If you have seen the acronym HRT you have probably wondered what it stands for and what all of the rage is about. Well, HRT stands for hormone replacement therapy.
Over the years hormone replacement therapy has become more mainstream for people that do not have a chronic endocrine problem. Since it can be helpful for a large portion of the population, it is important to know about what it is, how to know if you need it, where you can get it, and all of the details.
Keep reading below to cover all of those topics as well as how the hormones testosterone, estrogen, and human growth hormone can be incorporated into hormone replacement therapy.
What is HRT?
You already know that HRT is hormone replacement therapy, but what exactly is it?
Hormone replacement therapy is the process of increasing hormone levels back to the level that they were when you were younger. As you age your hormone levels naturally decrease, which can lead to unwanted side effects of aging. Hormone replacement helps to restore those hormones to pre-aging levels to help you feel more youthful and promote a good quality of life.
Basically, you will work with a specialist who will determine if hormone replacement therapy is right for you and if so which hormone would be most beneficial. You would then be prescribed a hormone replacement that you would take in the form of an injection either in the muscle or your fatty tissue. Overtime, you will continue your treatment program where your hormone levels should begin to rise and will be continuously monitored to determine if the levels are right for you.
How Do I Know If I Need HRT?
Hormone replacement therapy is used if you have signs of low hormone levels. There are some clues to you that you may want to consider getting hormone replacement therapy.
Some of the signs you might notice are fatigue, poor sleep quality, increased body fat, reduced sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, frequent injuries or sickness, slow recovery from exercise, and decreased muscle mass. Some other signs you may notice are poor memory, foggy thinking, decreased motivation, joint or muscle pain, and depression or anxiety. If you are noticing any of these things it may be worth it to talk to your healthcare provider about hormone replacement therapy.
After you identify these suspicions and talk with your doctor, you will need blood work to confirm if your hormones are the culprit. Blood work will identify your exact hormone levels and help your doctor to decide if you are a candidate for hormone replacement therapy. After the results are in you will know if you need hormone replacement therapy.
Where Can You Get HRT?
Hormone replacement therapy will be prescribed to you by your healthcare provider.
Elite HRT works with your local healthcare provider to create a personalized plan for your hormone replacement needs. You’ll work with your local health care provider to complete blood work and discuss if hormone replacement therapy should be considered. After your plan is created with Elite HRT you will be prescribed the appropriate hormone replacement therapy.
A safe hormone replacement should only be taken or received if it is prescribed by a health care provider. Therefore, a hormone replacement therapy should never be purchased from an unlicensed person, on a website that does not require a prescription, or taken from a friend.
Is HRT Safe?
With anything you put in your body, you will naturally want to know if it is safe for you to be taking.
Hormone replacement therapy has both benefits and risks to consider, although overall it is generally safe. Also, the relative safety is different depending on each person. For example, taking tylenol may be safe for most people, but if you have liver disease it is probably not advised to take. Your doctor will work with you to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks for you and your condition.
There are certain things that will be taken into consideration when evaluating risk. Age and your health history are big in terms of deciding if hormone replacement therapy is safe for you. It is also worth mentioning that each type of hormone will have carrying benefits and risks.
How To Make the Most of HRT
As with any medication there will always be an element of some risk factors. So, if you are taking hormone replacement therapy there are things that you can do to reduce the risk of side effects.
One thing you can do is work with your doctor to find the perfect dose for you. It is almost always better to try and be on the lowest dose possible that is still effective for you — this is called the lowest therapeutic dose.
Another thing you can do is to ensure you are following up with your doctor to complete the necessary follow up care. This may include an appointment to discuss how you are feeling and if there are any side effects that need to be addressed. It also includes follow up blood work to ensure that the levels of the hormone are in the proper range.
The final thing you can do is to continue making healthy lifestyle decisions. This means eating healthy, exercising regularly, managing your stress, not smoking tobacco products, and managing any chronic conditions that you may have.
Testosterone
Testosterone is one of the most popular forms of hormone replacement therapy. Testosterone is a male sex hormone that has many important functions including mood, sexual functioning, libido, muscle mass, and more. As men age their testosterone levels reduce by about 1.6 percent each year. When the testosterone levels decrease with age men can experience unwanted symptoms like erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle mass, lack of energy, hair loss, decreased sex drive, and increasd body fat. Testosterone hormone replacement therapy helps to reduce these unwanted symptoms and promote a better quality of life.
How much testosterone replacement you get will be determined by a few factors. The first is your current level of testosterone production. If you are making a very low amount of testosterone to begin with, your dose of testosterone hormone replacement therapy will be much higher. Another factor is how bad your symptoms are. If your symptoms are very severe you will likely need a higher dose. Your weight also impacts which dose you will need. The more you weigh the more testosterone you will need to keep up with your body’s demands.
No matter what your dose is, Elite HRT will be there to create a completely customized plan to fit your needs.
Estrogen
Estrogen is another hormone that is used in hormone replacement therapy. Estrogen is a hormone primarily in women produced by the ovaries. The ovaries are the 2 small organs in the female reproductive system that produce eggs, estrogen, and progesterone. Estrogen is also seen in men, but only in small amounts produced by the adrenal glands. Estrogen plays a role in mood, the menstrual cycle, bone health, and much more.
When a woman goes through menopause the levels of estrogen decreases considerably resulting in the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes. Estrogen hormone replacement therapy is typically provided to women to reduce signs like hot flashes, weight gain, weakening bones, and fatigue.
Growth Hormone
Human growth hormone (HGH) is a hormone typically produced by the pituitary gland that is located in the brain. Human growth hormone helps the body grow, especially when it comes to the bones and muscles. As you age human growth hormone also decreases, resulting in other unwanted side effects.
Luckily, human growth hormone replacement therapy can offer some great benefits. HGH replacement therapy can help to increase sex drive, improve quality of sleep, increase energy levels, increase lean muscle mass, and eliminate depression and anxiety.
Conclusion
Overall, hormone replacement therapy is very helpful in restoring the hormone levels back to their youthful days. Hormone replacement therapy is individualized to each person, and those taking advantage of it should have a team of care providers, including their primary care provider and Elite HRT, to make sure it is perfect for them. Testosterone, estrogen, and human growth hormone are only three of many hormones available for hormone replacement therapy, but they are some of the most common options.
If you think that you may need hormone replacement therapy based on your symptoms or a referral from your healthcare provider, reach out to Elite HRT today to get your plan going!
Resources
Hormone therapy: Is it right for you? – Mayo Clinic
Human growth hormone (HGH): Does it slow aging? – Mayo Clinic
Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you age – Mayo Clinic