Bioidentical Hormone Resource Center

So, how much of an effect does human growth hormone have on the body? One man, Dr. Uzzi Reiss admits that he’s “been taking H.G.H. for many years. I have the energy and vibrancy of a man half my age … I don’t get sick, don’t get jet-lagged. I can’t see why anybody would inject H.G.H. if it doesn’t have any benefits.”

via Hollywood’s Human Growth Hormone Problem: Are Stars Taking It To Stay Young?.

Stop suffering from Andropause

It may come as sweet revenge to some women who have cried over the injustices of being female: menstruation, pregnancy and menopause come to mind; that men can go through one of these as well: menopause. But for men, we call it Andropause and  it is sometimes referred to as Man-Opause.

Although men can have many of the same symptoms of a woman going through menopause, they do not lose their ability to reproduce at this time.

What has happened to the man is that he is experiencing a drop in testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone causing emotional and physical changes during his mid-life. Thirty percent of men by their mid-fifties experience Andropause.

Some of the symptoms are:  loss of libido-including impotence, fatigue, depression, hot flashes, interrupted sleep, and aches and pains.

The good news is that it can be treated through bioidentical hormone replacement therapy with lotions, pellets or injections. Improvements in diet and exercise will also greatly benefit the male suffering from male menopause.

Reclaim your youth men and while you are at it, regain your libido and lust for life. Visit our list at: www.bioidenticalhormonedoctors.com and have a great 2012!

Control Your Hormones - Control Your Weight

Testosterone is a bioidentical hormone with many benefits for women as well as men.

With age, visceral fat begins to collect around the midsection. This type of fat is dangerous as it forms around the vital organs and leads to an increased risk of heart disease and type II diabetes. Diet and exercise can not always remove this “spare tire” that men like to joke about much more so than women!

If you are experiencing an unexplained accumulation of fat in your abdominal region, is time to see a bioidentical hormone replacement specialist.

With the prescription of a simple testosterone cream that is rubbed into the skin, it is possible that in the matter of only a few months to finally rid yourself of this unwanted, stubborn and unhealthy fat.

Not only will testosterone reduce belly fat, it will also help firm and define muscle improving body composition. In the book, How to Achieve Healthy Aging by Neal Rouzier, M.D., testosterone is described as a bioidentical hormone that protects against deterioration of muscle, ligaments, joint, tendons, bone and skin-anything that has to do with our structure and aesthetics. It is not a hormone just for men and can make all the difference in women living a vibrant life as well.

To find a bioidentical hormone replacement therapy specialist near you please visit our list of doctors at: www.bioidenticalhormonedoctors.com.

Do You Suffer From Andropause?

Did you know that men’s testosterone levels drop 10% every decade starting at age 30?

Andropause or the male version of menopause is a well documented medical condition that is becoming much more talked about recently.  Although the condition was first described in medical literature in the 1940’s, the ability to diagnose andropause is a fairly new discovery.  Only recently have tests become available to measure the bioavailability of testosterone to support the diagnosis.

What causes Menopause/Andropause?

During menopause, a woman’s body begins to produce less of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.  This loss is both sudden and dramatic, resulting in hot flashes, lack of sleep, decreased libido, weight gain and mood swings.  It also marks the end of a woman’s menstruation cycle and her ability to conceive a child.

For men, the hormone testosterone decreases much more gradually beginning around age 30 and dropping just 1 to 2 percent annually.  Testosterone is the male sex hormone that is responsible for creating and releasing sperm, initiating sex drive and providing muscular strength.

A significant reduction in testosterone levels can cause a variety of uncomfortable ailments including decreased libido, loss of energy, fatigue, changes in attitudes and moods and decreased physical agility.  While the affects can be quite pronounced, they evolve over a longer period of time again making it sometimes difficult to diagnose.

An Andropause Quiz

Hormonal decline can produce a vast array of symptoms;

Do you feel run down or lack energy?

Do you feel like your sex drive is lower than it once was?

Do you have problems sleeping or sleep too much?

Have you become more depressed, enjoy life less?

Do you often feel tense, nervous or easily irritated?

Have you gained weight, primarily in the abdomen?

Have you gained flabby tissue in the breast or neck region?

Do you feel not as mentally sharp as you once were?
Is your hair thinning or are you loosing your hair?

Do you get less or no morning erections when you awaken?

Is it harder to maintain muscle mass even though you work out?

Do men need treatment?

Typically, men suffering from the symptoms of andropause are often treated for a specific medical condition.  For example, an andropausal male may be diagnosed with depression and prescribed an antidepressant.  However, if that man has other symptoms of male menopause such as loss of libido, the antidepressant will only exaggerate that problem.

In addition, men complaining of low libido and inability to maintain a strong erection are often misdiagnosed simply with erectile dysfunction.

Any one of these ailments can be problematic.  In addition, testosterone builds bone, and low testosterone can lead to thinning of the bones or osteoporosis which can increase the risk of bone fractures.  Studies also show that a low level of testosterone puts men at additional risk for heart disease.

When a male patient complains of symptoms that are causing a significant disturbance in his life, a doctor who suspects andropuase will perform a blood testosterone test to determine the level of the male hormone (androgen) in the blood. Low testosterone is defined as less than 300 nanograms per deciliter of blood. The mean level for a 40 year old male is 500 nanongrams.

If a blood test confirms low testosterone levels, a doctor may prescribe a variety of treatments designed for that individual patient. These may include hormone replacement therapy, lifestyle changes such as exercise, a healthier diet, vitamins and herbal supplements, and the elimination of alcohol.  Many patients can find relief and have significant improvement in their overall symptoms.

Andropause does not affect all men, and many may have varying degrees of severity.  Anyone who suspects that their symptoms are a result of andropause and feel that their personal and/or professional life is somehow disrupted by these symptoms may want to consider seeking treatment.

Dr. Mary Kay Ross

Dr. Mary Kay Ross is the medical director/owner of Live Well MD, a medical practice specializing in Preventative Medicine and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) for the treatment of Menopause and Male Andropause. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville, a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians and is board certified in Emergency Medicine.

Live Well MD is located at 337 Commercial Drive, Suite 100, Savannah, Georgia.  They can be reached at Savannah Bioidentical Hormones

Steve Jobs is Many Things. He is a producer of Disney’s Toy Story movie, a Budhist, a vegetarian, a teetotaler, the driver of the silver mercedes without a license plate, mastermind behind the Ipod, Ipad, and Itunes, and most famously CEO and founder of Apple Computers. Recently he also revealed after much media scrutiny and investor concern over his dramatic weight loss that he suffers from hormone imbalance, bringing to public attention that this is not just a condition that affects women.

Here is a letter Steve wrote to the employees of Apple at the time:

So, what are the differences between the symptoms of a woman’s hormone imbalance and a man’s?

For a woman, one of the most obvious of the signs of menopause is a change in menstrual patterns.  Between ages 45 and 60, a woman’s ovaries make less of the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone.  Periods become irregular in both cycle length and flow, and eventually, stop completely.  This change indicates that a woman is growing beyond her childbearing years. Other symptoms include hot flashes, erratic sleep patterns, vaginal dryness, incontinence, weight gain, mild memory loss, low libido and mood swings.

Andropause, the term for male menopause, is a decline in the hormone testosterone. Testosterone is the hormone that stimulates sexual development in the male infant, bone and muscle growth in adult males, and is responsible for sexual drive. It has been found that even in healthy men, by the age of 55, the amount of testosterone secreted into the bloodstream is significantly lower than it is just ten years earlier. In fact, by age 80, most male hormone levels decrease to pre-puberty levels.

The symptoms of andropause are similar to the ones women experience and can sometimes be as overwhelming. However, the male menopause does not affect all men, at least not with the same intensity. Approximately 40% of men between 40 and 60 will experience some degree of lethargy, depression, increased irritability, mood swings, hot flashes, insomnia, decreased libido, weakness, loss of both lean body mass and bone mass and impotence.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, via creams, pellet therapy or other delivery methods, have been used successfully by patients throughout Europe and the United States since the 1930′s. Studies suggest bio-identical hormones are not only safe, but beneficial to the health of those using them.

Live Symptom Free - Find a Hormone Doctor near you!

Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy can help men and women renew their lives.

If you are concerned that you may be suffering from andropause or menopause, let us help you find a hormone doctor in your area that specializes in BHRT . Our mission is to provide information and resources to help you feel like the person you were meant to be again. Please visit www. bioidenticalhormonedoctors.com to make the first step to a new and better way of living.