Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy
If you watched the January 15, 2009 episode of Oprah and are wondering where you can find a doctor who practices Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement therapy, then look no further!!
And that goes for you men, too, because men and women can both be candidates for Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement. The fact is, aging is directly related to the decline of hormonal levels. The changes are both physical and mental, and include:
- in the skin: thinning; loss of volume; loss of elasticity; loss of collagen
- in the body: changes in fat placement; weakening of the bones; weakening of muscles, overall increase in body fat, insulin resistance, increased susceptibility to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer
- mentally: altered mood, reduction in concentration, sleep, and sex drive
With men, these changes can be much more gradual than with women, so the problem is often unrecognized, but can start as early as the late 30's or early 40's. Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement can reduce the severity and slow the speed of these changes, improving a sense of well-being, mood, energy, and sex drive.
However, it is important to first determine whether hormone replacement is appropriate for the individual.
The usual protocol for starting on Bioidentical Hormone Therapy is as follows:
- You will begin with a combination of saliva testing and blood testing to determine your current homone levels. Apart from the "sex hormones", Dr. De Pieri has found it imperative to also test adrenal and thyroid function. (See his article explaining the relationship between these three functions.)
- We will provide you with an in-depth questionaire which will outline the symptoms you are experiencing, any past medical history which may be contributing to these symptoms, as well as relevant lifestyle factors. At this time you will also have a body composition assessment.
- Your test results are returned to us within a few weeks, at which point Dr. De Pieri will have a thorough discussion with you regarding the results, as well as your history and symptoms. He will make recommendations and in most cases give a prescription for bioidentical hormones. He may also suggest natural supplements and lifestyle modifications.
The Benefits:
- Plant-source hormones
- Balanced specifically to individual needs
- Individual saliva and blood analysis
- Frequent monitoring of individual hormone levels reduces the possibility of over-dosage of any one hormone, and allows for the most favorable results.
As always at The De Pieri Clinic, a full medical assessment is done, to determine if you are a candidate for hormone therapy, based on your personal medical history and family history.
If you are interested but are worried about the risk of using hormones, you can attend an Open House for a nominal fee, to hear directly from Dr. De Pieri. General questions can be brought forward and addressed there. Call and ask when our next Open House is scheduled!
See also: hCG Diet
