BHRT For Men
What is BHRT For Men?
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is the use of bioidentical hormones to supplement your body’s natural supply when you aren’t producing enough on your own for optimal health. Hormones are messenger chemicals that tell other parts of the body how and when to work. They control almost all tasks in the body. Low or imbalanced hormone levels can have widespread effects on your health and feeling of well-being.
In men, BHRT is most used to address the symptoms of andropause, an age-related decline in male hormone levels called testosterone deficiency. Although it has been compared to menopause in women, the decrease in hormones and onset of symptoms during andropause in men is slower and subtler than it is in women. However, low testosterone levels can occur for many reasons at any age, even as early as the teenage years.
Common Therapies
The most common hormone used in BHRT for men is testosterone. Bioidentical testosterone is different from synthetic testosterone found in commercial products. Bioidentical testosterone is made from plant sources (like soy or yams) and is chemically engineered to have the exact formula as the testosterone your body produces naturally. Bioidentical hormones are designed to perfectly mimic the body’s natural compounds, because even slight deviations from the natural testosterone molecule may affect the way the hormone acts in your system. Bioidentical testosterone enters the body already in a usable state.
DHEA ,dehydroepiandrosterone, is an important part of BHRT for men. A precursor of testosterone and estrogen in addressing mood, fatigue, and joint pain. Estradiol is also necessary in small amounts for men – promoting heart, bone, and brain health.
Benefits & Dosage Forms
Benefits of BHRT for Men
When a man’s hormone levels are low, hormone replacement therapy may help relieve a wide array of different symptoms, both physical and emotional. BHRT may alleviate symptoms by tackling the root cause, not just the symptoms themselves. It has been shown to:
- Increase energy and motivation
- Boost sex drive
- Help with erectile dysfunction
- Reduce fat, build muscle
- Improve sleep
- Reduce irritability
- Stabilize your mood, improve depression and anxiety
- Enhance memory and concentration
- Help prevent prostate problems
- Strengthen your bones to prevent fractures in later years
- Relieve hot flashes
- Lower your risk of heart disease
Dosage Forms
A variety of BHRT in multiple dosage forms for men currently fall within our formulary. For more information, see our pages on:
How Belmar Can Help
If you are a man who is experiencing or concerned about any of the symptoms on this page, start a conversation with your doctor. Together, you can decide if a compounded prescription might be a good option for you.
If you are a clinician interested in prescribing compound medications to your patients, contact us for information on how to get started and how to access all of our clinical resources. If you are new to compounding, you may find our page on How to Write a Compounding Prescription helpful. You can also visit our Medication Options page to find a formulary and learn more about all the medication solutions available from Belmar.
