Bioidentical Hormones for Men

Andropause is the male equivalent of menopause. While not as drastic, most men experiencing andropause have some problems with hormonal deficiencies and imbalances.

 

Hormone production in men -- just as in women -- declines with age. Testosterone production, in particular, declines precipitously in many men starting in middle age.

 

Declining testosterone production -- and the cascade of other hormonal imbalances that it triggers -- can cause a wide variety of medical problems for men as the age.

 

For many, the problems are serious.

 

Abdominal fat often increases and muscle mass and strength decreases. Chemically induced -- not situational -- depression is common. Many men experience a precipitous and disturbing decline in their sex drive. And declining and imbalanced hormone levels track closely with many age-related conditions in men including high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (heart disease), diabetes, loss of muscle and bone mass, and fatigue.

 

Some physicians either dismiss these changes as signs of "natural aging", or advise men who have problems related to a low levels of testosterone to treat only the symptoms of their conditions, such as taking antidepressants, cholesterol-lowering drugs, or Viagra.

 

We believe that there are often underlying, identifiable and treatable causes of these problems: the decline and imbalance of important hormones, especially testosterone.

 

Clinical studies and progressive physicians now recognize the connection between hormones and the diseases of aging men, and understand that restoration of youthful hormone levels can often restore optimal sexual function, mental clarity, energy, and vitality.

 

What does testosterone do?

Testosterone -- which is produced in large quantities during puberty and youth -- is the trigger for development of secondary sexual characteristics, and has profound effects throughout the body.

Testosterone receptors are found in virtually all body tissues, so levels of testosterone affect the function of most organ systems. For example, testosterone causes growth of facial and body hair, is know to increase fiber size and strength in muscle cells, and is the trigger for maturation of the genitalia.

 

The effects of testosterone on the central nervous system and cognitive functions are also well-known, with testosterone linked to many typically youthful male behaviors such as aggressiveness, risk taking, and territoriality.

 

More important for the adult -- or aging -- male, testosterone is now recognized as playing an important role in preventing and mitigating depression.

 

Why do testosterone levels decline in aging men?

As men age, changes occur that reduce the testosterone available to the body and that alter the ratio between testosterone and the principal female hormone, estrogen. This condition is referred to as partial androgen deficiency.

Currently, there is no general medical consensus as to the causes of age-related reduction in testosterone levels in men, but some factors are understood.

One of the most important is an enzyme called aromatase, which is found in fat tissue in both men and women. Aromatase converts testosterone into estrogen, and therefore has a great deal to do with regulating the ratio of estrogen to testosterone in the body.

As men age they tend to have an increasing percentage of body fat -- especially abdominal fat -- and are more likely to have increased estrogen levels caused by aromatase conversion of testosterone into estrogen.

This relationship between obesity, aromatase production, and low testosterone levels has been described as the hypogonadal / obesity cycle.

In this cycle, low testosterone levels lead to an increase in abdominal fat, which causes an increase in the supply of aromatase, which leads to additional conversion of testosterone into estrogen, which further reduces testosterone and increases the body's tendency to store fat on the abdomen.

All of which compounds other hormone-related symptoms of andropause such as fatigue, gynecomastia, and lethargy related to depression.

Elevated estrogen levels in aging men have also been linked to a range of other medical disorders, including decreased insulin sensitivity and blood glucose problems.

Psychological effects of low testosterone

Low testosterone levels have been associated with depression and other cognitive and mood-related disorders.

Alertness and the ability to understand things are also affected by testosterone’s effects on the brain. Low testosterone levels have been shown to correlate with lower scores on mental aptitude tests, which makes sense: similar reductions in scores have been reported in men taking androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer, which has the effect of lowering testosterone to very low levels.

In addition, and overall feeling of well-being is often reported by patients undergoing testosterone replacement therapy.

Sexual function, pleasure and performance

It is well understood that depressed levels of testosterone diminish sexual desire, as well as pleasure and performance in sexual activity. There is evidence that, in men with low testosterone levels, testosterone replacement therapy can often improve sexual function.

Some traditional sexual dysfunction therapies -- especially those that prescribe conventional antidepressants -- can actually worsen things, because many conventional antidepressants suppress libido.

An increasing number of experts recommend that patients whose reduced sex drive appears to be caused by taking antidepressants undergo hormone testing to have their testosterone levels checked -- and that they consider supplemental hormone replacement therapy if necessary.

Others suggest that testosterone therapy might reduce -- or eliminate -- the need for the antidepressants themselves.

Cardiovascular health and testosterone

Many believe that there is a strong relationship between low testosterone levels in aging men and an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease -- particularly Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic Syndrome is an often deadly combination of abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and lipid disorders in the same patient. Metabolic Syndrome is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease.

Studies have shown that testosterone replacement injections in middle-aged, obese men have been able to increase insulin sensitivity and reduce insulin resistance.

Bone integrity and muscles

It is well understood that depressed levels of testosterone diminish sexual desire, as well as pleasure and performance in sexual activity. There is evidence that, in men with low testosterone levels, testosterone replacement therapy can often improve sexual function.

Some traditional sexual dysfunction therapies -- especially those that prescribe conventional antidepressants -- can actually worsen things, because many conventional antidepressants suppress libido.

An increasing number of experts recommend that patients whose reduced sex drive appears to be caused by taking antidepressants undergo hormone testing to have their testosterone levels checked -- and that they consider supplemental hormone replacement therapy if necessary.

Others suggest that testosterone therapy might reduce -- or eliminate -- the need for the antidepressants themselves.

Careful hormone testing is the first step

Thorough testing is the foundation of all hormone replacement therapy.

At Global Life Rejuvenation we are expert at testing -- and interpreting the results. We believe that comprehensive testing, along with a careful physical examination, is the first step in detecting hormonal imbalances in aging men -- and putting you on the path to a more vigorous life!

We recognize that each patient is unique and that it is important to remember that levels of not only testosterone but all important hormones vary widely between individuals. In short, we do not have a single threshold for treatment. Hormone levels are, however, quite consistent over time for an individual patient, so it is helpful for men to be regularly tested to determine trends and monitor the progress of treatment.

It is also worth noting that what are sometimes referred to as "normal" levels of testosterone for older men are generally nothing more that averages within referenced populations, usually the United States.

Global LifeX is aware that most aging men would prefer not to accept the loss of youthful vigor as normal. We suggest that a more desirable optimal testosterone range for most men is usually in the upper one-third of the range for men aged 21 to 49 years, and that hormone replacement therapy protocols should usually be designed to reflect that goal.

We encourage you to contact Global Life Rejuvenation and learn more about hormones for men, and how bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can change your life for the better!