Hormone Therapy and Anti-aging

Decline in hormones is a major contributor to aging. As hormones, especially sex hormones (estrogen, testosterone and progesterone), decline we note many symptoms associated with aging; wrinkles, low sex drive, fatigue, etc. Although it is “normal” for hormones to decrease with age, replenishing them can result in looking and feeling more youthful.

Declines in hormones and associated symptoms can manifest as young as 30 years old and progesterone even as early as 20s. Many people are misdiagnosed and frequently mistreated. Often women are prescribed medications to treat symptoms like ADD, anti-depressants, and anxiety when the underlying cause is a hormone imbalance. Hormones can easily be tested and often treated with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

WHAT ARE BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES?

Bioidentical hormones have the same molecular structure as the hormones produced by your own body compared to those synthetic (and patented) hormones that have some significant differences. Bioidential hormones are derived from plants

Advantages of Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy (BHRT):

• They are derived from natural plant chemicals (botanicals)

• Each formula is customized to your individual, unique physiology

• The dosage is adjusted based on your hormone panel (we monitor closely)

• They are natural & the body can metabolize them as it was designed to do

• European Medical studies report they are safer than synthetic versions

The benefits of BHRT include:

• Reduced urogenital symptoms

• Reduced insomnia/Improve sleep

• Reduced depression

• Improved overall well-being

• Improved cognition

• Increased lean muscle and bone mass

• Increased collagen and elastin- may help improve skin elasticity, hydration, and thickness and reduce wrinkles

• Decreased hemoglobin A1C in diabetics

• Increase insulin sensitivity (reduce risk/improve control of diabetes)

Reduction in body fat

• Reduce “bad” cholesterol and improve “good” cholesterol

• Enhanced mood

• Improved stress tolerance

• Improved immune system

• Reduce/eliminate Hot flashes, Night sweats

• Facilitate weight loss

• Improve libido and sexual function

• Join pain relief

• Decreases your risk of developing osteoporosis, thyroid problems, cancer etc…

ESTROGEN

What is Estrogen?

Estrogen is one of the primary female hormones produced largely in the ovaries. With receptors all over your body, estrogen is integral in over 400 functions that affect your brain, lungs and cardiovascular system in addition to sex organs/sex interest.

SYMPTOMS OF LOW ESTROGEN

• Painful sex due to vaginal dryness

• Increase in UTIs due to thinning of urethra

• Irregular or absent periods

• Mood swings

• Hot flashes

• Breast tenderness

• Headaches or accentuation or preexisting migraines

• Depression

• Trouble concentration

• Fatigue

• Increase risk of bone fractures/osteoporosis

• Weight gain

CAUSES OF LOW ESTROGEN

• Aging/menopause

• Imbalances in exercise/extreme low body fat (excessive exercise, eating disorders such as anorexia)

• Low functioning pituitary gland

• Premature ovarian failure (form genetic defects, toxins or an autoimmune condition)

• Turner Syndrome

• Chronic Kidney Disease

• Thyroid disorders

• Chemotherapy

• Diet: Fat or calorie restriction, vegetarians and those with gluten intolerance tend to have lower estrogen levels

• General poor health

BENEFITS OF ESTROGEN

Cardiovascular Benefits

• Acts as a natural calcium blocker to keep your arteries open

• Decreases LDL (bad cholesterol) and prevents its oxidation

• Decreases lipoprotein A (a risk factor for heart disease)

• Decreases the accumulation of plaque on your arteries

• Enhances magnesium uptake and utilization

• Enhances the production of nerve-growth factor

• Helps maintain the elasticity of your arteries

• Increases blood flow

• Increases HDL (good cholesterol) by 10 to 15 percent

• Inhibits platelet stickiness, which decreases your risk of heart disease

Cognitive, Mood and Nerve Benefits

• Aids in the formation of neurotransmitters in your brain (such as serotonin), which decrease depression, irritability, anxiety, and pain sensitivity

• Helps maintain your memory

• Helps with fine motor skills

• Increases concentration

• Increases reasoning

• Protects you against macular degeneration, an age-related eye ailment that may cause vision loss

Bone Health

• Helps prevent tooth loss

• Maintains bone density

Improving Blood Sugar

• Improves insulin sensitivity

Skin and Metabolic Benefits

• Increases the water content of your skin, which is responsible for your skin’s thickness and softness

• Increases your metabolic rate, which helps your body run at a youthful level

• Maintains the amount of collagen in your skin

• Regulated food intake, body weight, glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity

Sexual Benefits and Urogenital Health

• Reverses thinning of mucus membranes

TESTOSTERONE IN WOMEN

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone is often thought of as a male hormone, but women have testosterone too, they just have less than men. Testosterone in women is made in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Testosterone plays many of the same roles for women as it does for men, and as men and women get older, testosterone levels decrease. This can cause lower interest in sexual intercourse, loss of skin elasticity and collagen, increase anxiety and depression, fatigue and brain fog, and difficulty maintaining and gaining muscle mass.

SYMPTOMS OF LOW TESTOSTERONE in WOMEN

• Fatigue/sluggishness

• Decreased motivation

• Muscle weakness/muscle loss/inability to gain muscle

• Sleep disturbances

• Low sex drive

• Decreased sexual satisfaction

• Weight gain

• Fertility issues

• Anemia (decreased red blood cell production)

• Irregular menstrual cycles

• Vaginal dryness

• Loss of bone density

• Decreased mood: worsening sense of well being, anxiety/depression

CAUSES OF LOW TESTOSTERONE

• Aging

• Adrenal stress or burnout

• Birth control pills

• Chemotherapy

• Childbirth

• Cholesterol-lowering medications

• Depression

• Endometriosis

• Menopause/surgical menopause (hysterectomy)

• Psychological trauma

BENEFITS OF TESTOSTERONE:

Cardiovascular Benefits

• Reduce Heart disease

Cognitive, Mood and Nerve Benefits

• Reduce Depression and Anxiety

• Improve energy

• Elevates norepinephrine in the brain (has the same effect as taking an antidepressant)

• Helps maintain memory

• Increases sense of emotional well-being, self-confidence, and motivation

Bone Health

• Increase bone mass/ decrease bone deterioration therefor reducing risk of osteoporosis

Improving Blood Sugar

• Improves insulin sensitivity

Skin, Muscle and Metabolic Benefits

• Increase muscle mass and strength

• Decreases excess body fat

• Increases muscle tone (so your skin doesn’t sag)

Sexual Benefits and Urogenital Health

• Increase libido/sex drive

• Increase vaginal lubrication

• Improve Menopause symptoms

• Improve PMS symptoms

• Increases sexual interest (86 percent of women say they experience a decrease in sexual interest with menopause)

PROGESTERONE

What is Progesterone?

Progesterone is another of the primary female sex hormones (although it also plays an important role in men). Progesterone plays a role in menstrual cycles, pregnancy and embryo development. This hormone also acts on the gamma amino butyric (GABA) receptors in the brain improving anxiety, sleep and overall sense of calm.

SYMPTOMS OF LOW PROGESTERONE

• Anxiety or other mood changes including depression

• Insomnia/waking at night

• Fibrocystic breasts

• PMS/PMDD

• Infertility or irregular periods

• Low libido

• Bone loss

• Headaches/migraines

• Hot flashes

• Endometriosis

• Thyroid dysfunction

• Sugar cravings and weight gain

• Acne, dry skin, brittle nails

CAUSES OF LOW PROGESTERONE

• Aging (as early as late 20s)

• Stress

• Hypothyroidism

• PCOS

• Elevated prolactin

• Estrogen Dominance

• Xenohormone (man-made synthetic substances that have hormone-like effects)

• Synthetic Progestin (versus bioidentical progesterone) from sources like birth control pills

• Fluctuations in female reproductive cycle (perimenopause, post-partum, PMS)

BENEFITS

Cardiovascular and Immune Benefits

• Natural anti-inflammatory

• Modulates immune function

• Increases detoxification enzymes

Cognitive, Mood and Nerve Benefits

• Natural anxiolytic (decreases anxiety)

• Improves memory

• Enhances sleep

• Decreases irritability

• Protects brain from damage and promotes repair after injury

Bone Health

• Increases the osteoblasts (cells that make new bone)

Skin and Metabolic Benefits

• Improves skin elasticity

• Improves energy

• Nourishes hair

• Reduces acne

Sexual Benefits and Urogenital Health

• Increase libido/sex drive

• Increase vaginal lubrication

• Decrease hot flashes

• Relieves PMS

• Relieves heavy periods

• Improves fertility

TREATMENT

Hormone therapy: Individualized treatments based on your hormone values, symptoms, history and goals. Hormones are checked regularly by either blood or urine to get hormones into an optimal range (not a “normal” range) and only bioidentical hormones are prescribed.

bHRT options: All options have benefits and drawbacks. We will work with you to find the option that works best for you and your lifestyle.

Topical hormones: hormone creams come from a compounding pharmacy where they are created specifically for you. They are absorbed through the skin and go directly into the blood stream (avoiding being changed by the liver, like what happens with oral administration).

Pellets: Coming Soon! Pellets are inserted under the skin and release a steady, optimal dose of hormone over three to six months

Oral therapies: we general avoid these due conjugation (structural changes) by the liver, which are often associated with increased risk.

Troches: often used with progesterone (dissolve under tongue and absorb into blood stream through mucus membrane and therefor largely avoiding changes by the liver

Shots: IM (intramuscular) or SubQ (subcutaneous) injections deliver a fast acting hormone it is convenient with direct absorption (you absorb 100% of the hormone in the injection of your specific dose)

Supplements: We use supplements to enhance your own body’s production of hormones. Specific supplements may be prescribed based on lab work, symptoms and patient history.

Diet: Diet can affect your hormones, weight, immune system and overall wellbeing. Depending on history, goals and labs specific diets or nutritional recommendations may be made.

Lifestyle: In addition to diet, exercise, improving sleep and stress management can help to idealize hormones and improve overall quality of life.