Want to lose weight, build muscle and kick start your sex drive? It’s possible with bioidentical hormone therapy.
Learn more about how Bioidentical Hormones could help YOU - Attend a FREE Andropause Seminar in a city near you
Learn how bioidentical hormone therapy has helped thousands of men find relief from symptoms of andropause - the male menopause. With the help of BodyLogicMD customized wellness programs, it's possible for men to lose weight, build muscle mass, kick start libido and start feeling better than they did in thier 20's and 30's. Attend a FREE local seminar in your area and discover how a highly trained bioidentical hormones expert can help you balance your hormones and optimize your overall health, using a combination of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and customized nutrition and fitness regimens.
Upcoming Seminars:
Birmingham, AL
Tuesday - September 14, 2010
6:00pm - 7:00pm
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Houston, TX
Tuesday - September 14, 2010
7:00pm - 8:00pm
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Boise, ID
Wednesday - September 15, 2010
7:00pm - 8:00pm
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Milwaukee, WI
Thursday - September 16, 2010
6:30pm - 7:30pm
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Louisville, KY
Thursday - September 16, 2010
6:00pm - 7:00pm
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Fort Lauderdale, FL
Monday - September 27, 2010
5:30pm - 6:30pm
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Nashville, TN
Tuesday - October 05, 2010
5:30pm - 6:30pm
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BodyLogicMD physicians offer FREE monthly Andropause Seminars in 26 states, including Puerto Rico. For a complete list of upcoming seminars in your area, go to: Local Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Seminars
The Medical Minute with Texas Bioidentical Hormones Expert Dr. Wade Huey
Should 'Male Menopause' be treated?
I recently read an article published by CNN Health, discussing how one man – a 46-year-old insurance agent from Alabama – was able to overcome the ‘male menopause’ or andropause.
Treatments aimed at helping women overcome symptoms of menopause vary from over-the-counter, herbal hot flash remedies to custom compounded bioidentical hormones. But what about men? It’s no secret that men experience hormonal decline, oftentimes around the same age women do. According to the article, it is currently estimated that 25 percent of all men experience symptoms of ‘male menopause’ or ‘MANopause.’
Symptoms of hormonal imbalance in men include:
- Low sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction
- Impotence
- Weight gain / Loss of muscle mass
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Gynecomastia (“man-boobs”)
- Irritability
- Hot flashes / Night sweats
Dr. Alvin Matsimoto, a professor of geriatric medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, says that, like women, hormones decline as men age. He adds that while the change is natural, it certainly doesn’t mean that the physiological effects aren’t as debilitating as those experienced by women during menopause.
Dr. David Zahaluk, a family medicine physician at Baylor Medical Center, recommends that a testosterone assessment be a part of an annual physical – especially for men in their forties and older.
There is a lot of compelling evidence that suggests that although the severity may vary, most men will experience some symptoms of hormonal imbalance. If you’ve been experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above or just have been feeling “off” lately and think your hormones might be to blame, I would highly recommend having your hormone levels tested to determine if an imbalance or deficiency is to blame.
Read the full CNN article here: Should ‘male menopause’ be treated?
Am I going through the male menopause?
I have read and heard about these chemicals that have a feminizing effect on men. I also am really concerned about the fact that the meat industry pumps cows and chickens full of antibiotics and hormones that have also been proven to have negative effects on us, because as most of us know, over-usage of antibiotics creates even more microbes that later attack the organism. Then there's our "typical American lifestyle," whereby we walk nowhere -- just drive and get out of the car, over and over, all day long. The chemicals, the polluted meat and dairy industries, and the lifestyle are just slow paths to illness and death. I have been having trouble, which started about ten years ago. I am now 67, and most people think I'm in my 40s, so I've been a bit lucky (probably because I always took supplements, since my 30s, and for years, I did a lot of things outdoors -- hiked, skied, etc.). But I had to stop all that and start taking care of my mother when she became terminally ill.
For over six years I was under extreme stress and was a full-time nurse. My mother became totally disabled and blind. Then, when she died in 2001, I had all the responsibilities of settling all "final things." Her burial was across the country, and there was just a ton of financial and other paperwork to attend to. From 2001 until the present, I just "went downhill."
I attribute a lot of my trouble to living in the Phoenix area, from 2000 until now. I think the hot desert, full of particulate and ozone pollution as well as nasty molds and entities like "Valley fever," it's a terrible environment to try to live in -- six months of temps over 100; often 110 and more; not enough moisture in the air ("dry heat" does one thing big-time--it dehydrates us).
At any rate, I somehow kept gaining weight, when all my life I'd been skinny. I tried to go outdoors to take long walks or to run, but I developed asthma from the poor air quality. My blood-pressure went up and up and up. Pills I was taking to lower it caused other problems. Libido died. Isolation set in big-time, as I wasn't motivated to go out, except for the essentials. I gained almost 60 lbs., most of which accumulated around the gut. That caused me to feel more depressed.
I believe we do need a means to reverse all the ill-effects of our lifestyles, stress, and bad food choices. I don't want to be around on the planet living like an invalid. If HGH and testosterone therapies work, I say I'll do them. I have only recently been getting detailed information on these.
Fingers crossed
Okay, okay. So my wife won the argument regarding hormones. I finally made an appointment to see a bioidentical hormone doctor. They will be sending me a saliva kit by mail; which sounds anything but pleasant; like anyone about to take a saliva test, I did some Googling and they actually have a video on how to do it! From what I have read saliva tests are actually very accurate for testing levels of hormones, which blood testing can’t accomplish. I guess this is all part of the benefit of going to a bioidentical hormones specialist; my annual exams have never included a saliva test, makes you wonder.
My appointment is practically a month from now, giving me plenty of time to continue my research. I have already done some preliminary research and it seems that balancing male hormones isn’t all that difficult. It is actually easier to deal with men and their hormones than women; but who doubted that? Men are simple and women well, they are women. I might actually be getting excited at the idea that I could return to some version of my former self. It would be very nice to have the energy to do something that doesn’t involve just sitting behind my computer screen.
I want to be more active in my son’s life and enjoy the time with my wife. It seems that lately I don’t enjoy much of anything at all.
-Rudy
And it begins…
I've been on the fence about using bioidentical hormones for a few months now - ever since I read about them in a NY Times article earlier this year. I recently had a consultation with a doctor who specializes in bioidentical hormone therapy here in Arizona. It was a bit of a drive, but well worth it. I feel like, even if I don't get the results I'm looking for, I still learned a lot about how the body works and what I can be doing to make myself healthier.
My doctor discussed how diet and excercise - or lack thereof - can affect hormones and recommended that I make some changes now, to spare myself a lot of health issues later on in life. I've been searching for a way to reinvent myself and I think I've found in with my new doctor. In addition to the bioidentical hormones, I'm also taking supplements now - I always thought that vitamins were for kids, but apparently they work wonders for adults too.
I've only been using the bioidenticals for 3 days and I haven't noticed any significant changes, although I'm definitely more optimistic than I was before I started treatment. I feel like now I have something to look forward to. I can't wait to start seeing some progress - I've read other bloggers' accounts of treatment and some have noticed results in the first few weeks!
I'll definitely drop in again soon to give an update.
By the way, this is a great site. It's good for men to talk about this stuff, becuase too many men are in the dark on the whole male menopause issue.
-Jay
Where did my sex drive go?
Let’s face it, as men we can be very stubborn; no matter how many times we are told something we don’t relent. This is why we sometimes refuse to accept that we have male menopause or andropause. We prefer to look at it as the mid-life crisis that has Corvette’s driving of the lot rather rapidly. For those of us who thought we were amazingly lucky to have a younger wife, think again. As you’re going through your changes, living with someone who isn’t at the same point in their lives becomes more difficult.
Yes, I married a woman 13 years younger than me; I am now 45 years old and she is 32 years young. It wasn’t much of a difference when she was 25 and I was 38. It seemed perfectly reasonable at the time; after all I wasn’t going to go through menopause. Here I am only 45 years old with an amazing wife and my libido isn’t kicking in. My wife, I can attest, has a perfectly functional sex drive. I remember when I could not keep my hands off her and now I am staying late at the office to avoid her altogether; it is a blow to my ego when I have to turn her down.
Aside from simply having a low sex drive I am finding it hard to do things. I am feeling extremely tired and run down. I truly feel bad for my wife who as of late has been doing the majority of the parenting. I wish I could be more active in my son’s life but I just can’t get my energy level up. I have tried to do some exercise but it’s impossible to get the energy or the desire to really stick to it. I feel like I am aging too fast.
It is hard to admit that I have lost my interest in going to work, being a lover to my wife, being a parent, getting out of bed and doing much of anything at all. Is this feeling ever going to subside? I tried going to my doctor and he offered me anti-depressants. I have refused to take them because one of the symptoms is low sex drive; I don’t need my sex drive to sink any lower than it already. My wife keeps badgering me to see a hormones doctor but this is where the stubborn part comes in. I don’t want to feel this way but as the man of the family I don’t want to feel like I am letting my family down. I have mixed feelings on the whole issue, however, at this point it seems there is nothing else I can try.
Next time I write I hope that I will be in the process of visiting my new doctor.
-Rudy
Understanding the symptoms of andropause – the male menopause
When it comes to menopause, men too have their own cross to bear and it’s called andropause (the male menopause). Andropause is typified by the gradual decline of the male sex hormone, testosterone. In addition to waning testosterone levels, men also experience lower levels of DHEA and human growth hormone. Although the change in men is more gradual than experienced by women, during menopause, the symptoms can be just as trying.
Here are some of the symptoms that men can expect during andropause:
- Low libido – Low testosterone can cause a lot of problems in the bedroom. In addition to becoming disinterested in sex, men aren’t aroused as easily and oftentimes don’t have sex as frequently as they did in their 20’s and 30’s. It’s also common for men to experience erectile dysfunction (ED) as result of hypogonadism (low testosterone).
- Weight gain/muscle loss – Weight gain is typical in males suffering from hormonal imbalance. Excess cortisol can negatively impact the body’s metabolism and make it increasingly difficult to shed those unwanted pounds. It’s estimated that men who lead sedentary lifestyles will lose approximately 10 percent of his muscle mass, each decade.
- Fatigue – As men age, cortisol levels increase and testosterone levels plummet, oftentimes overworking the adrenals and causing a condition known as adrenal fatigue.
- Sleep problems – Hormonal imbalance is at the root of everything from sleep apnea to insomnia. It’s common for men to have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night.
- Low self-confidence – Being that andropause can be physically and emotionally draining, men sometimes feel as if they’ve lost their youthful edge. Lack of confidence can bring on bouts of depression and lead to anxiety.
If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of andropause, it would be wise to contact your primary care physician and request to have your hormone levels tested. If a hormonal imbalance is found, it’s important to find the treatment plan that works best for you.
-Denver bioidentical hormones expert Joseph Agnello, M.D.
What the hell happened to me?
I remember when I was 23 years old. Not a care in the world. Sure I had my responsibilities, but I was in my prime. After highschool, I bulked out, started eating better, exercised more often and felt a whole lot better about myself because of it. Starting in my early 30's, I began gaining weight - and fast. My eating habits didn't change and at the time, I was still working out 3 times a week. By the time I hit 40, I was overweight, I rarely exercised and in addition not being able to get it up, I was losing my hair. Needless to say, my confidence was at all time low. Over the past four years I've learned to live with the "new" me - the old me. I've accepted that my body wasn't built to last forever and most of it won't. I just didn't think that I would be an old man so soon.
I recently read an article in Esquire magazine that featured a bioidentical hormones doctor named Kenneth Varano. According to Dr. Varano, male menopause IS real and medically termed "andropause." He also discusses how bioidentical hormone therapy can help men with a lot of the symptoms I've been experiencing. Have any men out there had any true success with bioidentical hormones?
I appreciate any advice I can get!
-Roger
Food: Friend and Enemy
I must say one of the things I have had to get used to is eating the right foods.
I love to cook, so fortunately I can pretty much cook the foods we need to eat. Since my restrictions are pretty wide-ranged – no dairy, no glutens/wheat, no meat of color and no sugar – it actually makes it easy to focus on fish, vegetables, fruit, chicken/turkey, eggs, etc. What’s been harder to do is find recipes that fit with these foods. (Recently I discovered a really great recipe for shrimp bisque. Instead of cream or milk, it called for me to cook brown rice and then put it thru a food processor. That takes the place of the dairy and is really good.) I am challenged to be inventive with cooking on the diet. Sometimes when the rest of the family wants red meat, I just cook me up some fish – I love tilapia.
I have always bought the best ingredients – like organic everything I can get my hands on – so I doubt I am saving much money. But that’s O.K.
For breakfast, I have oatmeal (quick 1.5 minutes in the microwave) with fruit on top and soymilk or rice milk. Really good-tasting to me. I also recently found gluten-free frozen waffles, yummy with a boiled egg on top. Protein for breakfast is really important to keep me feeling full through lunch.
I was at an important reception in Washington, DC, and, as is often the case, all of the food being passed by waiters contained cheese or wheat. I just refused them and waited to have a really good dinner of scallops after.
Frankly, it’s not worth cheating on the diet, as it just means I get back my IBS and reflux - AND I have to exercise more to “use” up the calories. Not worth it.
Besides, I like the mantra, “you are what you eat.” Now on to my lunch of egg salad on rice bread – I like that, too.
Unhealthy: How Do You Know?
When you have gotten better or healthy again after being sick, have you ever thought, “I didn’t know how sick I was until now?” That has happened to me many times.
It occurred to me today that, after about nine weeks on the BodyLogicMD bioidentical hormones/nutritional-supplement program, I feel so much better. I didn’t know how unhealthy I was. How depressed I have been.
I know about depression. For one thing, I worked for the National Mental Health Association for eight years and I have an undergrad degree in psychology. My father had bouts of depression, albeit never diagnosed as such, for most of his life after being discharged from World War II. (Now in his 90s, he is in a state of dementia, so awareness of depression isn’t there.) I have often fought mild depression as well.
And my andropause (MANopause) seemed to have magnified it. As I reported before, my cortisol (stress hormone) tests showed I had almost no cortisol by 10:30 a.m. each day! (If I hadn’t been so depressed, I would have been manic about this terrible news.) Low cortisol is often a symptom of MANopause.
Well, today I can tell you I feel beyond that issue. I know how depressed I was, now that I am not depressed anymore.
How about you? How are you feeling? Can you really tell how “sick” you are until you make an effort to do something about it and get better?