What are Bio-Identical Hormones?
Bio-Identical Hormones are a natural alternative to most prescription hormones. These hormones are plant derived from a natural plant source, such as soy or yam, and used to simulate an exact replica of the hormones that were given to us by Mother Nature. Utilizing natural hormones will ensure that they will be metabolized in the same way as our innate hormones, essentially negating the potential for adverse reactions like those seen with the non-bio-identical “synthetic” hormones.
Anyone and everyone who is found to have suboptimal levels of any hormone in their body should consider the pros and cons as well as the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy (using bio-identicals of course!) Why? Because we age as a result of a decline in our hormone levels, not vice-versa. Even if you are not experiencing any symptoms this does not mean you should not consider their use. The absence of dis-ease in no way implies the absence of disease. This is far too familiar to all of us as we recall knowing someone who died of a heart attack or stroke at age 50 who “reportedly” had never been sick a day in his or her life. You don’t truly believe that these people develop heart disease overnight do you?
Here are some of the questions that you should ask yourself, although you may not want to know the answers to them:
- Are you tired of feeling old before being old?
- Are you feeling less ambitious with no energy to spare?
- Has your get up and go got up and went?
- Do you experience decreased mental clarity and function?
- Do you suffer from short term memory loss? Can you focus?
- Are you frustrated from exercising and dieting with nothing to show for your efforts?
- Does it take you longer to get in shape?
- Are you gaining weight, especially in the abdominal region?
- Has your physical, mental, emotional and sexual stamina left you?
- Have you lost interest in sex and other activities that were once important to you?
- Do things take longer for you to do and don’t turn out as well as they did in the past?
- Have you accepted the way you feel because you are told it comes with your age?
- And as a result are you depressed?
If you have answered yes to any of the above questions you may be experiencing Hormone Deficiency or Imbalance, a commonly missed diagnosis and treatable physiologic state.
Menopause is defined as a naturally occurring change to a women’s reproductive system. This happens because the ovaries produce less of three major hormones, estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. The fluctuating levels of hormone may result in menopausal symptoms. These include physical symptoms such as hot flashes, and dry skin as well as emotional symptoms of poor sleep, low energy, anxiety, depression and panic.
There are three stages of menopause – perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. The longest phase is perimenopause which can last years. Many of our patients have been told that “this is normal” for their age and that they need to accept the way they are feeling. This is not true!
Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy restores a woman to optimal hormone levels and relieves the unpleasant symptoms associated with menopause.
Here is a list of unresolved symptoms. If any of these are familiar to you, you may be a candidate for BHRT.Printout checklist
Learn more about estrogen.
Bio-identical Hormone Replacement therapy achieves the sustained levels of testosterone that would be produced by normally functioning testicles. This form of therapy is the only kind that produces the natural level of hormone that men need. Because the testosterone used is totally natural, it is ideal for men wanting the benefits of a bio-identical hormone, without the drawbacks of a “synthetic”.
AKA MAN-O-PAUSE
Like female menopause, andropause in men seems to involve a drop in Hormone Levels around middle age. Often referred to with contempt as the “mid-life crisis,” many men are suffering from a real and documented illness.
WHAT IS MALE MENOPAUSE?
Male menopause, also called andropause, refers to a gradual decline in a man’s testosterone levels. Not all men will go through andropause and it is unknown why those that will do so. Testosterone is the male sex hormone responsible for creating and releasing sperm, initiating sex drive, providing muscular strength, maintaining focus, concentration, memory and sleep. Hormone levels tend to peak around the ages of 15 to 18 in most males. Sometime during his mid to late 20s, a man’s hormone levels will begin to drop slowly. Usually, these hormone levels will remain at a healthy level, but some men will see their testosterone levels drop significantly by the time they are 40. By age 50, half of all men will experience a significant reduction in testosterone levels, causing a variety of uncomfortable ailments….Read more
Learn more about testosterone
