Aging Isn't The Only Cause Of Low Testosterone: How Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Can Help With Hypogonadism
Posted on: 19 March 2020
Men's bioidentical hormone therapy is most commonly associated with older men who have decreased testosterone levels due to aging. However, that's not the only application where hormone therapy can be a useful therapeutic tool. Men who have hypogonadism also have low levels of testosterone, and this can happen at any age.
Replacing testosterone with its bioidentical equivalent can help reduce the common symptoms of depression, fatigue, and erectile dysfunction. If you think that you may have hypogonadism, read on to find out more about the condition and how men's bioidentical hormone therapy can help.
What Causes Hypogonadism?
There are two forms of hypogonadism, and men's bioidentical hormone therapy can help treat both.
The first type is called primary hypogonadism, and it's caused when your testicles fail to produce enough testosterone. This type is typically congenital, which means that you're born with it. Men who have primary hypogonadism often realize they have it when they never go through puberty — without any production of testosterone, the changes that occur during puberty won't happen. However, it can also sometimes occur later in life due to a severe testicular injury.
The second type is called secondary hypogonadism. In this form of hypogonadism, your testicles are normal and fully capable of producing testosterone. However, they rely on signals sent from the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in order to begin production. If there's a problem with the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus, they may not send the correct hormonal signals to your testicles. As a result, your body's testosterone levels remain very low.
Late-onset secondary hypogonadism is more common, and it has quite a few potential causes. Infection or autoimmune disease can cause it, and it's also sometimes seen in people who are obese or who have type 2 diabetes. With its wide variety of potential causes, it can be difficult to determine the root of why the condition is happening. However, the symptoms can still be treated with men's bioidentical hormone therapy.
What Are the Symptoms of Hypogonadism?
Both types of hypogonadism can cause fatigue, erectile dysfunction, depression, and an extremely reduced sex drive. In addition, men with hypogonadism often lose drastic amounts of muscle mass and body hair.
Additionally, some people with late-onset hypogonadism realize it when they have trouble conceiving with their partner. Due to their low levels of testosterone, they may produce very little sperm or no sperm at all.
How Can Men's Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Help With the Symptoms of Hypogonadism?
Men's bioidentical hormone therapy for hypogonadism involves taking supplementary testosterone to replace the testosterone that you're unable to create. Since the hormones are bioidentical, they're in the same form that is produced naturally. Compounding pharmacies create bioidentical hormones by extracting and refining them from vegetable sources, and they're often much less expensive than their chemically synthesized equivalents.
When you start men's bioidentical hormone therapy, your current testosterone levels will be measured. You'll be given a starting dose to see how your body reacts to the hormones, and your testosterone levels will be measured again in about a month. Based on the results, your dosage may be adjusted.
The objective is to keep your blood levels within the normal testosterone range, which reduces symptoms of hypogonadism while minimizing any potential side effects of hormone replacement therapy.
If you have symptoms of hypogonadism, make an appointment with a doctor in your area who offers men's bioidentical hormone therapy. Once your testosterone levels are confirmed to be extremely low, you'll be able to begin hormone replacement therapy.
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