ARE YOU GOING THROUGH MENOPAUSE?

Everyday thousands of Filipino women enter menopause with many of the following symptoms:

1. Hot Flashes
2. Mood swings
3. Get angry easily
4. Insomnia
5. Night sweats
6. Vaginal Dryness
7. Different degrees of memory impairment
8. Low libido or no sexual desire
9. Osteoporosis
10. Hair loss
11. Depression
12. Painful sexual intercourse

BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE FOR WOMEN

What is menopause?

When a woman stops menstruating for a period of one year, it is called Menopause. If menstruation is just irregular and scanty, it is called peri-menopause. This is due to decreasing levels of hormones manifested clinically by symptoms of hot flashes, getting upset easily, night sweats, osteoporosis, insomnia, mood swings, vaginal dryness, painful sexual intercourse, lack or absence of sexual desire and some memory impairment.

Is menopause treatable?

The use of synthetic hormones in replacement therapy has been discredited and should have been completely discarded but there are still those who are uninformed and continue to use them without regard to the heartaches and devastation these synthetic hormones can produce not only to the users but to their families.

Bio-identical hormones on the other hand are produced from plants (and not from the urine of animals); they are effective, safe, and cause no serious side effects or deadly consequences. Their molecular make up is similar to those produced by the human body, thus, they are called bio-identical. These are not available over the counter or in your regular pharmacy. They have to be individually formulated and compounded according to your needs, which is different for different people.

In the Philippines, bio-identical hormones are available from Rapha Health. They are necessary for optimal health and longevity.

What are some of the bio-identical hormones a woman could avail of?

The female hormones that are commonly utilized are estrogen which are estrone, estradiol and estriol, progesterone and testosterone. However, other hormones may include DHEA, cortisol, thyroid and pregnenelone.

How are these bio-identical hormones administered?

They are given either as a pill, a cream or a gel. They can also be given by injection but that is not necessary.

Who are the candidates for bio-identical hormones?

Those who are in peri-menopause, menopause, with PMS, infertility and unable to get pregnant, those with loss of sexual desire, painful sexual intercourse, insomnia, loss of memory especially in the early stages, osteoporosis, hair loss, breast tenderness, hot flashes, and migraine headaches.

BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES FOR MEN

Who are the men that could benefit from bio-identical hormones?

These are men with evidence of erectile dysfunction. They usually have poor erection, poor staying power and unable to do vaginal intercourse. They may have poor orgasm, less semen, or premature ejaculation.

What are some of the other symptoms of a low hormones in men?

Those are easily fatigues, loss of muscle mass and muscle strength, loss of libido or low sex drive or desire, moodiness with low self-esteem, brittle bones, or diabetes type II.

What are the most common bio-identical hormones in men?

The most common is testosterone, the male hormone but other hormones may also be involved especially cortisol and thyroid, DHEA and pregnenelone.

How is testosterone usually administered in men?

The usual route is by transdermal gel – by applying the gel topically on the skin. This is painless and easy to do. Another way is by injection but this is usually not done as patients prefer a more pleasant application. In addition, topical application is more effective thus more desirable. Again, this gel is only through Rapha Health Institute as it needs to be compounded individually.

What are the benefits from the use of testosterone in both men and women?

1. Increased libido or sexual desire
2. Increased muscle mass
3. Improved quality of erection in men, good orgasm and endurance
4. Stronger bones
5. Improved mood
6. Increased energy
7. Improved memory
8. Improved cardiovascular function