Male Hormone Panels

Even recently it was believed that age-related male hormone changes were not considered problematic because fertility in men persists until advanced age. Significant enough hormonal changes usually begin in the forth and fifth decades of life and lead to a condition which is called andropause, and may be considered the male equivalent of menopause.

Optimal health is dependent on the balance of hormones, and not just on a single one. Currently, men with low androgen hormones can benefit from bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.

Androgens (of which most important is testosterone) are supplemented in states of deficit and can produce many positive effects on the well being of men. Those positive effects include increased libido and increased levels of good cholesterol, reduced fat and change in its distribution, reduced levels of bad cholesterol and risk osteoporosis, enhanced lean body mass. Stamina, passion for life, memory, decisiveness, enthusiasm, strength, vigor and energy are the other benefits derived form hormone supplementation. It also improves insomnia, nervousness, depression, hair loss or hair thinning, corrects erectile dysfunction, urinary symptoms or enables loosing weight.

Using your saliva sample we can measure DHEA, androstenedione, testosterone, DHT, estrone and progesterone. Active fractions found in saliva are superior, more affordable and less expensive to blood and urine total hormone levels in diagnosis and treatment. Results can lead to an individualized and customized treatment plan using bio-identical hormones. One can minimize overdosing and underdosing. This will ensure the use of only the proper hormones in the appropriate amounts, thus minimizing the guesswork.

Symptoms alone are not a substitute for measuring hormone levels because many symptoms may involve non-hormonal factors.

Measurements of hormones can be used in two ways. First, baseline measurements will show levels and ratios of distinct hormones, allowing an objective treatment plan for the individual. Second, therapeutic monitoring measure levels of hormones after supplementation . This is crucial in establishing the appropriate dosing regimen in and reducing the chance of undesirable side-effects and maximizing beneficial effects. Monitoring is especially important in older males.

It is worth mentioning that testosterone therapy may of little benefit unless problems affecting cortisol production are addressed as well. The body’s response to stress is mediated by increased cortisol production, and this prepares the body for “fight or flight” by shutting down other processes, including testosterone production. It is now known that testosterone itself does not cause either benign prostatic hypertrophy or prostate cancer, it is thought to have the potential to exacerbate the problem when already present.

Saliva is an excellent way to assess sex and adrenal hormone levels in men and there is a good correlation with symptoms. However, in individuals who produce very little saliva, saliva collection may not be possible and in those who use hormones in sublingual or troche formulations, saliva hormone testing in not appropriate and blood spot testing is a better choice.