability, erectile dysfunction, sleep issues,  hot flashes, urinary issues, hair loss, brain function decline and memory loss.

Male hormones are generated in testicles, two most important ones are testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone. Both are created in Leydig cells which decrease in aging men. Rapid decline in quantity of Leidig cells will result in dramatic andropausal symptoms.

BHRT (Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy) offers help in replenishing missing hormones and relieving annoying symptoms. Qualified BHRT practitioner will establish current levels of male hormones by using urine, saliva tests and blood tests. Important thing in evaluating the patient is personal medical history and family medical history.

Current lifestyle always affects health and unhealthy choices will promote aging. Often lifestyle change is required to work together with hormone replacement therapy in order to maximize results. The physician prescribe s a dose of hormones and monitors changes in symptoms.

Most of the time a proper diet is necessary. Nutrition program designed to support therapy and fitness program will help cope with hormonal imbalance. Naturally there are many benefits to have a healthy lifestyle regardless of person’s medical condition, but doctor’s examination often shows that symptoms are also associated to bad nutrition and lack of exercise.

Any solutions offered by doctors will match current andropause symptoms. As the therapy progresses supervising physician may adjust the dose of hormones, every patient is treated individually and will need carefully adjusted dose of hormones to relieve the symptoms.

Hormone absorption during Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy will depend on the form of administration of hormones.

Attaining optimum hormonal balance is the key to successful therapy, as  hormones work in harmony and lack in one area affects other areas. This is why there is risk in any hormone therapy, any overdose or wrong type of hormones prescribed can have serious consequences in later time.

Hormone therapy takes some time to balance hormones within the body but it should be a temporary treatment. Prolonged exposure to unnatural levels of hormones may pose increased risk of complications to many organs and tissues.