As we get older, our bodies slow the production of all of our hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers that affect the function of our cells, tissues and organs. For instance, thyroid hormones regulate our metabolism. Sex hormones – primarily estrogens, progesterone and testosterone for women and testosterone for men – control our sexual reproductive functions. They also support the health and youthfulness of skin, bones and muscles. Inevitably, the decline in hormone levels results in symptoms that for a woman we call menopause and for a man, andropause.

In fact, many of the physical signs we attribute to aging are actually the result of decreasing hormone levels.

For women, these may include:

• Aged, thin and lax skin
• Easy bruising
• Fatigue
• Memory problems
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Joint pain, swelling and stiffness
• Depression
• Sleep disturbance
• Decreased libido
• Dry skin
• Vaginal dryness
• Weight gain
• Mood swings
• Difficulty maintaining physical fitness and endurance

Men may experience:

• Decreased muscle mass
• Difficulty maintaining physical fitness and endurance
• Decreased libido
• Erectile problems
• Aged, thin and lax skin
• Fatigue
• Loss of the feeling of “competitive edge”

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an alternative to traditional hormone replacement therapy for the treatment of menopausal or andropausal symptoms. Traditional HRT typically uses synthetic oral hormones in a “one-size-fits-all” dosing regimen to treat these symptoms. Even many of the newer topical hormone patches use synthetic hormones. These traditional therapies have led to a number of problems. First, synthetic, non-bioidentical hormones are not handled by the body in the same manner as your naturally occurring hormones. They are not metabolized and eliminated as quickly as the hormones your body produces, thus, they stay in your body longer (sometimes for months) producing both positive and negative side-effects. Secondly, when taking hormones orally, they must first pass through your liver. The liver tries to “detoxify” these synthetic substances, resulting in breakdown products that are chemically and physically different from the medications taken orally. These breakdown products have been implicated in causing many of the adverse side-effects that have been reported in recent clinical studies. Thirdly, using a fixed dose for an oral HRT regimen makes it difficult to customize treatment for each individual. A fixed dose might be just right for one person, but it might be too low or too high for someone else. A dosage that is too high might cause as many problems as a dosage that is too low.

Bio-identical HRT uses hormones (estrogens, progesterone and testosterone) that are molecularly identical to the hormones that your body naturally produces. Your body utilizes these hormones exactly as it has utilized your own hormones. It metabolizes and eliminates them exactly as it has your entire life. Additionally, Dr. Bair typically prescribes bio-identical HRT as topical gels. Topical gels allow the hormones to be absorbed unchanged directly into the body without first passing through the liver. This direct absorption avoids the problem of harmful breakdown products. Lastly, topical gels allow for easy adjustment of your dose. If, for example, a higher dose is indicated by your results or laboratory tests, then you can easily adjust the dose from one-eighth to one-quarter of a teaspoon. Also, since these gels are produced by a compounding pharmacy, a wide range of customized gel strengths are available.

If you are interested in more information or would like to find out if you are a candidate for bio-identical HRT, please contact Bair Medical Spa to schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Bair.

Prices:

Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy: $125

 

Below, Dr. Bair, medical director, and Kristie Bair, president, of Bair Medical Spa discuss anti-aging medicine on New Mexico Style: