HRT for Women and Men

• Estrogen is prescribed to relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, and various urinary disorders. Estrogen has also been shown to decrease the risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
• Progesterone is commonly prescribed in combination with estrogen to prevent “estrogen dominance” and to relieve menopausal symptoms such as insomnia and anxiety. In addition, it may enhance the beneficial effect of estrogen on the cardiovascular system. Pre-menopausal females may also benefit from progesterone. It is often prescribed to regulate the menstrual cycle and decrease symptoms of PMS.
• Androgens are a class of hormones that include DHEA and testosterone, which are normally produced in a young, healthy woman and are important for vitality, libido, and the integrity of skin, bone, and muscle. When women enter menopause, testosterone and DHEA levels may decline. Experts now recognize the importance of supplementing androgens for women who are deficient.

While women have benefited from therapy with estrogen, progesterone, and androgens that are bioidentical, researchers and healthcare professionals realize that this is just the “tip of the iceberg” when it comes to achieving hormonal balance. Thyroid and adrenal function, as well as nutritional status, should also be evaluated and treated, when indicated.

Potter’s House Apothecary specializes in BHRT. Our pharmacists have received post-graduate training and attend seminars regularly to stay current with the latest techniques in compounding BHRT. We also offer private consultations and free educational seminars for patients wanting to learn more about BHRT and the benefits of having your medication compounded at Potter’s House Apothecary.

Women Prefer Natural Hormones

Mayo Clinic researchers surveyed 176 women taking natural micronized progesterone who had previously taken a synthetic progestin (medroxyprogesterone acetate, or MPA) to see if progesterone improved the women’s overall quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and satisfaction with BHRT. After one to six months, the women reported an overall 34% increase in satisfaction on micronized progesterone compared to their previous HRT, reporting these improvements: 50% in hot flashes, 42% in depression, and 47% in anxiety. Micronized progesterone was also more effective in controlling breakthrough bleeding. In other studies, women using micronized progesterone had specific improvements in the areas of cognition, sleep, and menstrual problems.

Restoring Hormonal Balance And Vitality In Men

Beginning at approximately 40 years of age, a man’s hormone levels, particularly testosterone, slowly decline. About 30% of men aged 60-70 years and 70% of men aged 70-80 have low levels of testosterone, a condition often called “andropause” because testosterone is in a class of hormones known as androgens.

Androgen deficiency is strongly associated with common medical conditions including osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and atherosclerosis. Emerging evidence indicates that testosterone replacement can relieve or partially reverse the progression of these problems in testosterone-deficient men.

Hypogonadism, which is the clinical term for low levels of serum testosterone, can occur regardless of age. Hypogonadism is associated with specific signs and symptoms, including:

• Diminished sex drive and sense of vitality
• Erectile dysfunction
• Depression
• Anemia
• Heart disease or worsening lipid profile
• Reduced muscle mass and bone density
• Increased fat mass
• Frailty
• Osteoporosis

HRT for men primarily involves testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). However, it also may include other hormones such as DHEA and pregnenolone. Replacement of these hormones has improved the quality of life for millions of men who suffer from hormonal imbalance. The ideal process for achieving hormonal balance includes an assessment of hormone levels through saliva or blood tests, then assessment of signs and symptoms, followed by replacement of the deficient hormones. TRT is most often prescribed in injectable form; however, it may also be compounded into topical or sublingual dosage forms with or without other hormones.

Laboratory values and clinical responses should be monitored frequently so that any necessary adjustments can be made. Men with a history of prostate cancer, elevated PSA levels, or cardiovascular disease may not be candidates for TRT.

While men have benefited from hormone replacement, researchers and healthcare professionals realize that this is just the “tip of the iceberg” when it comes to achieving hormonal balance. Thyroid and adrenal function, as well as nutritional status, should also be evaluated and treated when indicated.

Potter’s House Apothecary specializes in HRT. Our pharmacists have received post-graduate training and attend seminars regularly to stay current with the latest techniques in compounding HRT. We also offer private consultations and free educational seminars for patients wanting to learn more about it and the benefits of having your medication compounded at Potter’s House Apothecary.