Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy is usually associated with women and menopause, but it’s not limited to replacing estrogen. Men and women can develop hormone imbalances. At Concierge Health and Aesthetics, Leo Kao, MD, specializes in diagnosing hormone-based problems and prescribing hormone replacement therapy to restore balance and ease your symptoms. Dr. Kao offers counseling with multiple options to optimize your hormones including oral, topical, injection, and bioidentical hormone pellet therapy provided by BioTe.
When should women consider hormone replacement therapy?
Women usually start thinking about hormone replacement therapy after they reach menopause. But their symptoms can begin several years before menopause, and even at an early stage, their problems can be severe enough to need treatment.
Hormone replacement therapy can prevent and treat problems that occur when women stop producing estrogen before, during, and after menopause, including:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Mood swings
- Insomnia
- Urinary incontinence
- Vaginal dryness
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Memory problems
After menopause, the loss of estrogen also increases your risk of osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones), dry skin, and weight gain. Hormone replacement therapy also prevents those conditions.
Do men benefit from hormone replacement therapy?
Testosterone levels in men naturally drop by as much as 2% every year after they reach the age of 30. As you lose testosterone, you may have symptoms such as:
- Loss of sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction
- Muscle loss and weakness
- Loss of body and beard hair
- Difficulty concentrating
- Weight gain
In addition to the age-related decline in testosterone, men have a higher risk of developing hypogonadism as they get older. This condition occurs when they don’t produce enough testosterone. In most cases, low testosterone levels are treated with hormone replacement therapy.
What other problems may need hormone replacement therapy?
You may need hormone replacement therapy to treat other imbalances. Blood levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), growth hormone, cortisol, ghrelin, and melatonin decline as you get older. You may also develop endocrine conditions that require hormone replacement therapy, such as thyroid dysfunction.
How do I get hormone replacement therapy?
Dr. Kao reviews your medical history and symptoms, does a physical examination, and then orders blood tests to determine your exact hormone levels. The dose of your hormone replacement therapy is based on the results of your lab work.
While you take hormones, Dr. Kao schedules regular lab work. He checks to see if your hormone levels have returned to normal and whether your dose needs to be adjusted.
Hormone replacement therapy comes in several forms, depending on the type of hormone and your preference. You may have pills, pellets, injections, or topical creams, to name a few of the most common forms.
To learn more about hormone replacement therapy, call Concierge Health and Aesthetics or request an appointment online today.