Freedom Age : Bio Identical Hormone Replacement : MYTH VS FACT

Hormones are the “juice of life” and we cannot enjoy good health unless we restore our hormones to optimum levels. Some hormones have gotten a bad rap mostly for political reasons or poor science. Testosterone and Growth hormone developed a bad reputation after the USA lost terribly to Russia in the Olympic Games many years ago. The Russians were using these substances to improve their athletes’ performance long before US physicians and Sport Authorities had heard of them- there was no drug testing at this time.

The “hysteria” since this event among professional athletes has still not subsided. Clearly if a person has Type 1 Diabetes or Hypothyroidism, most physicians will replace the deficient insulin or thyroid with the missing hormone. However Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy can treat many of these metabolic disorders. We advise only natural Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) where no synthetic hormones like progestins or premarin are used, but only hormones identical to what the body produces are used by well-trained Age Management Physicians.

Take the test in table 1 or 2. If you answer yes to three or more questions you may need to be tested and take Bio-identical hormones to optimize your health.

Table 1

Table 2                                                                                                      

As we know more than two thirds of all deaths involve the vascular endothelium, Signals, especially from hormones, act on the endothelium to exert specific functions. Also we know after the age of 30 we begin to lose our hormones by 2-3% each year. Hormones are the “Juice of life”. Without correcting the hormone level to the age of a 25-30 year old male or female, we cannot enjoy optimum health and prevent chronic disease.

For example testosterone is important for sugar and fat metabolism. The majority of men who are obese and have diabetes have little or no testosterone.  Without testosterone you cannot reverse diabetes, lose weight or build muscle. A low thyroid is another common problem as mentioned. Routine blood tests are very inaccurate in diagnosing an underactive thyroid (hypothyroid). Without also correcting the thyroid balance, it is nearly impossible to lose weight. Many of the other hormones also play an important role in reversing cardio –metabolic disease. Several studies have shown that statins lower testosterone and can cause erectile dysfunction as well as lower oxytocin and serotonin levels.

There is much misinformation and ignorance about andropause and menopause. As long as you replace your hormone levels with natural Bioidentical Hormones (BHRT) there is no problem especially if you are monitored by a trained physician. We do not advise using synthetic hormone replacement (HRT) at any time.

Hormone replacement has many other positive effects besides helping your libido. Vitality, mood, skin, weight, bones, memory, energy, sleep and sense of wellbeing are all improved.

Dr Kalpana Gupta Shekhawat

MBBS, DNB,DFM,MD Clinical Nutrition, CNCB, TEXAS,USA

Functional & Regenerative Medicine Specialist

BHRT Consultant (American Anti-ageing Medicine)