Testosterone Therapy

There are many endocrine glands situated all over the body with the main ones being the pituitary gland, thyroid, thymus, adrenal glands, and the pancreas. There is only a small amount of hormones needed, which can cause significant changes throughout the body. Both men and women produce hormones in the same areas with one exception, the sexual organs. Additional male hormones are produced in the testes while women's additional hormones are produced in the ovaries. It is vital to treat hormone imbalances as not doing anything about them can result in serious medical conditions, like diabetes.

There are approximately 6,000 endocrine disorders that result because of hormone imbalance. An imbalance of hormones can be experienced at different times during life, i.e. as the body changes from childhood to adulthood, puberty is experienced by both male and females. Additionally, women will then again experience a change in hormone levels later in life, after their childbearing years have passed.

As hormone levels decline with age, the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease increase. Vascular endothelium and smooth muscle cells have sex steroid receptors. Research studies have found that bio-identical hormone restoration of the main hormones oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone, can be used in the management of blood pressure and overall cardiac health. Sex hormones stimulate endothelial cell growth; inhibit smooth muscle proliferation contraction and relaxes the vascular endothelium, via nitric oxide and prostacyclin. When hormones are present in youthful concentrations as an ideal state, vascular function in patients with high blood pressure may be modulated. Likewise, in males, low testosterone levels are predictive of hypertension and cardiovascular disease risk. At Health Renewal we suggest that aging men maintain free testosterone levels of 20 – 25pg/ml for optimal health

It is important to understand all the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Patients with a history of active or past breast cancer, blood clots, liver disease, pregnancy, or endometrial cancer should talk with a physician before using an over the counter or prescription therapy.

There are two main types of HRT;

The first is oestrogen replacement. At Health Renewal, Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BIHRT) is available in tablet form, cream, or as pellets. These hormone treatments can be administered alone and is given in the lowest dose possible to relieve symptoms.

Alternatively the second type of therapy is a combination of oestrogen and progesterone hormones (it is commonly known as HRT combination therapy). These two hormones are given continuously for the shortest time possible to reduce the risk for possible side effects. Side effects of treatment include irregular spotting, breast tenderness, fluid retention, headaches, dizziness, and blood clots or stroke. 

Bio identical Hormone replacement is recognised internationally as the optimum approach for women and men facing either menopause or andropause. The great appeal of bio-identical hormones is that they are natural and our bodies can metabolise them as they were designed to do, thereby minimising side effects for patients.

Synthetic hormones, which are commonly used, are not typically individualised per patient and can often produce intolerable side effects. At Health Renewal, compounded bio-identical hormones can be matched individually to each person's needs - something that's not possible with mass-produced products. Natural or bio-identical hormone therapy uses hormones found naturally in the human body to bring the body back to a healthful hormonal state.

Bioidentical hormones are hormones found naturally in the human body. Examples are oestradiol, oestriol, progesterone and testosterone.

Bio-identical hormones are made from precursors found in plants, typically wild yam or soy. The precursors are modified in a laboratory until they precisely match the hormones made by the human body.

Patients with severe sleep apnea also secrete low levels of testosterone during the night. Male patients with obstructive apnea have low levels of testosterone, which results in decreased sexual activity and libido. If you wondered why the male patients with sleep apnea don't have sex, the problem is the unbalanced levels of testosterone hormone due to the apnea episodes during sleep.

Testosterone is important in woman as it is the hormone that provides women with muscle tone, sharp cognitive functions and libido. Testosterone production tends to reduce with age, caused due to declining ovarian and adrenal function and as a result women begin to experience symptoms such as confusion, weight gain and poor muscle tone (despite regular exercise). Testosterone levels will drop more than 33% during a woman’s menopausal years. Balancing testosterone with oestrogen produces serotonin, which supports emotional balance. Without this, a woman could experience emotional instability, anxiety, irritability and sleep disturbance.

If a woman has an imbalance of testosterone it could result in muscle atrophy, osteoporosis and pain in muscles and joints. Health Renewal attempts to reinstate the woman’s pre-menopause state of body and mind, and to return her to what she was and how she felt before.

Testosterone has various roles in the body which include building muscle and promoting muscle tone, increased libido, bone strengthening, and in some, improvement of mood and metabolism. There is an abundant amount of information supporting and rejecting the supplemental use of testosterone in hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women. Theoretically it makes sense that replacing all hormones that are decreased during menopause, including testosterone, would be beneficial. Data has suggested that adding testosterone to conventional hormone therapy in postmenopausal women might reduce the hormone therapy-induced breast cancer risk in this group.

Further evaluation is needed to clearly determine the role of testosterone in postmenopausal women. Testosterone supplementation has not been conventionally recommended if there is a family history of breast cancer, although some physicians believe that there may be a benefit in maintaining normal levels through supplementation. In addition, testosterone supplementation is generally warranted in women complaining of low libido and sexual problems. 

The introduction of hormone replacement therapy has provided almost immediate relief for many men assisting in the alleviation of multiple symptoms including:

• Irritability,
• Reduced muscle mass,
• Loss of stamina,
• Erectile dysfunction, and
• Low sex drive

With proper treatment and monitoring men consistently report having:

• Increased energy,
• Improved mental clarity,
• Reduced depression and anxiety,
• Satisfyingly high sex drive, and
• Improved Erectile Dysfunction.