Hormones are the chemical messengers that tell your body parts what to do and when to do it. They control your growth, metabolism, reproduction, sexual function, and moods. When you have too much or not enough of any hormone, that imbalance causes your system to react in ways that are dangerous to your health, such as weight gain, bone loss, diabetes, or infertility, to name a few.
Dr. Moisés Irizarry-Roman at No Mercy Sports Medicine helps you regain your hormonal balance through hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Whether your levels are off due to age or illness, you don’t have to live with the symptoms. You may have heard that HRT is for women in menopause, but here are five things you may not know:
Although HRT is commonly used by menopausal women, men also experience lower hormonal levels as they age. Low testosterone, in particular, is a common complaint and can decrease your sex drive, make it hard to get and keep an erection, and even mess with your muscle mass.
Dr. Irizarry-Roman can reverse those effects with HRT and get you back to your old (young) self again.
HRT has come a long way since it was developed in the 1920s when it was an estrogen-only drug. Today, we know much more about the risks and benefits of HRT, and Dr. Irizarry-Roman can customize your combination of hormones to suit your unique needs. That means he can monitor and adjust your treatment schedule and delivery system so you stay in perfect balance and optimal health.
As with any medication, HRT comes with some cautions, but extensive research over the last 50 years has shown some encouraging results. Early forms and doses of hormones, particularly synthetic estrogen, were shown to be linked to endometrial and breast cancer. But the latest research according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, women who take HRT do not have greater mortality rates than those who don’t take it.
And more good news: With the addition of progestin and customized treatments, HRT may actually decrease the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Irizarry-Roman carefully evaluates your medical history, your health risks, and your current symptoms to develop a safe and effective HRT regimen just for you.
One of the lesser-known symptoms of menopause and chemotherapy is cognitive impairment. The results of chemotherapy in men and women, as well as a quick drop in estrogen that occurs in menopause, can both cause foggy brain. You might find yourself searching for the right word, experiencing short-term memory loss, or having difficulty multitasking. HRT can address these symptoms by getting your hormones back in balance and your brain back in gear.
When you think of hormone medication, you may think of “the pill,” the most notorious form of hormone administration. But there are many different ways to take your hormones these days, including:
Together with Dr. Irizarry-Roman, you can decide which is best for you. The most important thing is getting the dose and scheduling right so that you get the most out of your HRT.
When you’re ready to kick your symptoms to the curb and get your hormones back in balance, call us to set up an appointment with Dr. Irizarry-Roman.
