When many people think about men using testosterone, they almost immediately focus on the negative side effects. Abused by professional athletes, non-professional athletes, students and bodybuilders, testosterone has developed a bad reputation for making men aggressive and having lots of other negative effects. This is too bad, as testosterone has so many positive effects on male health. The Truth About Testosterone Testosterone is critical to human health and essential across the board. Higher levels of testosterone benefit the heart by improving cardiac function. This important hormone also improves function of the brain, muscles, and virtually every organ system. Correct dosing in treatment is important, though. Having just the right amount of testosterone makes a man strong and function optimally. Too much can cause him to be overgrown, while inadequate testosterone … Read More
Top 10 Myths and Misconceptions About Testosterone Treatment in Women
Testosterone treatment is one of the most misunderstood therapies, especially when it comes to testosterone treatment for women. Because testosterone is the main male reproductive hormone, many people are surprised that testosterone is important for female health, too. The myths and misconceptions surrounding testosterone therapy can prevent many women from getting the treatment they need for optimal health and wellness. So let’s set the record straight. Busting the Top 10 Myths and Misconceptions about Testosterone Treatment Myth #1: Testosterone is a ‘male’ hormone and not for women While men do have higher levels of testosterone in the bloodstream, it is a critical hormone for female health. Testosterone is the most abundant biologically active sex steroid hormone in women. In fact, there is about ten times as much testosterone in the … Read More
Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides: The Benefits of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) at a Fraction of the Cost
Peptides are a hot topic these days. Why? Because many peptides are great for burning fat, building muscle, and improving athletic performance. There are thousands of different peptides in the human body, but the one my patients have traditionally been most interested in is human growth hormone, or HGH. HGH is the most over-arching of all the peptide hormones in terms of its benefits. As its name suggests, human growth hormone helps babies and kids grow in height. Low HGH in children can cause dwarfism or short stature syndrome. Giving kids with short stature syndrome HGH during the right stages of growth can help them grow to normal or near-normal height. HGH levels are high until a person is around 18 to 23 years old, which is about the time … Read More
Testosterone is Important to Male Health – But (Surprise!) So is Estrogen
Everyone knows that estrogen is important to women’s health, but did you know that estrogen plays a key role in men’s health? As men reach middle age, the inevitable starts to occur – symptoms of aging set in. These symptoms include changes in sexual function, such as reduced sexual desire and erectile dysfunction, weight gain, and other physical changes. In general, older guys have a hard time keeping up with the younger bucks. Many doctors think that low testosterone is the culprit when it comes to signs of aging in men – and that’s true – but estrogen is actually key to halting these signs of aging as well. The Truth About Estrogen In Men Estrogen is a hormone, which means it works as a chemical messenger to control and … Read More
Changing the Way We View Menopause
I remember growing up with the term “The Change,” and I didn’t quite understand this far-away concept. I’ve heard many stories of women saying things ranging from “Mine lasted ten years, and my family went through hell!” to “I got through mine…no problem!” The elusiveness of this “Change” has now come to smack me right in the face. While I have treated hundreds of women, and heard thousands of stories, I didn’t quite “get” it until “The Change” was right there knocking at my door. Right then and there I had a choice…a choice of how I was going to view this and go through this. While I had been trained about “No man’s land” with regard to the crazy, unpredictable hormonal fluctuations happening in a woman during perimenopause while … Read More
What Do Hormones Have to Do With Weight Loss Anyway?
Many people come to our clinic because they’re frustrated with their weight loss efforts. Our patients often tell us that they sweat and starve for weeks or months with success at first, but that the weight just comes back. Almost everyone is surprised to learn that natural age-related fluctuations in hormones can affect the way their body gains weight and burns fat. About Those Hormones Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. Hormones play a significant role in nearly every bodily function, from controlling reproduction to regulating sleep. Many of these hormones also help control hunger and thirst, and affect the way your body absorbs and uses sugar. Insulin, for example, is directly involved with the way your body cells use sugar. It facilitates the transport of blood sugar (glucose) from … Read More
Depression….The Silent Killer
I saw a recent study in The Journal of Affective Disorders that showed the participants had been on an average of 14 (yes, 14!) psychiatric medications (anti-depressants, anti-anxiety meds, bipolar meds, and/or mood stabilizers) prior to having their thyroid levels checked and treated. Once their thyroid was optimized, their symptoms improved in 84% of them, with 33% having complete resolution of their symptoms. This was an astounding study, and made me reflect on my own struggle with depression. And in light of recent celebrity suicides, I felt compelled to share and speak about the silent killer of depression. The more awareness that’s out there the better, and the more we begin to share our own personal stories and struggles, the less alone people feel. My Personal Journey My struggle with depression … Read More
At What Age Should I Start Thinking About Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Many men and women associate hormonal changes and Hormone Replacement Therapy with being in their 50s or even older. However, hormonal changes often begin much earlier. For this reason, it is important for both men and women to pay close attention to their bodies and begin considering Hormone Replacement Therapy at a younger age if symptoms occur. What Age Should Women Consider Hormone Replacement Therapy? On average, women in the United States go through menopause around the age of 51, but hormones typically begin to change many years before menopause is complete. In fact, many women begin to experience symptoms related to hormonal changes as early as their 30s or 40s. Because these changes are commonly associated with older women, younger women experiencing symptoms often feel strange or worry that … Read More