When you think of hormone replacement therapy, you might think of post-menopausal women working with their doctors to fight aging and other uncomfortable symptoms. While this is certainly one use for hormone replacement therapy, an increasing number of men are also using the treatments to achieve their own health and wellness goals.
As men age, levels of testosterone naturally decline. However, this can happen at a wide range of ages, and many men feel that they’d rather fight aging than give in and give up. Low testosterone can affect a man’s sexual performance, a part of life most men are not ready to relinquish at any age! It can also contribute to depression and weight gain, and of course weight gain can lead to a variety of other health problems. In fact, studies have demonstrated a strong link between low testosterone and metabolic disease, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease*.
Just as women may fight disease and other symptoms of aging with hormone therapy, many men are discovering bioidentical hormone replacement in the form of testosterone. Restoring healthy testosterone levels in the body often leads to weight loss in men whose prior efforts at healthy eating and exercise have failed to produce satisfactory results. The risk of age-related disease can be lowered, and sexual satisfaction of both the patient and his partner are often restored.
Bioidentical hormone replacement for men should be performed under the guidance of a physician who specializes in anti-aging hormonal treatments. Testing is necessary to pinpoint the cause of age-related difficulties, and to be certain hormone treatment is the right course of action for the patient. Treatment is very simple and most patients begin to see results quickly. If you feel you or your partner could benefit from bioidentical hormone replacement, please call our office for a consultation. We’ll be happy to help you in your quest for better health and satisfaction in life.
* Miner MM, Seftel AD. Testosterone and ageing: what have we learned since the Institute of Medicine report and what lies ahead? Int J Clin Pract. 2007 Apr;61(4):622-32.