Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) counteracts the decline in hormone levels to help you feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and more energized. Hormone therapy has proven to be a great way to get back to a fulfilling life. All types of hormonal therapy are designed with your medical history and lifestyle in mind so you can get the best results.

What is hormone replacement therapy?

Today, HRT therapy is used to improve the health of men and women with low levels of testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen by replacing natural hormones. HRT for women may contain estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone. HRT for men usually contains only testosterone, HGH, and a possible estrogen blocker. Hormone levels in both men and women tend to decline gradually with age, but hormone declines due to illness or injury are also common. HRT comes in the form of tablets, injections, creams, and gels.

What do you need to know about the main symptoms of low hormone levels?

Low Hormone Levels in Men

Testosterone is the male sex hormone that is made in the testicles. Testosterone hormone levels are important to normal male sexual development and functions. Men need testosterone to make sperm. Testosterone levels generally decrease with age, so older men tend to have low blood testosterone levels.

These symptoms or conditions may accompany Low-T:

• Low sex drive
• Fatigue
• Reduced lean muscle mass
• Irritability
• Erectile dysfunction
• Depression
• There are many other possible reasons for these symptoms, such as opioid use, some congenital conditions (medical conditions you are born with), loss of or harm to the testicles, diabetes, and obesity (being overweight). See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

Low Hormone Levels in Women

Many changes during the years leading up to menopause (perimenopause) are brought on by changing levels of hormones produced by the ovaries, mainly estrogen and progesterone.

Symptoms of low estrogen and progesterone may include the following:

• Irregular periods: Estrogen is one of the main hormones driving the menstrual cycle. Low estrogen may lead to missed or irregular periods.
• Infertility: Low progesterone levels can prevent ovulation and make getting pregnant difficult, leading to infertility.
• Weak bones: Estrogen helps keep the bones healthy and strong. As estrogen levels decrease, bone loss may occur. For example, women who are post-menopausal are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures.
• Painful intercourse: Progesterone can affect vaginal lubrication. If levels become too low, vaginal dryness can occur, which often leads to painful sex.
• Hot flashes: Hot flashes often happen during menopause due to low estrogen levels.
• Depression: Estrogen is thought to increase serotonin, which is a chemical in the brain that boosts mood. Estrogen deficiency may cause a decline in serotonin that contributes to mood swings or depression.
• Increase in urinary tract infections: Increased urinary tract infections may occur due to the thinning of the tissue in the urethra, which can develop with decreased progesterone.

Types of HRT in our Clinic

Testosterone Therapy

Testosterone is the hormone responsible for the development of male external genitalia and secondary sexual characteristics. It’s produced by the testicles. Testosterone also contributes to vitality and well-being. As men age, their bodies gradually produce less testosterone. This natural decline starts around age 30 and continues throughout the rest of a man’s life.

Human Growth Hormone Therapy

Human growth hormone (HGH) is a complex protein naturally produced by your pituitary gland near the brain. This protein directly controls the metabolic rate of cells to reproduce and repair cells, primarily to maintain a healthy body. The human growth hormone (HGH) helps to influence height, as well as build bones and muscles in the body. It is crucial for processes involved in normal human growth and development.

Estrogen Therapy

Estrogen therapy, a form of hormone replacement therapy, is a useful way of combating the uncomfortable symptoms that often accompany menopause. Roughly 1.5 million women between the ages of 45 and 55 experience menopausal symptoms, which often involve hot flashes, flushing, and night sweats, also known as vasomotor symptoms. Estrogen therapy is a treatment for symptomatic menopausal women experiencing distressing symptoms. Without it, a third of women experience at least itching, irritation, dryness, and dyspareunia, leading to decreased quality of life.

Thyroid Therapy

Thyroid hormone therapy is the use of manmade thyroid hormones to raise abnormally low levels of natural thyroid hormones in the body. Thyroid hormone is usually given in pill form and is often used to treat an underactive thyroid that is secreting little or no thyroid hormones.

Peptide Therapy

Peptides may be used to complement your HRT program, but are not considered true forms of HRT.
Peptide Therapy is an exciting, cutting-edge medical science that uses specific amino acid sequences called “peptides” that, when properly administered, communicate with different parts of the body, potentially enhancing the function of the entire body by binding to receptors on the cell surface and signaling optimal messages for health improvement.

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHRT)

BHRT can be used to treat men and women when their hormone levels drop or become unbalanced. It’s most frequently used to ease symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. It may also be used to improve symptoms of cancer treatment. Bioidentical hormones are manmade hormones derived from plant estrogens that are chemically identical to those the human body produces. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are among those most commonly replicated and used in treatment.

HRT programs in our Estrogen Therapy Clinic have provided our patients with the following benefits:

Reduction in vasomotor symptoms

HRT is the most effective treatment at reducing vasomotor symptoms.
Vasomotor symptoms are usually improved within four weeks of starting treatment and maximal benefit is gained by three months.
There has been shown to be a significant mean reduction in the frequency of hot flushes by around 18 a week and in the severity of hot flushes by 87% compared with placebo.

Improvement in quality of life

HRT can also improve sleep, muscle aches and pains, and quality of life in symptomatic women and men.

Improvement in mood changes

HRT can improve mood and also depressive symptoms.

HRT should be considered to alleviate the low mood that arises as a result of menopause or hypogonadism.

Improvement of urogenital symptoms

Various studies have shown that HRT significantly improves vaginal dryness and sexual function.
HRT is effective in improving the symptoms related to vaginal atrophy.
HRT can also relieve the symptoms of urinary frequency, as it has a proliferative effect on the bladder and urethral epithelium.
Topical estrogen is effective in improving urinary symptoms in menopausal women.
Vaginal symptoms are improved, vaginal atrophy and pH decrease and there is improved epithelial maturation with topical estrogen preparations compared to placebo or non-hormonal gels.

Reduction in osteoporosis risk

HRT is the first-line treatment for the prevention and management of osteoporosis in women and men with symptoms who are under the age of 50 years.
HRT should be considered in those women and men at high risk of fracture if there are no contra-indications to HRT.
The bone protection qualities of HRT are dose-related. However, even low doses give some bone protection.
HRT rapidly normalizes turnover and preserves BMD at all skeletal sites, leading to a significant reduction in vertebral and non-vertebral fractures.
Although bone density declines after discontinuation of HRT, some studies have demonstrated that women and men who take HRT for a few years may have a long-term protective effect for many years after stopping HRT.

Reduction in cardiovascular disease

Taking HRT can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Taking HRT has been shown to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease by around 50%.

Other benefits

• HRT has a positive effect on collagen as well as bone. Taking HRT leads to a decreased osteoclastic resorption.
• There is evidence to support the beneficial effects of HRT on the maintenance and enhancement of muscle mass, strength, and connective tissue.
• Hormones have positive effects on hormonal aging, increasing skin collagen content, thickness, elasticity, and hydration. HRT may also improve wound healing and reduce the incidence of wound complications.
• There is a possible reduction in the long-term risk of Alzheimer’s disease and all-cause dementia in those women and men who take HRT.
• The hormonal fluctuations can be stabilized with HRT, often leading to improvements in their migraine symptoms.

If you have any questions, please use our contact form for qualified consultation.