Hormone Replacement Therapy Questions Answered
More adults today than ever before are using some form of hormone replacement therapy. The increasing number of Baby Boomers entering the time when hormonal decline starts to bring adverse effects to their lives is one of the reasons. The extended lifespan that has been afforded today’s adults due to medical, technological, and other advancements means that our bodies have to hold out longer than fifty or one hundred years ago. This often leads to a number of hormone replacement therapy questions that require answers. Increased education in this area of medicine is another reason why more people receive HRT today.
Many people find this subject unfamiliar territory. They may not know how to bring up the topic with their personal physician, or even if that is the right medical practitioner to speak to about the changes accompanying the aging process. It is hard to know what questions to ask about hormone replacement therapy. We have taken the initiative of providing some of those answers right here on this page in hopes that it helps women and men get the treatment that can give them a new lease on life.
Here are the first two hormone replacement therapy questions and answers:
Q – What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
A – HRT is a medically authorized treatment used to replenish dwindling supplies of particular hormones that often occurs with getting older. Doctors who specialize in hormone replacement for adults prescribe this treatment. Blood analysis is used to determine need. Treatment is available in many forms, depending on the type of diagnosed hormone deficiency.
Q – What are the Most Common Types of HRT?
A – The most common types of HRT include testosterone, progesterone, estrogen, and human growth hormone. Since many of the symptoms of each of these deficiencies overlap one another, blood testing is crucial to ensure that the doctor prescribes the proper treatment.
Who Can Benefit from Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Among the next group of frequently asked questions about hormone replacement therapy, we find that people want to know who can benefit from this treatment. Individuals in their thirties and beyond are the typical recipients of HRT. The body continues to produce more than enough of these vital chemical messengers up until that time.
While both men and women start to see a decline in growth hormone production in their early thirties, the other hormones listed affect men around the same time, but do not start to decline in women until menopause begins.
Here are questions designed to help you know if you can benefit from hormone replacement therapy:
Q – What Can Men Expect from HRT?
A – A man who needs HRT will find that his libido and sexual performance are not as active as they were in his early years of adulthood. He may be gaining weight around the mid-section, losing muscle mass, and experiencing stiffness and joint pains. Workplace drive and productivity may suffer. Mental functions, memory, and concentration could be declining.
Hair loss from the head and excess hair growth on the body could occur. Cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood pressure levels could all rise. Immune system functions may suffer, causing frequent illness and longer than normal recovery times. Depression is common. HRT treatment can turn these issues around.
Q – Why Do Women Need Hormone Therapy?
A – Women who ask questions about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy are typically experiencing the side effects of menopause, including hot flashes, weight gain, muscle loss, insomnia, depression, mood swings, low libido, as well as the other symptoms listed for men. The list of possible changes varies depending on the type of deficiency present. All of these changes can lead to some of the same problems for women and men who do not take action to receive treatment, including:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- High cholesterol
- Dementia
These are the reasons why getting HRT is crucial if a deficiency is present and causing concern.
Questions about Getting HRT
Now that you understand what HRT is, and why it is vital to receive this type of treatment, the last group of questions on hormone replacement therapy is about how to find a doctor and get a proper prescription for the kind of treatment that is required.
Here are the final two questions about getting HRT at this time:
Q – How Do I Get Hormone Therapy?
A – The best way to get hormone therapy is by contacting a specialist in the field of HRT. Unlike other health care providers who do not always recognize the symptoms of hormonal decline, the specialist can readily identify if a decrease in chemical production may be the problem. Instead of being told that you are just getting older, or that the changes are all in your head, speak with an expert who can put any fears you have to rest by running the proper diagnostic tests the first time. This can save a lot of time spent visiting other medical practitioners and undergoing numerous tests that are not needed.
Q – Where Can I Find an HRT Clinic?
A – Hormone replacement therapy clinics are relatively easy to find, so long as you know what to look for during your search. When looking online, make certain that the clinic is located in the US, does not discuss the use of steroids or bodybuilding, and fills all prescriptions with licensed US pharmacies. Do not purchase these medications without a doctor’s prescription or from other countries. HRT clinics can be found locally as well as online. A national clinic such as this one can save you valuable time and money over the course of your treatment.
If you have any other questions about hormone replacement therapy, or would like to speak with an HRT specialist to learn about your options and how to schedule your blood test, please call National HRT for your free and confidential consultation.
National HRT Staff
Please note that the information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
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