Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men

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Hormone Replacement Therapy is a natural addition to our weight loss and wellness clinics. We provide bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and testosterone replacement therapy for men.  

As we age, our bodies naturally start to reduce the amount of hormones like testosterone and estrogen they produce. 

Hormones such as these are incredibly important to how many areas of your body function – such as your brain, heart, bones, reproductive organs, and more. 

When these hormones are out of balance, people can experience a number of different symptoms. 

Hormone Imbalance Symptoms for Men: 

• Low libido* 

• Fatigue* 

• Loss of muscle mass* 

• Increased body fat (especially in the waist area) * 

• Decreased bone mass* 

• Mood changes* 

• Low mood* 

• Irritability* 

• Brain fog* 

• Elevated blood sugar* 

• Stress* 

• Anxiousness* 

• High cholesterol* 

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is a method of restoring the balance of your hormones and aiming to relieve these symptoms, using compounded hormones that are identical in structure to those your body naturally produces. That way, your body recognizes and uses these replacement hormones in exactly the same way it would hormones it produces naturally. 

We are now entering a new era in mainstream medicine that focuses on preventing health problems that are associated with aging. One of the most important preventive therapies in this new paradigm of care is identifying those with hormonal imbalances, and supplementing them with bioidentical hormones to optimal physiologic levels. Whether you have a testosterone deficiency, adrenal fatigue, thyroid issues, estrogen dominance, are suffering with PMS, or are in perimenopause, menopause or andropause, be assured your treatment plan will be based on cutting edge protocols tailored specifically for you.

At Evolution Health & Wellness, we can help optimize your hormones and life!

Give us a call today at 417-530-2200 to schedule your appointment and see if BHRT is right for you!

Because testosterone affects so many organs and tissues, low levels are associated with many signs and symptoms throughout the body.  

Symptoms you may experience but cannot be adequately measured include:  

• Irritability or unexplained negative mood 
• Loss of motivation 
• Anxiety or increased pessimism 
• Increased fatigue, low energy or diminished sense of well-being 
• Difficulty concentrating, lack of focus, forgetfulness and loss of memory 
• Feeling that you have lost your edge or passed your peak Insomnia or poor sleep 
• Joint pain 
• Lacking desire (low libido) or pleasure in sex 
• Decreased ability to perform sexually 
• Erections that are less strong 

None of these signs or symptoms are specific to testosterone deficiency and many are hard to differentiate from normal aging. Our role is to evaluate any signs or symptoms of low testosterone, and then to see how they correlate with your hormone levels.

DHEA 

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone produced from cholesterol that then follows one of two pathways, both involving two-step enzymatic conversions, to yield either estrogens or testosterone. Thus, levels of DHEA can have a role in determining levels of estrogen and testosterone, though DHEA alone is seldom enough to sufficiently restore testosterone levels in aging men.

Aromatase 

One of the most important factors that affect testosterone levels and the ratio between testosterone and estrogen is the aromatase enzyme. Aromatase converts testosterone to estrogen, further depleting free testosterone levels and increasing estrogen levels.

Obesity 

Obesity and associated hyperinsulinemia suppress the action of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the testis, which can significantly reduce circulating testosterone levels, even in men under the age of 40. In addition, increased belly fat mass has been correlated with increased aromatase levels.  The vicious circle of low testosterone and obesity has been described as the hypogonadal/obesity cycle. In this cycle a low testosterone level results in increased abdominal fat, which in turn leads to increased aromatase activity. This enhances the conversion of testosterone to estrogens, which further reduces testosterone and increases the tendency toward abdominal fat.

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) 

Most testosterone circulating in the bloodstream is bound to either sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) (60%) or albumin (38%). Only a small fraction (2%) is unbound, or “free”.  Testosterone binds more tightly to SHBG than to albumin. Consequently, only albumin-bound testosterone and free testosterone constitute the bioavailable forms of testosterone, which are accessible to target tissues and carry out the actions of the essential hormone. Thus the bioavailability of testosterone is influenced by the level of SHBG.  Aging men experience both an increase in aromatase activity and an elevation in SHBG production. The net result is an increase in the ratio of estrogen to testosterone and a decrease in total and free testosterone levels. It is crucial that this skewed ratio be balanced.

Liver Function 

The liver is responsible for removing excess estrogen and SHBG, and any decrease in liver function could exacerbate hormonal imbalances and compromise healthy testosterone levels. Thus it is important that aging men also strive for optimal liver function.