Safe Hormone Replacement

By Alan S. Weiss, MD

Annapolis Integrative Medicine

. http://www.annapolisintegrativemedicine.com/

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Safe Hormone Replacement

Part Two
In my last article, I introduced the concept and reasoning behind the use of bio-identical hormone replacement. In this article I will go into a bit more depth about the various hormones that are available and their uses.
Bio-identical hormone replacement is an approach where the natural hormonal status of a man or woman is optimized to allow for health and well being in the safest possible way using the lowest effective dose.
This is done by using hormones that are chemically and molecularly identical to the hormones that are already in the human body. It is important to draw this distinction because many of the hormones that have been studied and that (legitimately) aroused concern about the safety of hormone therapy have been hormones that are synthetic and do not necessarily belong in the human body and do not promote optimal health.
There are various means of hormone replacement. Oral capsules and pills have been used for a long time but are not necessarily the best or safest route. I prefer to use topical creams or gels, patches, and sometimes injections especially with testosterone.
While some women do very well in menopause with just a few symptoms, many others have a very difficult time with it and some are nearly incapacitated. The majority of symptoms are due to estrogen deficiency. Treating the symptoms of menopause with safe and effective doses of estrogen, progesterone, and in some testosterone, can make a very big difference in how a woman navigates menopause. Positive results include improvement in sleep, decrease in hot flashes and night sweats, heightened libido and sexual pleasure, and often simply a greater sense of well being. As well, judicious use of hormones can improve cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and bone health.
Testosterone is the main sex hormone in men and low levels are fairly common as men enter into their 50s and beyond. And, it is not just about sexual performance. Men who have low testosterone levels are at a higher risk of dying from many causes than are men with normal levels of testosterone. Symptoms and signs of low testosterone are fatigue, loss of muscle mass, low libido, elevated cholesterol and it can play a role in the development of diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. By replacing this hormone to an optimal level a man can experience heightened vitality and well-being, often in a very surprising way. This can be done by utilizing creams, gels, patches or injections.
DHEA is an adrenal hormone, which when low, can contribute to fatigue and poor exercise capacity. DHEA replacement can also be useful in treating lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Growth hormone can become deficient in adults and contribute to fatigue and weight gain. Judicious replacement can often make a remarkable difference.
The choice to utilize the option of hormone therapy is an individual one and should be reviewed with a physician that is experience and that you trust. Using the lowest effective dose can make an enormous difference in ones health.