Just like women, men go through their own form of menopause called andropause. As men age, the amount of hormones in the body like testosterone declines and the amount of estrogen increases. This imbalance of hormones can lead to female-like physical changes like gynecomastia (swelling of the breast tissue) and even prostate problems. Recently, there has been a growing public and physician awareness of the common symptoms associated with male aging and is being treated just like other medical conditions.
Signs and symptoms of andropause include:
- Fatigue, weakness
- Trouble sleeping
- Decreased libido
- Low sperm counts
- Erectile dysfunction
- Mood changes: irritability, depression
- Prostate problems
- Reduced muscle mass
- Osteoporosis
- Memory impairment
- Heart Disease
- Artherosclerosis
- Reduced cognitive function
- Hyperlipidemia
Experts believe that Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) offers protection from disease and also alleviates the symptoms experienced during this time.
There are many products available for HRT, including synthetically manufactured hormones available commercially and bio-identical hormone products compounded to meet the patient’s needs. The bio-identical hormones used in prescription compounding have the exact chemical structure of the body’s natural hormones. This allows the product to be recognized by the body and to mimic the function of the hormones the patient produces on her own.
Our compounding pharmacist here at Rx for all Pharmacy works with physicians to prescribe appropriate Hormone Replacement Therapy for their patients. We can customize the amount of hormone that goes into the body and put it into a topical cream (applied to the skin), troche (small lozenge that dissolves in the mouth) or into capsules as well. Our pharmacist can also assist our patients with consultations in order to optimize the therapy of men needing HRT.