Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
As we age, both men and women will start to experience symptoms of hormonal imbalance. For men, this is called andropause, and for women, it’s usually connected to peri-menopause, menopause, post-menopause or reproductive conditions.
Male Symptoms
• Lack of energy
• Low libido
• Muscle loss
• Weight gain
• Cognitive decline
• Hair loss
• Low metabolism
• Heart disease
• ED
• Osteoporosis
• Enlarged prostate
• Disturbed sleep
Female Symptoms
• Imbalance of estrogen and testosterone
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Cognitive decline
• Weight gain
• Muscle loss
• Irritability
• Osteoporosis
• Heart disease
Hormone levels can be adjusted through bio-identical hormone therapy, which alleviates or in many cases, eliminates the associated symptoms and life fluctuations surrounding hormones. There are even studies now that suggest bio-identical hormones can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Bio-Identical Hormones
In the U.S., bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) has been used since the 1930s. And based on hundreds of current medically thorough studies, the results for patient’s overall quality of life and dramatic changes in their hormonal symptoms are astounding.
BHRT is equal to our body’s natural hormones on a molecular level. The difference between synthetic and identical hormones is that synthetic hormones do not match human hormones on a biological level.
Bio-identical hormones are made from plant sources and are readily received by the body as natural and normal. They are much more therapeutic and effective than synthetic hormonal substances.
BHRT for Women
The typical bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for women are Estrogens (Estriol and Estradiol), Progesterone, Testosterone, and DHEA. These precise components of each woman’s therapy needs to be determined upon completion of a physical examination, medical history, and laboratory testing ordered by your doctor.
Progesterone for Women
Bioidentical progesterone provides the most efficient way to integrate with the body’s natural progesterone receptors. This is critical because body receptors are structure specific. A few of the benefits from bioidentical progesterone are an increase in bone health, protection against breast cancer and endometrial growth, an antidepressant effect, controlling blood clotting, and increased libido.
On the contrary, Progestin (synthetic) doesn’t have quite as many benefits. In fact, it has more negative effects, like, miscarriages, weight gain, decreased sex drive, increased risk of breast cancer, high risk of fractures and osteoporosis, increased blood clotting risks, anxiety, depression, migraine headaches, and other health-related disorders. With personalized medicine, Bioidentical hormones can be compounded and made specifically for each patient’s needs. Bioidentical estrogen and DHEA offers similar benefits.
Male Testosterone Issues
• On average, a man’s testosterone level begins to decline at a rate of 1% per year after age 30.
• It is estimated that 20% of men aged 60-80 years have levels of testosterone below the lower limit of normal.
• The diagnosis of low testosterone, also known as “low T” is based on signs and symptoms but must be confirmed by a blood test, which should include Total Testosterone, Bioavailable Testosterone, Estradiol, Cholesterol, PSA, CBC, Hemoglobin, and Hematocrit.
• Once testosterone replacement therapy has started, proper monitoring of lab values through blood and saliva and clinical responses are critical to achieving optimal testosterone replacement.
Testosterone for Men & Women
Females need a steady level of testosterone and estrogen in their bodies for overall health and well-being on many levels. However, a common misconception is that women need high levels of flowing estrogen. This is not the case. Consequently, female bodies need circulating testosterone, which enables the body to produce and regulate how much estrogen is necessary. In short, testosterone naturally governs estrogen levels within the cellular structure.
Men should have 50 times more testosterone than estrogen. An enzyme called aromatase that converts male to female hormones regulates the overall balance. If everything is functioning normally, there is a normal ratio of male to female hormones or testosterone to estrogen, but when hormonal imbalances occur, it’s imperative to treat with hormonal therapy. Testosterone replacement therapy can be administered via pills, by injection, through transdermal patches, as well as implanted pellets.
Apothicare 360’s BHRT
For men and women, changing the hormone levels through bio-identical hormone therapy can alleviate or in many cases, eliminate these symptoms and life fluctuations. Apothicare 360 works directly with your physician to compound a custom-tailored precise BHRT that’s right for you.
ApothiCare 360 is an integrative compounding pharmacy that focuses on the healthier lifestyle. Our team is composed of Pharmacy experts to produce 360 degrees of care for our patients.
ApothiCare 360
6631 Orion Drive, Suite 112
Fort Myers, FL 33912
239-690-7700
www.apothicare360.com
