Natural Hormone Optimization

What causes hormone imbalances?

Today, human hormone levels are totally fucked up! Everyone is being exposed to endocrine disruptors that inhibit optimal levels of many different hormones, especially testosterone.

Endocrine disruptors are synthetic chemicals that interfere with the body’s endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immunological effects in humans and wildlife.

A wide range of synthetic substances causes endocrine disruption, including pharmaceutical products. Endocrine disruptors may be found in many everyday products– including anything made from plastic–especially plastic bottles—as well as metal food cans, detergents, flame retardants, food, toys, cosmetics, pesticides, and herbicides.

 

Endocrine disruptors can:

  • Mimic naturally occurring hormones in the body like estrogens (the female sex hormones), androgens (the male sex hormones), and thyroid hormones, resulting in abnormal stimulation or inhibition.
  • Bind to a receptor within a cell and block the endogenous–naturally produced–hormone from binding. The normal signal then fails to occur and the body fails to respond properly. Examples of chemicals that block or antagonize hormones are anti-estrogens (xenoestrogens) and anti-androgens.
  • When absorbed in the body, an endocrine disruptor can decrease or increase normal hormone levels (left), mimic the body’s natural hormones (middle), or alter the natural production of hormones (right).
  • Endocrine disruptors typically reduce the optimal production of steroid hormones, especially testosterone.
  • Abnormally low levels of testosterone are now being found in virtually all males–including teenagers and young men in their 20s–as well as many females.

Men

Xenoestrogens can cause chemical castration in men.

Symptoms include: low energy, fatigue, low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, low sperm production, infertility, mood swings, loss of muscle, weakness, increased belly fat and man boobs, poor recovery from exercise and normal stress, sleep disorders, memory problems, brain fog, poor concentration, depression, osteopenia, and osteoporosis.

These symptoms used to only show up in men who were well into their 50s and older. This is no longer the case. Today we are seeing many of these symptoms in men in their 20s or even teenage years.

Women:

Xenoestrogens also reduce testosterone levels in women.

Symptoms include: low energy, fatigue, low sex drive, infertility, mood swings, loss of muscle, weakness, increased belly fat, poor recovery from exercise and normal stress, sleep disorders, memory problems, brain fog, poor concentration, depression, osteopenia, osteoporosis and increased rates of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer in younger women.

These symptoms used to only show up in women when they reached menopause, usually in their early 50s and older. Today we see many of these symptoms–with corresponding menopausal levels of testosterone–in women in their 20s.

What is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)?

BHRT is the use of bioidentical hormones to alleviate symptoms from low levels of your naturally produced endogenous hormones. Bioidentical hormones are plant-derived hormones that are biologically identical to the hormones our bodies produce. BRHT can be used in many different forms: oral pills, topical creams and gels, and sublingual troches

Why / When is BHRT beneficial?
It is beneficial to use BHRT when your endogenous hormone levels become sufficiently low enough to produce the symptoms described above.
How is it used?
BHRT is used to supplement your endogenous hormones to raise them enough to eliminate symptoms and improve overall health and performance. Supplementation can be achieved with oral pills, topical creams and sublingual troches and injections. We never use pellets as it is not possible to make the necessary dosage adjustments to properly achieve optimal levels of endogenous hormones.
When are results noticeable?
You will usually begin to notice improvement and reduction of symptoms 3-4 weeks after beginning BHRT.
Why is Clomid used in testosterone-deficient young men instead of BHRT?
Testosterone should not be given to young (20-40 years old) men who have low levels of testosterone. Exogenous testosterone will actually cause them to make less of their own testosterone.

Clomid blocks the xenoestrogens that are causing their low testosterone and will allow these young men to make optimal amounts of their own testosterone.

Is BHRT safe?
BRHT is extremely safe. Generally, negative side effects only occur if the hormones are dosed too high. Supraphysiological levels of bioidentical estrogen may cause vaginal bleeding and/or nipple and/or breast tenderness. Too much testosterone may result in poor impulse control.

What are the next steps?

If you have symptoms of low/sub-optimal levels of hormones, the first step is to get a full blood panel of all your hormones–Dr. Walters will order these tests through a major laboratory who will then bill your insurance company.

If you do not have insurance, Dr. Walters (he offers a discounted cash price) will draw the blood in his clinic and send it to Access Medical Laboratory for analysis.

Then, schedule an appointment with Dr. Walters who will discuss and interpret the lab results and make appropriate recommendations.

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