Hormone Replacement Therapy

7 Benefits of BHRT

For most men and women over 40, andropause (when men’s testosterone levels start falling) and menopause marks the time when the ovaries, testicles, and other endocrine system glands decrease the production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. As hormonal balance becomes markedly unbalanced, physical, psychological, and cognitive problems emerge that interfere with your overall health and well-being.

Common signs women would benefit from bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) include depression, anxiety, daytime fatigue, insomnia, weight gain, and memory/concentration difficulties.

Common signs men would enjoy the benefits of BHRT include decreased energy, loss of muscle tone, low libido, moodiness, and memory problems.

Bioidentical Hormones v. Synthetic Hormones

Made from natural plant extracts that are biologically compatible with your body’s chemistry, bioidentical hormones are structural replicas of hormones produced by the endocrine system. The primary difference between bioidentical hormones and synthetic hormones is that laboratory-made hormones are not molecularly identical to gland-created hormones like bioidentical hormones are.

Cells equipped with hormone receptors readily accept bioidentical hormones. In contrast, synthetic hormones must be reconstituted within cells before they can be fully accepted by the body. This increases the risk of side effects for people taking synthetic hormone replacement. Serious side effects of HRT for both men and women may include: ^{1, 2}

Stroke
Breast/ovarian cancer
Heart attack
Blood clots
Gallstones
Fluid retention
Weight gain

Restore Hormonal Balance Safely and Naturally with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

You can avoid the health risks that come with using synthetic hormones and regain your health and vitality by relying on the benefits of BHRT when your estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels start declining.

Hormones are not only essential for reproduction and sex characteristics, but they also perform a variety of functions that help prevent chronic diseases and disorders. Maintaining hormonal balance with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may reduce your risk of developing: ^{3, 4}

Colon cancer
Osteoporosis
Heart disease/heart attacks
Strokes
Dementia/Alzheimer’s disease
Prematurely aged skin
Diabetes due to weight gain
Depression

Estrogen needs progesterone to keep it from building up in the bloodstream. Insufficient amounts of progesterone can lead to “estrogen dominance”, a condition causing fatigue, nervousness/ anxiety, fibroids, breast cancer, and endometriosis.

Additional benefits of progesterone include its ability to help lower blood pressure, act as a natural antidepressant, improve sleep patterns, increase metabolism and stimulate new bone production.

Why Men Need Bioidentical Replacement Therapy

In men, the aging process brings significant changes to their bodies that involve loss of muscle and increased fat, especially around the abdomen and chest area. Declining testosterone output directly affects muscle cell functioning by reducing the stimulation of a growth factor called IGF-1.

Research shows that BHRT can not only decrease the accumulation of fat by increasing lean body mass but also improve grip strength and muscle strength in the legs and arms. Endocrinologists studying the benefits of testosterone in older men also note the possibility that testosterone may contribute to the management of “frailty” in men over 70, a clinical term used to denote men and women vulnerable to falling and bone fractures.⁵

Men choosing BHRT to restore hormonal balance will also experience better energy, stronger sex drive, enhanced mood and a general sense of well-being. In addition, testosterone plays a strong role in brain functioning and cognition. Just like women, men going through andropause may find themselves forgetting things or losing their “train of thought”. Poor concentration and a general lack of mental clarity are classic signs of a testosterone deficiency in men over 40. In fact, certain areas of the brain, such as the hypothalamus (emotional responses regulating sexual urges), hippocampus (retaining memories) and amygdala (fear, arousal), are especially dependent on testosterone for normal functioning. ⁶

Learn more about the many benefits of BHRT by calling our office today to speak to a staff member who will be happy to answer all your questions about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

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