Bioidentical Hormone FAQs for Men

The ingredients in bioidentical hormones such as testosterone are approved by the FDA. However, state and local pharmacy boards have jurisdiction over them, not the FDA. It is important to use a high quality compounding pharmacy that follows stringent guidelines and have excellent quality assurance.

You have probably used some hormones; Hydrocortisone (used for rashes), and Vitamin D in milk are all forms of hormones. Over the last 100 years as we have doubled our life expectancy, the soft tissue glands which create our hormones are being forced to produce them longer than ever. Our increasingly stressful lives, poor nutrition, and/or lack of proper fitness can also result in declining levels of hormones in our bodies.

Men and women have successfully used bioidentical hormones for decades. Men suffering from the symptoms of andropause, can turn to bioidentical hormones to replace the natural hormones that have declined as their bodies have aged. In well-known medical journals, researchers have reported that bioidentical testosterone is not only safe but can also have a preventative effect for things like prostate cancer.

As men age, production of the hormone testosterone begins to decline and they experience symptoms of low testosterone. Testosterone is the hormone that is responsible for maintaining mental focus, energy, metabolism, muscle mass, lower fat levels, and sex drive. By balancing a man’s hormones with bioidentical hormone therapy, men can restore their vitality and reduce the symptoms of andropause. Andropause happens gradually and when diagnosed, the symptoms are successfully treated using bioidentical hormone therapy.

In general, your body’s hormones begin to decline in your thirties. Here at Forum Health Las Colinas, we believe that most people should have their hormones checked by age 40 or earlier if they are experiencing symptoms of andropause.

The way to prevent chronic illness and to optimize health is to take an active role in addressing healthcare risks before they become a problem. Getting tested when you still feel good gives you a benchmark for later comparison when the inevitable happens and hormones decline.

Because bioidentical hormones have the same molecular structure of the hormones made naturally by your body, there are relatively few side effects. Side effects occur mainly when the dosage of hormone is too high for the individual. Both Dr. Scott and Nurse Practitioners Elise and Sue monitor and evaluate each patient consistently to assure balanced and proper dosing.

While it varies with each person, and depends on which hormone therapy you are using, you can expect to see results within three to six months. This amount of time is needed to allow for the proper balancing of your hormones.

Not necessarily. It depends on how well your body responds to the hormones. What’s also equally important is how well you manage your diet, sleep patterns, and exercise, and stress levels.  

Some patients can wean off various hormones once they become balanced and have fewer symptoms of andropause. There are also patients who can wean off adrenal and thyroid support once their adrenals or thyroid glands have healed. There is no single answer for everyone; it depends on your individual hormone stability and how well your diet and lifestyle will support everything else.

In the worst-case scenario, if you decided to stop Bioidentical Hormone therapy, your body would likely return to the state it was in before initiating your program.

There are several different ways to formulate bioidentical hormones including:

• Capsules - a standard form of oral delivery. 
• Creams - Transdermal methods are widely used to allow absorption of medicine directly through the skin.
• Triturates - Triturates are a popular form used to keep medications in the mouth. They are generally placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve, allowing the medication to enter the bloodstream quickly and easily. 
• Troches - Troches are larger than triturates and are typically dissolve between the cheek and gum. 
• Rapid Dissolve Tablets - RDTs are the newest technology in dissolvable tablets. They are larger in size which allows them to hold a larger amount of active ingredient. They are made to dissolve on the tongue within 30 seconds. 
• Injections - testosterone can be delivered by injection, which can be a delivery system used in certain scenarios.

All delivery systems come in various combinations to accommodate even our most sensitive patients. 

Generally speaking the answer is no. Some medicines may actually be reduced or no longer needed.

Traditional/conventional doctors do not usually have the time or the resources to seek expertise in bioidentical hormones. Many of them have antiquated opinions about hormones based on the WHI (Women's Health Initiative) study on synthetic hormones and have not stayed up to date on the studies of bioidentical hormones. Our providers have gone through extensive training in bioidentical hormone therapy and have specialized knowledge and interest in this area.

Yes. Bioidentical hormones are compounded prescription medications that are produced in a specialized pharmacy. Each prescription is hand made from the highest quality ingredients and made by pharmacists that specialize in formulating drugs. Since every patient is unique, the strength or the dosage form needs to be specially made to fit the individual.

High stress levels are very common in individuals with unbalanced hormones. Regulating hormones with bioidentical hormone therapy will certainly help to decrease stress levels and increase general feelings of wellbeing. Diet, sleep habits, and exercise can also be changed which can also help to ease the stress burden. 

Yes. A deficiency of testosterone or other types of hormonal imbalance can cause a low libido.

Absolutely. If you are putting weight on easily and having a hard time taking it off, you should know that hormonal imbalances affect weight loss and weight gain and could be part of the problem or maybe even the whole problem. In fact, some hormonal imbalances can make it down right impossible to lose weight!

What many people don’t realize is that there can be many underlying health issues which impede weight loss attempts. Not only that, but these same issues can actually be the cause of the weight gain in the first place.

Hormone and other imbalances can very likely be the reason. We frequently get phone calls from patients who are desperate for help because the pounds keep packing on no matter what they do. Unfortunately, many of them have sought help from their doctor, only to be told that they just need to eat less and exercise more, period. This not only leads to feelings of shame, but also helplessness and can be quite demoralizing.

• Insulin Resistance
• Thyroid Imbalance
• Cortisol/Melatonin Imbalances
• Testosterone Imbalance

In addition to circumstances where hormones affect weight loss, there are other factors that can impede weight loss such as Candida (an overgrowth of yeast in the gut) and sleep deprivation.

You may bring along any lab work or other diagnostic tests you have had done in the past year. We do not need the actual x-rays or ultrasounds, only the report. However, you will need to do a complete male hormone panel, which includes a blood draw. This comprehensive test panel will tell us exactly where your hormone levels are today and assist us in starting you on your way to better health and hormonal balance.

Please understand that coming to our office for care is a different kind of experience compared to other doctor's visits. The appointments are long, and you are going to have the undivided attention of our providers for anywhere from one to two hours. Because of this, we are an out of network provider. If you have a PPO type of plan, it is possible that you could get reimbursed for the costs of your appointments or at least have the cost go towards your deductible. It really depends on the type of insurance plan that you have. Our office does not file with your insurance directly. Instead, we provide you with the necessary paperwork so that you can file it with them directly for any potential reimbursement. 

Depending on individual insurance carriers, we can accommodate most patients and labs will usually be covered by insurance. However, this is the patient’s responsibility to insure coverage with their individual plans. If a patient pays out of pocket or does not have insurance coverage, the lab costs are around $600 for the initial visit and $300 for follow-ups.

If we find that your overall health and hormonal balance could be improved through vitamins and supplements, we will prescribe them to you. An example of this would be Vitamin D3. This is actually considered a precursor hormone and optimal amounts are needed for most physiological processes in the body and greatly improves your immune system. Our providers only recommend pharmaceutical-grade vitamins and supplements for maximum absorbency. 

• Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for men. BHRT includes an assessment of all hormone function in the body and not just the sex hormones.
• Thyroid diagnosis and treatment. We run a complete thyroid lab panel to include TSH, T3, T4, Reverse T3, and antibodies. Conditions that we treat include Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease.
• Other comprehensive serum lab testing to screen for adrenal fatigue, insulin resistance, blood sugar issues, liver and kidney function, inflammation and other health markers, advanced lipid testing, and key vitamin levels.
• Food sensitivity testing which will indicate allergies and sensitivities to specific foods that may cause you to be ill.
• Gut health testing which will reveal the state of health of the gut biome and testing for vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
• Nutritional counseling.
• Weight loss management when appropriate.
• Disease prevention.
• Anti-aging protocols.

At our Las Colinas practice, we use a functional medicine approach in treating our patients. We believe in the power of the human body and because of this, we also believe that there is a big difference between going through life not feeling good versus living your ideal life. Our mission is to be proactive and assist both women and men to improve their quality of life through an individualized health and wellness plan -- through hormone balance, nutrition and supplement support, gut health testing and treatment and weight management.

In a functional medicine approach, all possible underlying issues are explored and addressed. When the root cause is correctly diagnosed and treated, all of the symptoms associated with it will disappear.

Additionally, some people have multiple health issues going on and they may be seeing different physicians or specialists. Sometimes this is necessary, however it can happen that the left hand may not know what the right hand is doing. Not only can this be detrimental to your health, it can also make things worse. A functional medicine provider is going to look at the big picture and help to fit all of the pieces of the puzzle together.