Men's Health
Men's Health
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Understanding your health risks is one thing; taking action to reduce your risks is another. Make healthy living a part of your daily routine. There are numerous things you can do every day to improve your health and stay healthy, many of which don't take a lot of time and cost very little. We suggest the following healthy lifestyle choices. The impact may be greater than you'll ever know!
Problems with some of the functions listed above can be a normal part of aging, or can result from low testosterone levels secondary to underlying factors including medication side effects, thyroid problems, depression and excessive alcohol use. Laboratory testing is the only way to diagnose a low testosterone level. Hypogonadism is the condition of having low levels of testosterone. Testosterone replacement therapy can improve the signs and symptoms of hypogonadism. |
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At AgeVital Wellness we provide Customized Hormone Therapy for Men.
Andropause - Low Testosterone
Contrary to popular belief, males have their own particular sort of menopause, better known as andropause. Until age 30, testosterone levels remain relatively constant in men, spiking at semi-regular intervals, but afterward, they begin
to decrease. The decline is more gradual than that of the female hormones and is therefore more elusive. This decrease represents a real decline in male health, since testosterone may decrease the risk of heart disease, increase llibido, prevent osteoporosis, and increase lean body mass, while also lowering insulin resistance and decreasing LDL and total cholesterol.
Arguably, testosterone is the male hormone. As men advance in years, the fine balance between testosterone and estrogen begins to lean toward an increase in estrogen production. Luteinizing hormone, a pituitary hormone which stimulates testosterone production, is also decreased by estradiol. So, the result of aging in a male is an overall decrease in the masculine hormone responsible for strength and muscle integrity in favor of the very hormone associated with femininity.
In the past, testosterone therapy was avoided, since it was thought to cause male-pattern baldness, urinary difficulties, and prostate cancer in older men. Meanwhile, it was also well known that it increased vitality, sexual prowess, bone mass, and muscle building in younger men. This led to a more vigorous investigation.
After some significant follow-up research, it was discovered that, while levels of testosterone are emphasized in young men, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) becomes more active with age due to a conversion by an enzyme known as 5-Alpha reductase. This awareness resulted in further discernment regarding testosterone's specific effects in the body.
Subsequent research indicated that this conversion into
DHT led to benign prostatic hypertrophy (a condition. which leads to urinary difficulty). As a result, the FDA approved a chemical solution, known as a b5-alpha reductase inhibitor.
Though the treatment was effective, it unfortunately also led to sexual side effects including impotence, decreased libido, and premature ejaculation. What is worse is that a study at the University of California found that users of such inhibitors had an 800% higher incidence of developing prostrate tumors than men who had no treatment whatsoever.
All of this indicated that the male body was more complex than originally assumed. Upon further observation, it was learned that the average 60-year-old man has a higher estrogen blood profile than does a woman of his same age. Such a revelation was shocking. Even more so, though it is known that estrogen has favorable effects on menopausal women, it was learned that it has the very opposite effect in men. This dangerous conversion is the result of aromatase, which converts both testosterone and androstenedione to estradial.
It is this imbalance between levels of DHT and estradiol that has the potential to also lead to prostate difficulties. Therefore, a complete hormone panel, including total testosterone, DHT, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), estradiol, progesterone, and a PSA test for prostate, must be utilized with trained knowledge to formulate an effective treatment plan in order to facilitate an ease of prostatic inflammation.
While there are several synthetic aromatase inhibitors on the market for prescription, there are also available natural alternatives. For example, chrysin is often used in combination with bio-identical progesterone to inhibit aromatization of testosterone even during direct intramuscular therapy. AgeVital also utilizes saw palmetto, zinc, tribulis terrestris, magnesium, and indoor-3-carbinole to improve proper hormonal balance in males.
AgeVital can taylor specific pharmaceutical compounds for natural testosterone and anti-aromatizers combined specifically for an individual's physiological needs. Call today to facilitate your unique treatment toward your optimal health.
Therapy is Recommened for people who have
- Low levels of testosterone in the blood (less than 600 ng/dl)
- Symptoms of Low Testosterone
Testosterone replacement therapy has the potential to drastically improve quality of life of those who need it. Studies have shown that testosterone-replacement therapy may offer a wide range of benefits for men with hypogonadism, including improved libido, mood, cognition, muscle mass, bone density, and red blood cell production.
Every Man is bio-chemically unique. AgeVital will work together with your health care provider to individualize hormone replacement therapy. We can create hormone medications in the following delivery forms; which will increase compliance, maximize the potential for therapeutic success, and reduce the potential for unwanted side effects.
Prescriptions for:
- Transdermal Creams & Gels • Capsules • Troches
- Sublingual drops • Injection • Pellets • Transdermal patches and more!
- Accurately test the specific hormone levels in your body
- - Evaluate your test results and hormone evaluation worksheet
- Determine the best treatment strategy for you
- Compound the necessary hormones in individualized strengths and dosage forms to meet your unique needs
- Adjust your dosages over time to coordinate them with your natural aging process
What is Testosterone:
Testosterone plays an important role in the health of both men and women. It is essential for creating energy, regulating the immune system, maintaining mental acuity, boosting strength, and regulating libido. A hormone that gives men their characteristic deep voices, large muscles, and both their facial and body hair, distinguishing them from women. During puberty, testosterone prompts the growth of the genitalia, plays a role in producing sperm, fuels libido, and contributes to normal erections. Furthermore, testosterone fosters the production of red blood cells, improves mood, and helps cognition.
Causes and Symptoms of Low Testosterone
As men age, their levels of testosterone begin to decline, usually beginning around the late 30's. This heralds what is commonly known as andropause, the male counterpart to menopause. While this is a natural part of aging, the decline in testosterone production by the testes can be more precipitous in some men than others. Excessive weight gain, stress, lack of exercise, and many medications further contribute to a man's ability to manufacture testosterone, resulting in even lower testosterone levels and leading to symptoms of andropause. Symptoms of androgen deficiency and low testosterone levels are used to establish a diagnosis of hypogonadism ("hypo" meaning low functioning and "gonadism" referring to the testicles).
SOURCES:
Cherrier MM, Asthana MD, Plymale S, et al. Testosterone Supplementation Improves Spatial and Verbal Memory in Healthy Older Men. Neurology 2001 ;57:80--BB. PMID: 11445632. Curr Ural Rep. 2005 Nov;6(6):476-81
lsidori AM, Giannetta E, Greco EA, et al. Effects of Testosterone on Body Composition, Bone Metabolism and Serum Lipid Profile in Middle-aged Men: A Meta-analysis. Clinical Endocrinology2005;63:280-93. PMID:16117815. J Sex Med. 2005 Nov;2(6): 785-92
'Merman M. Sasson R. Davis S. et al. Androgen therapy in women: an Endocrine Society Clinical Practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006.;91(10) 3697-710.