A shift in hormones is a normal part of aging and happens to men everywhere. Unfortunately, these shifts can bring with them unwanted changes that can leave you exhausted, feeling lackluster about daily activities, and with a reduced sex drive. In some cases, they can even cause health concerns. Male Clinic USA in Pasadena, California can offer a wide range of hormone therapy treatments to suit your lifestyle and get you feeling like yourself again. If you’re ready to discover the benefits of these treatments, read on!
Hormone Therapy FAQs: What Are the Signs You Should Get Treatment?
To figure out if any of these treatments are right for you, you’ll need to look out for warning signs of shifting hormones, which can cause any number of frustrating changes in your lifestyle. A common experience is sleep being affected: are you suffering from chronic fatigue or having trouble falling and staying asleep? Perhaps you’ve noticed a loss of libido or a decrease in sex drive, or sexual dysfunction. Many men observed an unexplainable loss of muscle mass or weight gain or suffer from dramatic mood swings or even depression.
Even more signs you should be on the lookout for include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Struggling to exercise or a decrease in strength
- Body and facial hair loss
- An inability to partake in previously enjoyed hobbies
- Affected memory
A Partial List
The unfortunate reality is that this list is hardly exhaustive, and a change of hormones can creep up on you and lead to a whole host of problems. What’s also difficult is that it can affect those around you – your mood swings can upset others, and an ill-functioning sex drive can be a burden on your love life.
If you’re encountering any of the above, or have been constantly feeling as though you’re coming down with something, it may be time to consult with our team. In doing so, you can figure out if they’re being caused by shifts in hormone production and learn about which treatments could help you most.
What Are Hormones?
Hormones are messengers in the body that control and influence many of your vital functions. These include testosterone, which is responsible for things like muscle development, bone mass, and hair growth, and human growth hormones (HGH), which help to maintain body structure and metabolism.
Natural declines in essential hormones can lead to negative health experiences and upset your daily life. These can be physical or mental changes and can range from minor inconveniences to more serious concerns.
What Is Hormone Therapy?
Hormone therapy is a variety of treatments that can manage fluctuating hormone levels and restore them. Essentially, you can add some hormones to your body and, in doing so, restore and replace what should have been there naturally!
There are several methods of treatment, and all are designed to remedy different specific concerns. These include Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), Growth Hormone Replacement (GHR), and the use of Anabolic Steroids. All these approaches have undergone scrupulous testing to ensure they’re completely safe for patients and have led to overwhelmingly positive results as patients find they’re able to get back to their normal selves.
Why Are My Hormones Shifting?
A big factor in vacillating hormones is age. Some studies indicate that when a man reaches about 40, he’s experiencing about a 1% decrease in testosterone per year. It’s a natural part of aging, but that doesn’t mean it can’t affect your overall health and well-being or at least interfere with aspects of daily life. Medical conditions can also be the root of the problem; there may be an issue with the pituitary gland, which controls hormone production, or in the testicles.
Low testosterone levels, or low-T, is incredibly common in aging men and is diagnosed in 40% of men over 45. Inborn causes of low testosterone include Klinefelter syndrome and Noonan syndrome. It can also be caused by Type 2 diabetes or obesity. These factors can affect men of all ages.
By consulting with our team, you can determine exactly what the problem is, what the cause is, and how to best address it.
What Happens Before Treatment?
Prior to any treatments, we ask that patients come in for an initial consultation. We will closely examine your medical history, perform a comprehensive physical examination, and do a blood test to measure testosterone levels.
We’ll also discuss your lifestyle and unique situation. Be prepared for questions about any past injuries and a history of illnesses in the family, and even about your development during puberty.
How Does Treatment Work?
This is a highly customized and personal treatment. Our team works with patients to develop a treatment plan that suits the needs of the individual and addresses specific concerns.
Within these customized plans, there are many different ways treatment can be carried out. A lot of men treating low testosterone opt for a skin gel, which is applied to arms or shoulders and absorbs into the skin over several hours. Another skin-focused option is applying a patch on the thigh or torso daily. A patient who doesn’t have time for a patch may be interested in an implantable pellet, which is placed under the skin every three to six months.
Some treatments require regular injections, often performed by the patient themselves or their partners. There are capsule options, nasal sprays, and even insertion via the buccal cavity in your gum! Ultimately, the exact method of treatment will depend on what form of therapy is right for you.
What Results Can I Expect Following Treatment?
Treatments will offer varying results depending on what concerns they were targeting. Many patients can enjoy better cognition and improvements in mood and energy levels. Many men enjoy a restored sex drive and better quality erections.
Looking to address more serious health concerns? Depending on the initial symptoms and concerns, patients might show an increase in bone density and muscle mass, and often lose weight. Men suffering from anemia can see an improvement in hemoglobin levels.
When Will I Be Able to See Results?
As everyone reacts to hormones at a different rate, the exact timeframe varies from man to man; some men see results right away, while others notice changes after the body has had time to better absorb the hormones. Many men show signs of improvement six to eight weeks after treatment. Often, some symptoms will disappear quickly, and others will reduce gradually.
What Are the Different Types of Hormone Therapy?
There are several methods of treatment that can combat low testosterone or a shift in hormones. Different treatments target different problems, whether that’s low testosterone or an adult growth hormone deficiency. A consultation will allow us to identify the specific concern and recommend the most suitable treatment.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)
This is a very common treatment for men who suffer from low testosterone levels, generally over the age of 40. It offers testosterone replacement supplements in various forms
Low-T can cause anemia (low iron) and alopecia (hair loss). A particularly alarming symptom is a loss of calcium in bones, which can lead to reduced bone density. This can amount to a greater risk of injury, or even death, if you fall over.
This treatment can also be used to diminish the risk of strokes and heart attacks by a third. While it doesn’t “reverse” the aging process, TRT can provide a solution to many problems traditionally associated with getting older, such as memory loss and a loss of libido. Many men incorporate it into their wellness and treatment regime in conjunction with a healthy and active lifestyle.
Many men worry that TRT will cause them to become more aggressive, but they needn’t worry. Aggression as a side-effect only occurs when testosterone is taken when testosterone levels are already balanced. Research also shows there is no increase in the risk of prostate cancer among men who undergo TRT.
Growth Hormone Replacement (GHR)
This method is used to remedy adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD), which is often caused by hypopituitarism (an underactive functioning of the pituitary gland). It can adversely affect the cardiovascular, metabolic, and skeletal systems, amongst other things. Growth hormones also impact your body’s response to insulin. It’s a treatment suited to candidates experiencing a decline in growth hormones.
This treatment begins with testing the body’s response to insulin. It may involve daily injections of somatotropin, a hormone that stimulates growth and cell reproduction. Patients usually perform these injections themselves, although our doctors closely monitor both hormone levels, and other body levels, such as bone density and glucose levels, during monthly visits.
If left untreated, AGHD can lead to osteoporosis and high cholesterol. This treatment can, on occasion, be used alongside other treatments if recommended by our doctors.
Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances that resemble testosterone. In acting in the same way as testosterone, anabolic steroids can treat hormone imbalances and restore lost hormones. This treatment can be used to rectify concerns such as chronic wounds, osteoporosis, and severe burns.
Am I a Good Candidate for Hormone Therapy?
If you’re worried about how shifting hormones are affecting your body and lifestyle, you may benefit from hormone therapy. In particular, these treatments are recommended to men who have experienced andropause. Candidates must be willing to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet whilst undergoing treatment, and able to follow through on any aspects of treatment that require a routine, such as taking capsules or applying a gel.
These treatments aren’t right for everyone. For instance, men who have been diagnosed with low testosterone are not suitable candidates for Testosterone Replacement Therapy. If you have an existing medical condition such as sleep apnea, an untreated heart condition, or prostate or breast cancer, you must let us know during your initial consultation. Transparency with our team is the key to ensuring the safest treatment possible.
Things like an inability to sleep can also be the result of mental health issues such as depression. This is why a consultation is a critical first step – we have to understand your lifestyle and any existing health and wellness concerns.
Schedule a Consultation Today
It doesn’t matter if you have health concerns, or just want to see an improvement in your quality of life – if you’re seeing the signs of imbalanced hormones and want to rectify this, now is the time to act. Contact our qualified team at Male Clinic USA in Pasadena, California today to book in a consultation, and get ready to feel happier, healthier, and more like yourself again in no time!
