by Often called “testosterone replacement therapy” or TRT, hormones play a key role in our body’s ability to regulate sex and mood. Increasing your testosterone levels can boost energy, stamina, and motivation.
Testosterone replacement can also help you manage symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and night sweats. And it can protect against certain types of cancer, including breast and prostate cancer.
Testosterone
Your hormones are your body’s natural protectors against age-related disease and illness. They affect a wide range of functions, including your metabolism, mood, and sexual function. As you get older, your hormone levels naturally decline. Hormone therapy, like other treatments, can help restore your hormone levels back to normal.
Testosterone is a male sex hormone that’s produced by the gonads (testes and ovaries) in men, and by the adrenal glands in women. It plays an important role in fetal development and teenage sexual development. It also stimulates skeletal muscle growth, erythropoiesis (blood cell production), and blood fat production.
Low testosterone can cause a variety of symptoms in men, including lower libido and muscle mass. It may be caused by a number of factors, including certain medicines, health conditions, or injuries. It can also be inherited, called androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS).
If you have low testosterone, your doctor will give you a test to check your levels. The test can be done by injection, skin patch, or gel. Your doctor can also recommend a combination of medications.
Depending on your doctor’s recommendations, you may receive testosterone in the form of gel, cream, skin patch, or pill. You will need to have regular checkups with your doctor for the duration of your treatment.
A man’s testosterone level typically peaks between the ages of 20 and 30, and then slowly decreases for the rest of his life. This is why low testosterone is more common among older men.
It’s not always safe to start hormone therapy before you reach your mid-30s, as it can increase your risk of prostate cancer. Your doctor will need to evaluate your prostate cancer risk before you can begin treatment.
Other medical conditions that can be impacted by gender affirming hormone therapy include autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. There’s no long-term research about this, but some people have reported improvements or worsening of these conditions with testosterone therapy.
Your doctor will review your medical history before starting hormone therapy, including your blood pressure and heart disease risk. You may need to have a blood test to measure your hematocrit (Hct). Your doctor will tell you how much testosterone to take.
Estrogen
Women make estrogen in the ovaries (grape-sized glands that are located near the uterus). It is an important hormone that helps control growth and development of the uterus, placenta and breasts. It also helps regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
It is also a key part of the endocrine system, affecting the production of many other hormones in a woman’s body. It is produced mainly in the ovaries, but also by fat cells and the adrenal gland.
Estrogens are needed for normal sexual development and the regulation of the menstrual cycle, including the production of ovulation (the release of an egg) during the first part of the menstrual cycle. It is also responsible for the development of secondary sex characteristics, such as wider hips and pubic hair.
The ovaries produce less estrogen after menopause, so hormone therapy can help relieve symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats, insomnia or mood swings. It can also be used to treat vaginal dryness, itching or burning.
Most oral birth control pills contain a combination of estrogen and progesterone. This type of medication can stop ovulation, or the release of an egg, during the early parts of the menstrual cycle. It can also prevent ovulation during pregnancy.
This medication is also sometimes used to treat a condition called osteoporosis, which causes bone loss that makes bones weak and break easily. Osteoporosis can affect young and old women, but it usually occurs in younger women.
A hormone replacement therapy that uses only estrogen can increase your risk of endometrial cancer, a type of uterine cancer. It’s best to use a combination of estrogen and progesterone, as it is safer and has fewer side effects than using estrogen alone.
Some men who have prostate cancer may need to take testosterone replacement therapy to slow the disease and extend their life. Testosterone is also a key hormone in male sexual development and performance.
It is important to know that estrogen and testosterone replacement therapy can cause serious side effects, such as heart problems, enlarged breasts and bone fractures. It’s important to discuss these with your doctor and get appropriate treatment.
Progesterone
Whether you should start hormone therapy depends on your age, health, and other factors. You and your doctor should decide together what type of treatment would be best for you.
Hormone replacement therapy (HT) involves taking one or more hormones to boost your hormone levels and relieve symptoms of menopause. It can help you feel better and improve your overall quality of life, but it has risks.
For some women, HT can reduce their risk of developing heart disease and breast cancer. However, these studies are not conclusive, and it is important to discuss these risks with your healthcare provider.
Another reason that some doctors believe that HT may be a good idea for some men is because it can slow down the progress of prostate cancer. But there are many different ways to treat prostate cancer, and it isn’t always clear when it is best to start hormone treatment.
Some experts also believe that it is better to start hormone treatment at a very low dose and gradually increase it. This may help you avoid side effects such as reduced energy, slowed sexual function, and hot flashes.
There are two main types of hormone therapy that use estrogen alone or with progesterone. The first type is called estrogen alone therapy, and it is used for menopausal symptoms.
Estrogen is most often given as a pill or patch every day. It may also be given as a cream, vaginal ring, gel or spray.
The second type of HT is called combination therapy, and it combines doses of estrogen and progesterone, or progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone). It lowers your risk for cancer of the endometrium, the lining of your uterus.
In addition to lowering your risk of uterine cancer, progesterone can reduce or eliminate monthly bleeding. It can also help prevent a condition called osteoporosis, which is caused by bone loss.
Depending on the type of progesterone you take, your doctor may recommend that you get regular pelvic exams and mammograms to detect any potential problems. This is especially important for women who have a family history of endometrial cancer, or who are older than 45 years.
Other hormones
Hormones are your body’s natural defense against age-related disease. They are responsible for metabolism, sexual health, and many other processes. Declining levels of hormones can have serious effects on your health.
For men who are having problems with their hormones, it is important to start treatment as soon as possible. It can help to prevent prostate cancer from progressing and even slow it down if it has already started.
The type of hormone therapy you need will depend on your particular situation. It is important to know the risks and benefits of each kind of hormone therapy, and to discuss them with your medical provider.
Some hormones are delivered through injections, while others are given in pill form. Your health care team can recommend a delivery method that offers the most benefit and convenience with the least risks.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is used by millions of men to restore their testosterone levels and libido. It has become increasingly popular in recent years, but there are still questions about its safety and effectiveness.
If you are starting TRT, it is a good idea to try a low dose at first and see how it works for you. Your doctor can help you decide whether to increase the dose in the future if necessary.
When you have started hormone therapy, it will take a few months to notice the full effects. You may be able to see improvements in your appearance and energy.
Gender affirming hormone therapy can improve a person’s self-esteem and confidence. It can also make it easier for them to be read as their gender identity by others.
In addition to increasing confidence, it can also reduce depression and anxiety. For men who are transgender or gender diverse, this can have a significant impact on their mental health.
Taking estrogen with progesterone (a synthetic form of progesterone) can help to minimize the risk of endometrial cancer. Estrogen can also help to reduce breast cancer in women who have a history of it.
Some people may experience a greater risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots while taking hormones. These risks can be reduced or avoided by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and not smoking or drinking.
