Hormones & Men: The Facts
Hormone Replacement - What, Why, and How?
Male hormone replacement therapy:
We do not take chances with your health. We test you and a licensed doctor trained in our hormone protocol will meet with you and supervise your therapy.
We do not send you hormones and forget about you. We periodically retest you and instigate follow up conferences with your doctor to be sure you are safely meeting your objectives. In addition to testosterone and growth hormone, we test, and if necessary, suppress excess estrogen, and replace thyroid and DHEA. We do this because these are critically important hormones.
Most other programs do not measure or treat estrogen or thyroid. Excess estrogen is dangerous in men and needs to be controlled. (see below) Thyroid is critical in its own right but also critical in the effective performance of other hormones.
Testosterone levels in men:
We manage your hormones to the upper end of the "normal" lab ranges. Laboratory ranges are determined by testing both sick and healthy men. To produce a change in how you feel, your levels should be managed to the upper end or "healthy" end of the lab tested range. To illustrate: if you were to go to a doctor that is not familiar with hormone therapy he might tell you that "your total testosterone of 300ng/dl is in the normal range of 240 - 1100ng/dl" and that "you are fine". What he should have said is "you are at the lower end of the range; you are suffering the effects of andropause. We need to raise your levels to over 700ng/dl so you can be and feel healthy again".
Replacement is effective because receptor sites for hormones within the body remain viable as we age - only the hormones decline. Hormone replacement is simple, effective and safe.
Board-certified physicians near where you live will manage your therapies. We test and replace testosterone, thyroid, growth hormone and DHEA. It is all about balance. Hormones cannot be looked at in individual isolation because of the interplay between them. Hormones balanced at healthy levels results in healthy aging. Hormones may be replaced separately or in any combination. In combination there is an additive effect meaning each hormone works best with healthy levels of other hormones.
Hormones alone will not give you the body of a thirty-year-old; however, if you watch your diet and take part in moderate exercise, the body of a thirty-year-old is very possible. Conversely, healthy hormones will make your efforts in diet and exercise much more productive.
Testosterone replacement therapy side effects: Testosterone side effects: Testosterone therapy side effects:
If done correctly testosterone replacement is safe and there should be no negative side effects.
In replacing hormones we rely on two things that are critical and of equal importance to safety and achieving results:
- The results of your lab testing
- What you tell the doctor about your symptoms.
Here's how the reNEW MAN program works:
- When paperwork is completed, you will have lab tests conducted at a location near your home
- You will see the doctor who will write your prescriptions
- You will begin taking the hormone prescriptions
- Retesting is done at 45 to 60 days to check hormone levels and safety
- Doctor adjusts prescriptions based on new lab tests and how you are feeling
- Retesting is then done every six months and treatment is adjusted accordingly.
Why is testing/retesting so important?
As men age and hormones decline, men will often lose muscle and gain fat. Fat contains an enzyme call aromatase . Aromatase works to convert testosterone to estrogen. Elevated estrogen depresses sex drive and is dangerous, particularly to the prostate. We counter this by increasing testosterone and suppressing estrogen as necessary. Over the course of three to six months of healthy hormones and good lifestyle, men will lose fat, regain muscle and as a result cease to have a conversion problem. This could not be assessed or managed without testing and retesting.
At the start of the program we check the individual's PSA (prostate) levels. Results usually reflect no problem. In rare cases, however, when we start testosterone the PSA will jump to a level that suggests there is a problem. In such cases we immediately deal with the issue. This would go undetected if retesting were not done.
If levels rise too high, it can cause your natural hormone system to shut down. Retesting picks this up and adjustments can be made.
Men will sometimes say they feel great but their sex drive is still not at an acceptable level. By retesting we can make adjustments and often solve the problem.
How are hormones taken?
Testosterone cream
Testosterone injections
Testosterone is taken by applying a topical testosterone cream twice daily or by giving yourself testosterone injections twice per week. We discuss each method to help you make your choice.
Thyroid and DHEA are taken by pill each day.
Growth hormone is taken by daily injection with a very small needle.
If it is necessary to suppress estrogen it is easily done by taking a small pill as necessary.
ReNEW MAN will "renew" your life!
You can change your life and improve your quality of life by simply improving hormone levels and making some basic changes in your lifestyle. Those who replace hormones and then go home and sit on the couch and munch carbohydrates may feel better but will be overall disappointed. Raising hormones is like changing a television set with vacuum tubes to one with transistors and printed circuitry. Good diet and exercise can be likened to the electricity you put through the TV.
Replacing testosterone, thyroid and DHEA for any man age 40 or older is a "no-brainer." It is simply the best action a man can take to achieve significantly improved quality of life.
The decision to replace growth hormone is part therapeutic and part economic. Growth hormone is a safe, wonderful hormone and should absolutely be used if it can be done within your economic means.
Lastly, reNEW MAN offers a quality program that utilizes real doctors and good therapeutic techniques. Don't take chances with your health.
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