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Hormone Therapy
feature
for Men
BOOST HEALTH, ENERGY AND LIBIDO
By: Chad Ruiz
Men, how is your energy level? While hormone therapy has been
Does it feel like you’re running on around for more than 50 years in
empty? Has your libido flown south for the form of pills, creams and gels, it’s
the winter…3 winters ago? A decline in been accepted more among women.
energy, sex drive, mental capacity, muscle Thanks to the popularity of the “pellets,”
mass and even hair are all symptoms of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement
low testosterone (and other hormone) Therapy (BHRT) appeals to both wom-
levels. en AND men.
And those are just the short term “After so many years of recom-
effects! Few people know about the mending pills, creams and gels, what
serious conditions caused from long- became obvious is that the pellet mode
term low levels. These include brittle of dispensing hormones is often more
bones, high blood pressure, depression, beneficial because we get a more con-
anxiety, respiratory disease, diabetes sistent, steady-state level of absorption
and cardiovascular disease. In fact, “The which we see through clinical response
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and and lab values,” Dr. Schultis said.
Metabolism” recently concluded after an The process is simple and painless.
11-year study that men with insufficient First, your doctor evaluates your physical the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging:
testosterone levels were more likely to health, your current symptoms and your “A 2004 report evaluated 574 men over
die sooner than their counterparts. current hormone levels. Once they a 19-year period. Low free testoster-
What’s that you say? You’re too qualify you, the doctor tasks a pharmacy one levels predicted an increased risk of
young for a drop in testosterone? Be- to compound the appropriate hormone developing Alzheimer's disease, even after
lieve it or not, testosterone levels begin mix. Then, during the follow-up appoint- other dementia risk factors were taken
their descent as early as 30! ment, your doctor injects the pellet(s) into account.” Other studies also observed
“Both men and women, at some under your skin—usually in the hip. The that individuals with higher testosterone
point in their life, will begin to experi- pellets last for several months. levels displayed sharper cognitive acuity
ence the normal decrease in hormones,” Increased hormone levels could help and quicker memories.
said OBGYN Dr. Stefanie Schultis, a more than your looks. Studies high- Dr. Schultis warns that several disor-
board certified physician and surgeon lighted in the Harvard Medical School’s ders may cause reduced hormone levels
who has been in private practice since “Harvard Men’s Health Watch” suggests so it’s always best practice to undergo a
1989 in Louisiana. “Many begin asking a link between low testosterone levels full checkup by your doctor before seeking
themselves, ‘What’s happening to me?’ and mental decline, like this one from hormone replacement therapy.
A decrease in hormones for men more
commonly occurs in their 40s but I oc-
casionally have treated men in their 20s An 11-year study concluded
and 30s with low testosterone levels. It that men with insufficient
really interrupts their quality of life.” testostrone levels were more
likely to die sooner.
24 INSPIRE HEALTH January § February
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