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Do I Need Hormones?. Dr Johnnie Ham, MD Coastal Prestige Medical Services and Clinic Pismo Beach, California. What are Hormones?. Hormones are BioChemical Messengers Hormones control numerous functions in the body One of the Two Major Controllers in your body. Unique Targets.
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Do I Need Hormones? Dr Johnnie Ham, MD Coastal Prestige Medical Services and Clinic Pismo Beach, California
What are Hormones? • Hormones are BioChemical Messengers • Hormones control numerous functions in the body • One of the Two Major Controllers in your body
Focus on the Major Sex Hormones • Estrogen • Estradiol – the major player • Estrone – less active, post-menopausal • Estriol – the pregnancy estrogen • Progesterone • “pro” “gestational” • Testosterone
Estradiol • Performs over 240 functions in the body • In contrast, Testosterone performs about 110; Thyroid Hormone performs about 15 • Produced by the month’s stimulated follicles in the ovary • So, no stimulated follicles, no estradiol
Testosterone • improves oxygen uptake throughout the body • controls blood sugar • regulates cholesterol • increases lean body mass • prevents osteoporosis • maintains immune function • maintains cardiac functions • Stimulates neurological function and repair
Prevalence of Hypogonadism Using Bioavailable Testosterone and Free Androgen IndexFrom Morley JE, Perry HM. Andropause: an old concept in new clothing. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine 2003; Vol 19, No 3.
Symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency in Women AND Men • Decreased or absent libido • Erectile or Sexual dysfunction • Decreased muscle mass • Decreased muscle strength • Osteoporosis • Heart disease • Sleep disorders • Memory failure • Irritability • Decreased energy level • Mood swings • Depression • Anxiety • Increased pain • Cold intolerance • Decreased self-confidence • Decreased cognition • Loss of sense of well-being
Serum testosterone (a) and free testosterone concentrations (b) in patients receiving testosterone gel 5 (closed circles), 7.5(closed squares), and 10g/d(closed triangles). The dotted lines represent the adult male reference range Jockenhovel F et al. The good, the bad, and the unknown of late onset hypogonadism: the urological perspective. Journal of Men’s Health and Gender. September 2005, Vol 2, No. 3.
Is there anything I can do without taking hormones? • Lots…. • Exercise • Diet • Herbal Supplements • Stress Reduction techniques • Chiropractic care • Massage therapy
Managing Hormones Basic Level • Start with symptoms • Educate on risks, benefits, alternatives • Begin therapy, monitor the results • Incrementally add or subtract whatever is needed for your personal desired effect • Once everything is “perfect” then measure to get a baseline • Generally, using Estradiol, Testosterone, and sometimes progesterone
How much does it Cost? • If not covered by insurance: • Testosterone and estradiol cream thru the Women’s International Pharmacy is $19.50 per month each • Most insurance companies cover estradiol for women and testosterone for men, including MediCare • Most men are willing to pay $19.50 for testosterone for their wives…
More Info? • Strongly Recommend: • “Perfect Balance” by Dr Robert Greene, featured on Oprah, bestseller • “The Life Extension Revolution” by Philip Lee Miller, MD, Los Gatos Longevity Center • “Natural Hormone Balance for Women” by Uzzi Reiss, UCLA • Caution – be careful about what you read on the Internet!