What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a type of treatment that has been used with a great degree of success to treat common health conditions in men and women. The better you understand HRT, the better able you will be to decide if it’s the right treatment for you.
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy, while traditionally believed to be a treatment for women experiencing severe symptoms of menopause, is actually an effective method of treatment for men and women alike who are experiencing hormonal fluctuations or deficiencies.
Hormone replacement therapies replace hormones that are either lost through the natural aging process, work to balance hormones that may be temporarily unbalanced due to changes in body chemistry, and ensure that there aren’t hormonal deficiencies in men or women that could have negative health consequences.
Hormone Replacement for Men
Until recently, very few people had even heard of a condition referred to as Low T (for low testosterone). Men are far more reluctant to talk about the state of their health and urges than the average woman – especially when talking to their physicians.
However, low testosterone levels are about more than a waning sex drive or overall lack of aggression. It can also increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes, conditions like metabolic syndrome, and even death.
Not only that, but low testosterone can have other consequences for men’s health too, including:
- Lack of sex drive
- Loss of body and facial hair
- Loss of muscle mass
- Lower production of red blood cells
- Poor fat distribution
- Reduced bone density
These changes can result in increased instances of depression and overall poor health without the right kind of intervention. Hormone replacement for men offers a safe and effective treatment option.
Hormone Therapy for Women
While commonly associated with menopause, hormone replacement therapy for women is also often prescribed to reduce the risks of osteoporosis in women and heart disease. It works by augmenting your body’s own hormone levels to help reduce some of the worst symptoms associated with the natural drop in estrogen and/or progesterone levels that occurs during menopause.
This can help provide real relief from some of the more unpleasant side effects of menopause that include:
- Night sweats
- Hot flashes
- Pain during intercourse
- Mood swings
- Sleep disruptions
- Vaginal dryness
- Loss of bone density
- Dry skin and hair
If you are experiencing symptoms that may be helped through hormone replacement for men or women, now is the perfect time to seek relief. Contact us at Gershon Preventative Medicine in Virginia Beach, Virginia to learn more. Contact us today!