As we age we experience many physical changes within our bodies, from visible ageing such as changes in the tone and texture of our skin, to internal ageing related to a slow-down in the production of various cells and hormones within our bodies. Ageing also affects fertility and sexual appetite due to the reduction in sex hormones. For women, this brings about the end of their egg productivity and child bearing ability, with the menopause. But, there is also the andropause, or the male menopause, which is mentioned less often but is a recognised condition associated with a fall in testosterone.
Both the menopause, and andropause have an effect on a person’s daily life, and sense of well-being, with symptoms ranging from a lack of energy, sweats or hot flushes, mood swings, reduced libido, vaginal complaints for women, difficulty sleeping and issues with bone density or osteoporosis. This is not an exhaustive list of symptoms for both men and women.
Many people are much more active in later life and therefore there is a desire to seek a solution for these symptoms. Relief can be achieved by replacing the deficiencies in natural hormone production.
Both men and women can benefit from a treatment known as Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) because it can provide relief from a wide range of symptoms experienced during menopause, andropause and other hormone-related conditions such as pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), post-natal depression, endometriosis and menstrual problems.
Such hormone replacement programmes are mostly used for relieving the symptoms felt by women experiencing menopause, but it is worth considering this treatment if you are a male over 40 experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned.
There has been a recent increase in demand, use and popularity of BHRT due to concerns about where the synthetic hormones used in conventional Hormone Replacement Therapies (HRT) come from, and their reported side effects.
Some BHRT programmes, offered in private clinics, use hormone replacement to address ageing and aim to result in improvements in the skin, body, hair and general well-being, aside from relieving menopausal symptoms.
Although some over-the-counter BHRT solutions are sold, particularly online, we would not recommend dabbling in these supplements without prior consultation and evaluation by an experienced medical practitioner who can prescribe a bespoke programme specifically for your needs.
If you are considering Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, the following information will give you a basic understanding of the main issues involved. It can't answer all your questions, since a lot depends on your individual medical history. Please ask your practitioner about anything you don't understand.