5 interesting facts about hormones

Hormone Replacement Therapy

While oxygen and blood are necessary to remain alive, hormones are essential to your overall physical and mental well-being. Neuroscientists are fond of saying that without neurotransmitters and hormones, humans would resemble reptiles. In other words, we would be motivated to do nothing but eat, survive and reproduce by instinct. Everything we do would be without emotion or thought.

That’s one shocking fact about hormones you may not have known. Here’re five more fascinating facts about our three primary hormones–estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.

What is Male Menopause (Andropause) and Does It Really Exist?

Yes! Starting around age 40, men experience a slow but continuous decrease in the production of testosterone. Depending on a man’s physical and emotional health, lack of sufficient testosterone could cause symptoms that interfere with a man’s quality of life. Reduced muscle tone, increased belly/chest fat, chronic fatigue, depression/moodiness, loss of sex drive and development of diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disorders are some of the health consequences of male menopause.¹

Aging not only impacts testosterone production but also creates a hormonal imbalance involving sex hormone binding globulin. In men entering male menopause, SHBG starts pulling large amounts of testosterone from the bloodstream, binding to testosterone molecules. This accelerates the loss of usable testosterone and may worsen the severity of symptoms related to andropause.

Estrogen Helps Control Cholesterol

The Cleveland Clinic reports studies show estrogen impacts nearly all organ and tissue systems, including the cardiovascular system. Estrogen promotes production of HDL (the good) cholesterol and scavenges the bloodstream to remove LDL (the bad) cholesterol. Estrogen also relaxes and dilates blood vessels to improve blood flow throughout the body and eliminates harmful particles called “free radicals” that damage heart tissues and arteries. ²

Estrogen Protects the Brain

A research study published recently in the journal Frontiers of Neuroendocrinology reports on the protective, anti-inflammatory effects of estrogen on cognition. Clinical results indicate a lack of sufficient estrogen is correlated to cognitive impairment and in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia types. Neuroscientists believe one of the causes of Alzheimer’s is inflammation in the brain. In studies involving menopausal and post-menopausal women, women receiving bioidentical hormone replacement therapy were less prone to suffering dementia than women who neglected to replace lost estrogen with BHRT. ³

Attention, Men! Testosterone Protects YOUR Brain

Testosterone mediates memory, attention and the ability to concentrate in men and women, to a certain extent. Much preliminary evidence indicates low testosterone could be a risk factor for the development of dementia and a marked decline in brain functioning. A report published in Neurology describes a longitudinal study involving over 500 men assessed at 32 years old and 87 years old. Results concluded that more men with low testosterone levels were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s than men with low-normal to normal levels of testosterone. ⁴

What About Progesterone?

Most people think progesterone is only necessary for ovulation and pregnancy. But progesterone has another important function–it helps balance estrogen levels in the bloodstream. If a woman’s progesterone level is too low, symptoms of an estrogen hormone imbalance called estrogen dominance could make you suffer fatigue, weight gain, migraines, mood swings, thyroid problems, and many other physical and mental conditions.

It’s Never Too Late to Start Benefiting from Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Research into synthetic hormones is increasingly indicated that lab-made hormones cause metabolic, cardiac and vascular side effects. In fact, a comprehensive study done by the Women’s Health Initiative found that hormone replacement therapy with pharmaceutical hormones increased breast cancer risks by 25% in postmenopausal women. In addition, the risk is higher for woman taking synthetic hormones for long periods. Traditional HRT could also increase your risk for gallbladder disease, stroke and blood clots. In women over 60 on HRT, there is also an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. ⁵

If you are currently using synthetic hormones to replace hormones lost to menopause or male menopause, switching to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can stop the damage being done by synthetic hormones and start giving your body the naturally healthy advantages provided by plant-derived bioidentical hormones.

When you are looking for Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy services, make sure you think of Renew Health & Wellness. We have 3 convenient locations in Virginia, so you can find a physician-supervised hormone replacement therapy clinic near you. Call to schedule a free consultation or simply take our three minute hormone health test today!

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