Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men

A decline in hormones in men, mainly due to age, leads to a condition called andropause, or male menopause. There are a number of hormones involved in causing andropause. The most important among them are testosterone, thyroid, and adrenal hormones.

The reasons behind the fall of these hormones can be a result of injury to or infection in the testicles, thyroid or adrenal glands, alcoholism, chemotherapy, genetic abnormalities (e.g. Klinefelter's syndrome), cirrhosis, AIDS, or some chronic illness. Andropause begins in the late-twenties. Most men start experiencing andropause symptoms by the age of 35.

Symptoms of Andropause

• Decrease in mental alertness
• Decrease in sexual activity
• Decrease in energy level
• Decreased muscle tone
• Weight gain
• Night sweats and sleeping disorders
• Mood Swings

The condition can be postponed or delayed by taking a supply of responsible hormones from an outside source. There are synthetic hormones available in the market, which can be taken with a physician's recommendation.

They are available in the form of patches, pellets, tablets, and topical creams. Still, synthetic hormones are chemically different from the natural ones, and thus, can produce numerous side-effects.

Side-Effects of Synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy

• Peliosis Hepatis (formation of blood filled cysts in lever and kidneys)
• Excessive water retention, which further strains the liver and kidneys
• High blood pressure
• Decrease in good cholesterol level

• Jaundice
• Difficulty in urination due to prolonged prostate enlargement
• Increase in depression and aggression
• Heart diseases

It is advisable to opt for natural hormone therapy. In this, the hormones are derived from plants.

Such hormones are bio-identical with the ones that the body produces, hence, the name bio-identical hormones. This therapy is also devoid of any side-effects.

Get a hormone analysis of your body. The medical practitioner will take samples of your blood, saliva or urine, to determine the levels of various hormones. As a result, you will get precise measurements of testosterone, adrenal, and thyroid hormones. This will help the doctor identify the hormone whose level is low in your body.

In addition to the hormonal levels, your health care provider will also consider some other facts related with you to design a program for the therapy. These can be your height, metabolic rate, diet, weight, genetic inheritance, daily stress, exposure to environmental toxins, protein synthesis, etc.

The doctor will give you a prescription of bio-identical hormones. The therapy can be either in the form of an injection or a patch. You can get the drugs from a compound pharmacy.

You need to take the recommended dosage of each bio-identical hormones up to a period of three months, or as prescribed by your doctor. In case you suspect some problem with the dosage, consult your doctor for the necessary changes. After the completion of three months, the doctor will again ask you for a hormonal analysis.

Treating male menopause with natural hormone replacement therapy is safe and effective, when diagnosed rightly and monitored regularly. Therefore, opt for it, but under the supervision of a registered medical professional.