Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy for men involves the administration of synthetic or bioidentical hormones to keep a man's testosterone, thyroid, DHEA, and cortisol levels within the normal range for his age. Men who suffer from low levels of these hormones can have a number of undesirable health issues that arise from this deficiency. High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels are correlated with low levels of testosterone in men. Hormone replacement therapy can help men with these health issues lower their risk of heart attack, stroke, and type II diabetes, as well as improving their mood and energy levels among other things.

Scientists have recognized that similar to women, men's hormone levels change significantly as they age. Medical professionals refer to the hormonal changes that occur in men as they grow older as "andropause", using bioidentical or synthetic hormones to maintain men's health as they grow older. The influence of hormones in the body is pervasive, rather than system-specific, and so men often experience broad changes in their mood and energy levels as well as their cholesterol and blood pressure levels when they receive hormone replacement therapy.

Hormone replacement therapy involves the diagnosis of hormonal imbalances in men prior to beginning treatment. Men who are diagnosed with a hormonal imbalance may be given synthetic or bioidentical hormone treatments along with dietary and exercise recommendations. An array of nutritional supplements may also be prescribed. Often, men begin to see the positive effects of hormone replacement therapy within one to two weeks. Changes that occur as a result of hormone replacement therapy typically effect a man's physical as well as his emotional well-being.

Hormone replacement therapy for women is a medical procedure that involves the administration of bioidentical or synthetic hormones to treat symptoms of menopause as well as a variety of other health issues that women young and old experience. Hormone replacement therapy includes diagnosis of hormonal imbalance as well as treatment that typically ideally incorporates the use of nutritional supplementation as well as dietary changes, and an exercise program.

After menopause, women's bodies stop producing the same quantity of female hormones leading to profound hormone imbalances that women often experience as night sweats, hot flashes, weight gain, irritability, and loss of libido. A variety of health problems arise following menopause. Though synthetic hormones have been implicated in an increased risk of certain disease, hormone replacement therapy using bioidentical hormones have been correlated with a decreased risk of various health problems including osteoporosis, colorectal cancer, and heart disease.

Hormone replacement therapy is also effective at treating health issues that occur due to hormonal imbalances that precede menopause. High levels of stress have caused some women to experience hormonal imbalance prior to menopause. Young women who have unexplained weight gain, extreme fatigue on a regular basis, and difficulty recovering from illnesses may have adrenal fatigue and benefit from hormone replacement therapy.