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Hormone Replacement Therapy at Gershon Preventative Medicine is designed to bring your hormone levels back in balance.
Register for our FREE hormone webinar where you will learn:
* What hormone replacement therapy is
* Why it’s so important to your health
* Why so many say after treatment that it changes their lives.
This is NOT a pre-recorded training. Join us live and you will be able to get all your questions from a real member of our expert staff!
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Life is a constant search for balance. Your hormones are no exception. Men and women have a unique balance to maintain that adjust as change happens in your body.
Hormone Replacement Therapy at Gershon Preventative Medicine is designed to bring your hormone levels back in balance.
Hormones control virtually all of the functions of the body including our reproductive, immune and metabolic systems. When hormone levels decline we lose power, energy, vitality, and health. Hormone replacement therapy, however, is not a panacea. It will not reverse aging. We will continue to age and lose cells secondary to a process that is regulated genetically. The purpose is to simply replenish the hormones that already occur in our body. Which hormones to replace, how much to replenish, and how to adjust the hormones so they have a synergistic effect is the art and science of the new specialty of natural hormone replacement medicine. Vitamins, diet, and exercise are important, but utilizing bioidentical hormone replacement therapy helps patients feel and function better.
Hormone Replacement Treatments for Women
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Women who are experiencing moderate to severe symptoms related to menopause or who have had hysterectomies are often considered prime candidates for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, as are women who have family histories of osteoporosis.
Historically women have had difficulty with older versions of hormone replacement therapies. The introduction of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy has changed everything. This has created an alternative for women that offers relief from the unpleasant side effects of low estrogen levels, such as:
- Vaginal Dryness
- Hair Loss/Thinning Hair
- Sleep Problems
- Urinary Problems
- Hot Flashes
- Mood Swings
- Painful Intercourse
- Night Sweats
With bioidentical hormone replacement therapy the potential benefits go beyond simple relief from the unpleasant side effects of menopause and include:
- Improved Muscle Function
- Guards Against Osteoporosis
- Lower mortality rates among women who experience menopause earlier in life
Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men
Most men experience sharp declines in testosterone levels as they age. Testosterone, while important for sexual development and reproductive function, is also critical for maintaining good health as it is required for the following:
- Bulking Up Muscles
- Managing Red Blood Cell Levels
- Managing Bone Density
Testosterone therapy is believed to be beneficial in many ways, including reducing risks for type 2 diabetes, reducing fatigue, aiding in weight loss, and improving sexual desire. Testosterone is typically administered topically either through creams or via weekly muscular injections.
We must take advantage of the current state of the art, preventative medicine techniques which include an avoidance of risk factors of disease, optimal nutrition, adequate exercise, caloric restriction, antioxidant therapy, and optimal hormone replacement.
Whichever type of hormone replacement therapy you choose, you will find that there are a variety of risks and benefits to consider. This is why it’s important to consult with Dr. Steven Gershon before pursuing bioidentical hormone replacement therapy or other treatments and therapies to restore hormonal balance to your body, so you can make informed decisions about the state of your hormones and your health.
When Men Should Consider BHRT
While many men remain reluctant to talk about problems related to declining levels of testosterone, it presents an obstacle that we have no choice but to acknowledge, at least to ourselves.
Most men will reach your testosterone peak around the age of 17. Then it tends to level off for the next 15 to 20 years before beginning to decline, sometimes rapidly.
Potential Dangers of Low Testosterone Levels in Men
While this was once considered one of the lesser discussed downsides of aging, today we know that there are many potential health risks related to low testosterone. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for men can offer a decreased risk for diabetes, heart disease, and death.
It can also reduce your risks of the following conditions:
- Stroke
- High Blood Pressure
- Metabolic Syndrome
- High Cholesterol
That is why so many healthcare professionals are beginning discuss the very real health risks low testosterone levels represents to men and the potential rewards hormone replacement therapy offers.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone Levels
When this rapid decline occurs, you may experience a range of unexpected symptoms that you aren’t really prepared to deal with, including:
- Loss of Muscle Mass
- Fat Gain in the Midsection
- Low Libido
- Chronic Exhaustion
- Lack of Energy
- Reduced Strength
- Loss of Body Hair
- Depression
If your testosterone levels are low, you may experience some or all of the symptoms mentioned above. The presence of these symptoms does not always indicate reduced testosterone, they may be attributed to effects of medication, thyroid conditions, diabetes, sleep apnea, or other medical problems. A blood test is required to diagnose low levels of testosterone and to help determine if bioidentical hormone replacement therapy might be a solution for you.
Why Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men?
Bioidentical hormone therapies allow you to address testosterone deficiencies without worry over unnecessary exposure to chemicals and synthetic hormones. Instead, bioidentical hormones are derived from plant and animal sources, which make a lot of men more comfortable.
The key, however, is to seek help and respond quickly if you experience the symptoms listed above.
Request an appointment at Gershon Preventative Medicine to see if bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is the right solution to help you get your life, libido, and health back on track.
Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women
Menopause, for many women, is an unwelcome rite of passage that brings along quite a few unpleasant side effects. Once upon a time, the symptoms that came along with menopause were considered par for the course and simply accepted. Today, we have the option to treat many of the symptoms that occur during menopause. What is Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women?
Hormone replacement therapy is a type of treatment that helps to adjust the natural hormone levels within the body. Women who have had a hysterectomy or surgical treatment for menopause will often receive hormone replacement therapy that involves the use of estrogen alone. Those women experiencing natural menopause will often receive a treatment that replaces estrogen along with progesterone.
Why Do Women Need Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Some people mistakenly believe that the sole purpose of treatments such as bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is to treat the unpleasant symptoms and side effects of menopause or drops in estrogen levels that include side effects like:
- Hot Flashes
- Inability to Sleep
- Moodiness
- Night Sweats
- Painful Intercourse
- Urinary Health Problems
- Vaginal Dryness
There are many reasons to consider hormone replacement therapy, including raising your good cholesterol levels, improving muscle function, and perhaps the biggest reason of all, to preserve bone health by controlling how your body uses calcium.
Hormone replacement therapy for women remains the most effective treatment available for moderate to severe symptoms of menopause.
Are there Risks Associated with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women?
Like most treatments, hormone replacement therapy is not without risks. The Women’s Health Initiative hormone therapy trials gave some women concerns about whether HRT was an acceptable choice for them as a result of the risks associated with it. The main risks include a slight increase in the risk of blood clots in the legs and lungs, similar to what women experience when taking birth control pills, using estrogen therapy, or using estrogen and progesterone therapy.
Contact us today to learn more about the benefits bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for women has to offer so you can get the relief you deserve.
Hormone Replacement Therapy FAQ
What Are Bioidentical Hormones?
Bioidentical hormones have a chemical structure that is identical to the hormones naturally produced by the body. We refer to them as natural because they are natural to the human body. Synthetic hormones have a structure similar to a form produced by your body, but not identical. These chemical differences mean the synthetic hormone acts differently, producing substantially different effects. Bioidentical and synthetic hormones should not be considered the same or used interchangeably. They are entirely different.
When Will I See Results?
Results will vary with each person. However, typical results occur within three to four months, where you’ll experience improvements in
- Lean Muscle Mass
- Sexual Libido
- Stronger Bones
- Energy
- Definition
- Cognition
- Memory
- Skin tone and elasticity
- Overall profound sense of well-being
- Mood
- Other benefits you can’t see
Medical literature reports that combining bioidentical hormone replacement with proper nutrition and exercise reduces your risks of disease.
How Does Hormone Optimization Work?
Bioidentical hormone optimization uses hormones that have a chemical structure that’s identical to your body’s naturally produced hormones. Aging is really a decline in our body’s “hormone levels, substances that were once plentiful”. When your body can regain and maintain endocrine and metabolic functions at the higher end of normal range, it provides you with a better chance for a robust and healthy life.
Where Do Natural Hormones Come From?
The pure biologically identical hormone is either extracted from plants or synthetically manufactured. What is most important is that the end product is a molecule identical to the hormone molecule found naturally in the human body. This applies to all hormones, including thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA.
What Happens As We Age?
As we age cellular receptor sites become less sensitive to stimulation by hormones, thus requiring increased amounts of hormones to affect a cellular change. This is precisely why people need optimal levels of hormones. Though some people’s levels may be normal, they may still may need extra hormone replacement in order to feel better. This is particularly true with thyroid.
We must take advantage of the current state of the art, preventative medicine techniques which include an avoidance of risk factors of disease, optimal nutrition, adequate exercise, caloric restriction, antioxidant therapy, and optimal hormone replacement.
Does Hormone Therapy Help with Sexual Dysfunction?
There are many causes of sexual dysfunction; however, a good treatment starting point is optimizing hormones. To boost your sex drive you should raise your testosterone to a level that’s healthy. Bioidentical hormone replacement has improved sexual dysfunction in over 90 percent of patients, you can talk with your doctor about other treatment options if you still need help.
Is There Ever a Time Where I’m too Old for Therapy?
You are never too old for this therapy. Often, adults over 60 years old believe it’s too late for them. Hormone levels in older adults are at the lowest levels of our lives. Replacing these hormones to optimal levels with bioidentical hormones can produce a quick response.
