Human Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men

If you have symptoms of Andropause (sometimes referred to as "Male Menopause") you may benefit from hormone replacement therapy. Human Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, previously referred to as "BHRT" uses hormones identical to those in the human body to replace hormones that are out of balance.

Men's experiences with HRT are very different from those of women, which is why we have dedicated a special section of our Hormone replacement website to focus solely on the male experience with hormone replacement.

Andropause and the Male Body

Men do not experience the change of life in the same very definite way women experience menopause. For men the change is a gradual decrease in testosterone, the primary sex hormone for men, and other lesser but vital hormones.

Testosterone and others may begin to decrease at early ages and slowly continue to decrease in small increments until the amount of these hormones is below the bioactive or therapeutic threshold; usually around the early fifties or late forties, although medical literature reports many cases of men much younger experiencing early sexual dysfunction as a symptom.

According to a leading medical study in Australia 33% of all men over age 50 have some form of sexual problem.* Some may have ED or Erectile Dysfunction; in others the ability to ejaculate is difficult. About 2/3 of these men wish to regain their sexual function. (*Note: A man may not show any symptoms until their late forties or early fifties or beyond, but there is plenty of case literature to demonstrate earlier onset of symptoms.)

Through out the latter years the male becomes symptomatic if there is no medical intervention. These symptoms can be advanced by certain other diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, hypogonadotropism as well as lifestyle issues such as diet, exercise, smoking and drug use.

Many times laboratory tests will indicate normal testosterone levels for men when all symptoms indicate a functional deficiency. Symptoms of andropause are included in the chart below.

Symptoms in Men generally include:

Testosterone, the primary male hormone, can be changed by the body's fat to a female hormone Estradiol. This occurs through the action of Aromatase, an enzyme stored in both male and female fat cells.

Some researchers speculate that it is this Estradiol in men that causes Prostate cancer. Whether this can be proven or not the male testosterone patient needs to have a regular laboratory PSA and Hematocrit test as well as a physical examination for prostrate abnormalities.

It is important to note that there is some risk associated with testosterone therapy. Clinicians believe that testosterone may increase the risk of prostate cancer and frequent close examination of the prostate is an integral part of the physician treatment plan.

Using modest amounts of testosterone can improve cholesterol ratios, but too much testosterone can lead a less favorable cholesterol profile. So monitoring to get the right dose is very important.

As with women, men need to be properly screened by a physician well versed in Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy.

If you feel like these symptoms describe your condition. Feel free to contact our male pharmacist by phone or email to discuss your concerns. We have experience in male sexual health issues as well as a list of knowledgeable physicians willing to help.

What does Human Identical Mean?

"Human identical" means that the hormone supplements used are identical to the hormones that the human body naturally produces.

Most commercially available drugs are synthetic and are made from pregnant mare's urine, which contains conjugated estrogenic compounds not normally found in the human body.

Other commercial hormone drugs are synthetic versions of bio-identical hormones but with different chemicals attached to them for the purpose of obtaining US patent rights. Human Identical hormones are not patentable and are therefore of little interest to big pharmaceutical companies.

Human Identical hormones are natural to your body. They are non-synthetic, and have no animal by-products that might cause additional side effects. These hormones are not drugs but supplements derived from plant sources like soy beans and yams.

We compound Human Identical Hormone Replacement Therapies (HRT) from supplements that are identical to the hormones produced in the human body, so you get a supplement that is easily recognized by the body.

This therapy is also custom compounded by our compounding pharmacist to fit your exact dosage need. These well trained professionals use only USP Pharmaceutical grade supplies, the highest grade available, for your preparations.

Also, different dosage forms can be made, such as Transdermal Gels, Sublingual tablets, and topical creams that allow the supplement to be absorbed without going through the stomach and liver. This is important because the stomach and liver destroy as much as 80% of some hormones before they reach the receptor sites where they do their work. Oral dosage forms are seldom used for this reason.

We realize "No one size fits all" where patient needs are concerned. Each patient is different. The important thing is to get the right dose in the most convenient dosage form so that you, the patient, can feel comfortable about taking hormone replacement as directed.

It is important for the patient to take an active role in their therapy so that true hormone balance can be achieved. Most patients require some dosage adjustment during therapy to "fine tune" the treatment.

Is Human Identical Hormone Replacement right for me?

Men who are experiencing the symptoms of andropause listed in the previous section may consider Human Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy as many thousands of others have before.

All potential patients should be screened for relative risk factors by filling out a symptom questionnaire (click here to do so) and by having a thorough physical examination by a physician knowledgeable in the use of HRT. You can use THIS LINK to contact us, and we would be happy to provide you with a listing of local physiscians in your area who are knowledgeable in Human Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, or we can refer you to a local physician when we receive your completed symptom questionnaire.

Taking a supplement of these hormones must be carefully considered by both you and your doctor. Candidates for this type of therapy are usually women or men whose quality of life has taken a downturn. They want to feel better, be symptom free, and do it safely.

I feel this may be right for me. What steps do I need to take to begin Human Identical HRT?

1. Patients are asked to fill out the symptom questionnaire and include pertinent comments the physician may find useful, i.e. previous laboratory results.
    
2. Once the questionnaire has been filled out and submitted, our staff will contact you with the results of the initial screening. If the results show that you may be a candidate for BHRT, you will need to get a hormone level test kit from our pharmacy. The kit and lab fee will cost about $125, far lower than other labs. We use saliva based testing so it does not involve any blood work or needle sticks.
    
3. To get a baseline study on your hormones each patient will be asked to fill one test tube with saliva first thing in the morning before doing anything else. You must not brush your teeth the night before as toothpaste interferes with the test as do facial creams, lipstick, and mouthwash. Sorry, no soap either.
    
   • Label your vial of saliva with your name, package in the plastic container, and place in the box for shipment.
   
    
   • Now get the order form and check off the following to establish a baseline hormone profile that will be used later for comparison.
   
    

Women should check the following boxes for Saliva lab test: · Estradiol · Estriol · Estrone · Progesterone · Testosterone · AM Cortisol

Men should check the following boxes for Saliva lab test: · Testosterone · DHEAS · Estradiol · Am Cortisol · Progesterone

• Enclose the order form in the box provided and affix the shipping label.

 
• Do Not forget to list all medications you are taking

 
• You should receive your lab results in about 2 weeks.

Once the results are in, you are notified and a Physician's office visit is scheduled. By having the symptom questionnaire filled out online and the lab work done in advance we save time and money at the physician's office and get faster relief of symptoms.

We will work closely with the physician to get the best possible dose and method of administration for your particular needs and preferences.

More Information:

Click here to fill out our online Symptom Sheet

Click here to contact us about finding a Doctor in your area who specializes in Human Identical HRT, or to ask any general questions.

 

 

NOTE:
THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES COMMITMENT AND MANY PATIENTS GET GREAT RESULTS QUICKLY WHILE OTHERS, ABOUT 50%, REQUIRE ADJUSTMENTS FROM TIME TO TIME. THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL SINCE WE ARE TRYING TO HIT A MOVING TARGET IN THOSE WOMEN THAT ARE BEGINNING THIER DECLINE OF REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES.