Men and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Are you a man over 40? Have you been troubled by the symptoms of andropause lately? Andropause, in which many men experience negative effects resulting from changes in hormone levels during aging, can cause irritability, fatigue, decreased sex drive, and loss of memory.

Although Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) serves the same purpose as synthetic hormone replacement therapy, it utilizes supplemental doses of hormones which are molecularly identical to endogenous hormones that your body produces naturally. The naturalness of the hormones has led advocates to consider BHRT as a great therapeutic option for symptoms associated with andropause. It is widely believed that patients do not experience the harmful side effects associated with synthetic hormone replacement therapy. There are a number of hormones, which are used in BHRT. Most are available in FDA-approved manufactured products and as pharmacy-compounded products too. Scientists at the Gerontology Research Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Baltimore, Maryland restored sex hormone levels to those of younger people and found a marked improvement in physical and psychological functions.

To begin Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, you will need to consult a physician for expert advice on the best anti aging treatment. Once your physician determines that you are experiencing a decline of hormones, you would be ready to begin a static treatment plan. Your hormone levels are approximated and you would be advised the necessary treatment. There are a number of forms of therapy and you can only find the best one for your needs upon consultation with a BHRT expert. The therapy has helped improve physical, mental, and emotional energies in men experiencing andropause symptoms. Increased libido and sexual performance, control over anxiety, fatigue, and irritability, improvement in body mass, reduced sleep disturbance, bone growth, improvement in skin elasticity and decrease in potential risk of heart disease are the other proven benefits of BHRT.

Bioidentical hormones are natural plant based hormones, and can be administered only after the levels of hormones are measured. They are formulated in a convenient and effective form and can be individualized when compared to synthetic hormone therapy. More benefits and fewer side effects- if that's what you want out of your hormone replacement therapy, you should try BHRT. When you have restored your body's normal balance of hormones with the help of BHRT, you will feel more healthy, energized, stronger and definitely happier!

How To Balance One's Hormones To Help With Acne And Being Healthy

It is common knowledge that acne is caused by oily skin but few people know what causes that shine on your face and especially the T-zone. The oil is due to high levels of a hormone named androgen.

However, since a normal secretion of androgen gives a healthy skin, therefore it cannot be completely done away with either. The hormones are most actively produced during puberty, hence the oily skin and acne. Now the question that arises is how to balance ones hormones to help with acne.

Now hormones in our body can be balanced by different methods like having a balanced diet, avoiding stress and getting enough exercise. However, external methods include some treatments that may help to correct the imbalance as well.

Information that you need

There is a disparity in your body when the superfluous hormones and toxins from your body do not drain out. This function is usually performed by the liver and kidneys and what aids these organs to do so are a balanced diet that gives the essential nutrients. These nutrients regulate the glands and hence help you get a blemish free skin.

If you notice carefully you will see that too much stress can also cause an unexpected outbreak of acne. This is because stress triggers the production of hormones that cause the pimples. One easy way to relieve oneself from stress is of course exercise, and the added advantage is that it is also good for the rest of your body.

External treatments for balancing hormones that people can opt for can be allopathic as well as alternative medicine like an herbal treatment. Once the doctor has determined that the acne caused is due to a hormonal imbalance he/she might recommend birth control pills for women as they restrain the androgens. However, if the problem is acute then the doctor might also suggest corticosteroids.

Many herbs like black cohosh, evening primrose, red clover, chaste berry, licorice etc can be used both on males and females to balance their hormones. However, personal experimentation is advised against and the patient should always consult a doctor before starting this treatment.
Finally this treatment is only possible if you get a thorough checkup of your hormone levels, and people who have an acute acne problem should go for a regular checkup to see the condition and improvement. Hormone level testing can be done by saliva testing and blood testing. There is also the option of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. However, balancing your hormones the natural way is always much more desirable.

Human Growth Hormone Therapy - Is There a Better Alternative With No Shots Needed?

Human growth hormone therapy has long been associated with painful shots, frequent doctor visits and exceedingly high doctor bills.

Finally, has science found a better alternative? Today, is there a human growth hormone (HGH) alternative option that doesn't cost a small fortune - and isn't painful?

Yes, it's true. Science has at last discovered a better alternative to the pain and misery of prescription injections. But before we dive into that, let's discover why HGH is so important to your overall health and well-being. Then we'll take a look at the medical and scientific community's new forms of HGH therapy.

Human growth hormone (HGH) is an essential component of our bodies. It is vital to the growth, development and functioning of almost all of our organs. In fact, HGH is regarded as a necessary chemical compound in our body that actually keeps us alive. According to many anti-aging experts today, it is one of our master hormones.

So what happens to HGH as we age? Well, as we get older, HGH production slows down. This unfortunately results in what we've come to know as the aging process.

And as HGH levels in our bodies decline, we see a loss of muscle mass, lessened immunity, and a longer healing time after injuries. In short, our bodies show what we've come to regard as "normal" aging.

As long as people have been aware of their own eventual death, they've searched for anti-aging options. And since HGH is known to be linked to the symptoms of aging - have we at long last found the cure?

While no one has discovered the elusive Fountain of Youth, those who can afford it have been visiting their doctors, paying expensive fees, and taking shots to increase their HGH levels.

And for years, people have dealt with the drawbacks such as painful injections, frequent trips to the doctor along with hefty fees - all because there was only one form of HGH therapy.

Now however, recent medical discoveries have changed all of that. There is now a safe and easy-to-use alternative for everyone.

Trans-D Tropin ® is that alternative.

Trans-D Tropin is a convenient and highly effective lotion used to increase your body's own HGH. It is correctly termed an HGH releaser. And when used on a consistent daily basis, this cream stimulates your pituitary gland into naturally releasing your own HGH.

As your body increases its own human growth hormone, you'll see a decrease in body fat, an increase in your physical strength, more sexual vigor, and a boost in your immunity levels. Plus, you may also gain more lean muscle mass, and an ability to heal injuries more quickly, along with deeper sleep patterns.

In short, your body will begin to feel younger and healthier by simply rubbing a lotion into your skin just a few times every day - without having to visit the doctor for painful and expensive shots.

You've seen how important HGH is to your body, and to your aging process. Trans-D Tropin is the safe, convenient and easy-to-use alternative for you to consider in the realm of human growth hormone therapy.

Menopause Symptoms Reduced by BHRT: My Wife Is In Her 3rd Week of Treatment

As you will remember, I wrote about my wife beginning Bioidentical Hormone Replacement therapy. Our decision for her to do this, came about because my wife and I are both dealing with her perimenopause. This process for her has been an ongoing research for 10 years. It seemed that every time we learned something useful there would be some improvement, but still we could not get her feeling and acting like herself. It has always been in the back of her mind that she had the symptoms of hypothyroidism. But, curiously the symptoms of perimenopause and thyroid low function are nearly identical. She has been considering Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) for 2 years, but putting it off due to the fact that she was unsure if she had learned enough about it.

She has found the medical group that she wanted. They specialize in BHRT. She started treatment two weeks ago.

The way we got here, was through the belief that the blood tests that our primary physician was looking at for her were showing a normal thyroid. But it was in the very low normal range. Therefore the doctor did not look at other hormone levels. We understand the doctor's actions, but we disagreed. We wanted to know what her HORMONE levels were. Well this new medical group added the full range of hormone levels to their very comprehensive blood tests. My wife was completely out of wack on 9 out of 10. She signed up for their program and began it immediately.

Her first treatment included a B-12 shot, which she will continue weekly for some time. There was an immediate energy boost that was mirrored by a reduction in fatigue. At the same time she had some very small capsules (the size of a grain of rice) in a time release configuration implanted just under the skin of her buttocks.

The tests had showed she was way off of the scale on: Estradiol; FSH; Progesterone; TSH; Testosterone; Vitamin B12. No other physician had tested for these. Yet, these are some of the supplements she is being given now. I will find out more about each and write another article on the progress next week.

The daily changes were subtle but noticeable and all positive. But, each day I could not be sure that it was not just my perception of change since that was what I was looking for.. But the "overall changes" during the entire two weeks are noticeable and dramatic. She is waking up earlier. Making a lot more jokes. Laughing harder and working harder. It is my initial judgement that the balancing of hormones is real and it is working. In the next week she will go in for an evaluation. I expect it to be positive.

We still have not found out how much of the cost is covered by our insurance, which is Blue Cross Blue Shield. But, we expect to hear soon and I will include this in the next article.

I'll let you know how the evaluation goes too. Expect to hear from me next week again.

If you want to share your experience, or ask questions you can visit the website mentioned below.

How to Avoid the Risks Associated With Hormone Replacement

Modern medicine has turned menopause into a disease.

Doctors offer hormone therapy during perimenopause and menopause for symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings because this is all they're taught and all they know.

Sad.

Sad that we take advice from anyone who wants us to take potentially harmful chemicals into our bodies on a regular basis, rather than investigate natural menopause solutions first. If you've ever agreed to 'try' hormone replacement and taken a good hard look at the information sheet from the pharmacist, you know the list of frightening side effects associated with adding hormones to your body.

Many women delay taking action for mood swings or night sweats at the start of menopause, when it would be most beneficial. Unfortunately for them, they've ignored what seems to be a law of the Universe that it's better to prevent a problem, than to treat it after it becomes bigger, more noticeable and more disruptive. Many women seek help with distressing menopause symptoms only after they've become intolerable and they demand immediate relief. Hormone therapy usually provides faster results than herbs at the crisis point, but how much better to take herbs or homeopathy or use an energy medicine method such as Emotional Freedom Techniques, that work with the body, rather than force it into an artificial state where it has been fooled rather than respected.

You may not know that hormone therapy is usually a long-term solution, that when it ends, can bring back the same problems it was intended to solve. That's what happened to my mother who was on HRT for 20 years. She, like millions of other women, was scared off HRT in 2002 when a large clinical study found that HRT increased the risk of heart disease and cancer. She went off the hormones and went right back into hot flashes and night sweats - somewhat ridiculous and definitely stressful for a woman in her mid-70s.

Call it hormone therapy or HRT or hormone replacement or bioidentical hormone replacement - it's all the same thing. You're putting hormones into your body that your body did not create. With the addition of these so-called 'bio-identical' hormones, your body will stop producing hormones of its own, when if left alone, it would continue to produce a small measure of its own hormones. Your own hormones could help your body transition to its permanent post-menopause state of fewer hormones than during all of your life since puberty. Your own hormones could protect your body from osteoporosis and heart disease.

Why do we give away our power to anyone who thinks the answer to a natural life transition involves chemicals? It doesn't make sense.

Now, of course, at this point I've got to agree that hormone replacement almost assuredly has a role to play in our stressed out, toxic world for some people. People who would choose to take a pill every day rather than take a supplement or herb that would nourish their bodies; people who waited too long to seek help and are in a very troubled state of health by the time they show up in their doctor's office wanting a prescription. God love you and protect you ladies. You really let this one get ahead of you didn't you?

And how about the woman who had a hysterectomy for whatever reason and finds herself in a hellish situation because her body has been shocked into premature menopause? My dear, get thee to a doctor for some hormone replacement. You've been through enough already.

As for the rest of us...let's slow down.

Take time to examine your options. Find yourself a practitioner - naturopathic doctor, holistic health practitioner, herbalist, homeopathic doctor, doctor of traditional Chinese medicine - someone you trust who can advise you on your journey through menopause.

Meanwhile all of us, at whatever stage of menopause we're at, can make healthy lifestyle choices to manage menopause. We can nourish ourselves with herbal infusions of oatstraw, stinging nettle, red clover, and/or garden sage. We can choose to eat a piece of dried dulse daily and take a fish oil supplement or a vegan equivalent. Take a daily anti-aging supplement that has Vitamin D, CoEnzymeQ10 and Resveratrol - fantastic for the heart health too. We can cleanse our bodies of toxins on a regular basis so our bodies function like they were meant to.

Take care of yourself woman. Your body is all that's between you and eternity, which you will agree, is a very long time.

Don't present yourself passively to your doctor and say 'do me with those drugs ya' got there doc'. It's not right to take hormones because that's what your friends do - it's irresponsible, and downright dangerous! Look at the alternatives. They exist and they're bountiful! Just look for them!

Honey, menopause is coming. Won't you agree that it's better to embrace menopause and take charge of your own health and wellness, than to medicate yourself into a drug-dependent old age?

Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Still Ideal for Anti-Aging Skin Care?

Would you like to see a cat fight? Just ask two cancer researchers whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) causes cancer. This question certainly provoked several arguments in the medical community this week.

The first feud started once a report in the New England Journal of Medicine linked the decline in breast cancer rates in 2003 to reduced usage of hormone replacement therapy.

After that announcement, the International Menopause Society (IMS) attacked the report's credibility by pointing out shortcomings like "a transient decrease in breast cancer incidence was observed also around 1987-9." And so for the IMS, the ultimate cause of cancer remains questionable-not a definite HRT side effect.

The next tiff to take place over HRT happened once The Lancet unveiled findings from the One Million Women Study. The United Kingdom-based study followed almost 950,000 postmenopausal women for five years to investigate the link between ovarian cancer incidence and HRT usage.

According to the researchers, women who use HRT are at an increased risk of both incident and fatal ovarian cancer.
Then in true fighter spirit, the International Menopause Society discredited this HRT study as well. This time the IMS argued that the Lancet study skewed its numbers and that such ill-derived results, "will inevitably cause further unnecessary distress to the many women who are benefiting from HRT."

It appears the struggles over the safeness of hormone replacement therapy will endure ad infinitum. Meanwhile, should adults continue to use hormone replacement therapy in the mist of possible cancer risks?

If eradicating wrinkles and maintaining your skin's elasticity as long as possible are important to you, then hormone replacement therapy will help you to meet this goal.

For example, postmenopausal women who use hormone therapy for five years or less typically had fewer wrinkles and firmer skin than women who opted not to use the treatment.

Similarly, a study in the journal Dermatology recommended using hormone replacement therapy to counteract the natural loss of facial tissue, or plumpness, which occurs with aging.

Moreover, results from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey discovered the after examining nearly 3,800 postmenopausal women, those using hormone replacement therapy had significantly less wrinkling and skin dryness.

While hormone replacement therapy may sound like a cosmetic redeemer, the battle over the safeness of this controversial therapy continues on a number of fronts. You have your choice of natural, synthetic and bioidentical hormones. Likewise, you have passionate professionals evangelizing the virtues and evils of every variation of estrogen.

Ultimately, the choice to use hormone replacement therapy resides with you the consumer, your health history and your budget. Because, while you are busy browsing over hormones, researchers will still debate whether you are taking cancerous risks or slowing the aging process.

Sources:

Beral, Valerie; Million Women Study Collaborators. Ovarian cancer and hormone replacement therapy in the Million Women Study. The Lancet Early Online Publication; April 19, 2007.

Dunn, LB; M Damesyn, AA Moore, DB Reuben & GA Greendale. Does estrogen prevent skin aging? Results from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I). Archives of Dermatology; March 1997, vol 133, no 3, pp 339 - 342.

International Menopause Society. IMS Reaction to Report on Breast Cancer Incidence in 2003 in US. April 17, 2007.

International Menopause Society. Response to Lancet Paper on Ovarian Cancer in the Million Women Study. April 18, 2007.

Ravdin, Peter M et al. The Decrease in Breast-Cancer Incidence in 2003 in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine; April 19, 2007 vol 356, no 16, pp 1670-1674.

Sator, Paul-G; Jolanta B Schmidt, Thomas Rabe & Christos C Zouboulis. Skin aging and
sex hormones in women - clinical perspectives for intervention by hormone replacement therapy. Experimental Dermatology; December 2004, vol 13, no 4, pg 36-40.

Wolff, Erin F; Deepak Narayan & Hugh S Taylor. Long-term effects of hormone therapy on skin rigidity and wrinkles. Fertility and Sterility; August 2005, vol 84, no 2, pp 285-288.

What Are the Top Natural Sources of HGH That Work?

Human growth hormone is known as the master of all hormones in the body as it controls the process of growth. After attaining a certain age the hormone production declines in the body, which leads to quick aging. It is now possible to provide adequate human growth hormone to the body through hormone therapy or supplements to control the aging process. Apart from hormone therapy, there are some natural ingredients called HGH boosters that can work to enhance the production of this hormone in the body.

Human growth hormone is one of the most complex molecules that is comprised of over 191 amino acids. One of the most vital amino acid is called L-arginine.
L-argninine helps in stimulating HGH production in the body. There are many foods that contain this amino acid naturally, such as turkey, poultry, lean meat, nuts, beans and oatmeal. Including these foods in your daily diet will give you sufficient amounts of this ingredient.

Another important thing about this particular amino acid is that it also helps in increasing nitric oxide levels in blood. This is extremely essential for proper flow of blood to the genitals.

Apart from amino acids, you can also boost the production of HGH in the body by exercising. You don't need top HGH products for real benefit. Instead, you should start exercising regularly to ensure that the flow of blood is not disrupted activity helps in keeping your hormone levels at its optimum. Regular work ensures proper production and flow of HGH. No wonder, sportspersons and athletes look younger!

There are some top HGH products, such as the natural supplements that also helps in increasing the secretion of this hormone in the body. They comprise of amino acids, along with several other ingredients that help in stimulating the pituitary gland to release more HGH.

You will find many such supplements that can boost the levels of HGH naturally. However, you must check the list of ingredients carefully. Some of the top notch ingredients to look out for are GABA, 5HTP, rhosiala rosea and astragalus. You must also look for amino acids like L-tyrosine, L-glutamine, L-valine and L-arginine.

The quality of ingredients determines the effectiveness of a supplement. Hormone supplements should be taken very carefully so as to avoid all side effects. Because hormone supplements contain a lot of synthetic ingredients, it is very important to check the ingredients and understand the concentration to ensure better effect and no side effect.