Hormone Replacement for Men?

This is a small study-----but a study nonetheless. I think we are going to start hearing more about andropause (male menopause) and my hope is that it will spur researchers into action to conduct studies on BHRT for both men and women. Check out the article from the Morning Call.

Great site for men's hormones!

I know most of you reading my blog are women, but I also know many of you have husbands or partners who may be suffering from low testosterone......and I got an email from a gentleman who runs a site called Peak Testosterone-----be sure to check it out! Thanks, Curt, for introducing me to this blog!

Rx vs. XXX

By Tony Dokoupil Newsweek Web Exclusive
May 20, 2009 Updated: 12:39 p.m. ET May 20, 2009

Porn or prescriptions? It hardly sounds likes a typical fork in the road. But it's the choice that middle-aged American men males apparently may face if they suffer from symptoms of low testosterone—as around five million men do, a figure that seems to be growing along with male girths, diabetes and the aging boomer generation. Click here to read the rest of the article...

Note from Andrea: This medicine is available by prescription only. I checked out two "online pharmacies" for pricing, one listed a 30 day supply as $138, and the other $264! That's a huge disparity in price. For women testosterone replacement is quite cheap (a three month supply for me is less than $50), but of course women do not need nearly as much testosterone as men. If male testosterone replacement is something you or your loved one is considering, it might be worth checking into the price comparison (and insurance coverage) of compounded testosterone replacement vs. commercially prepared products. Since testosterone itself cannot be patented, the drug companies are making big bucks by patenting the delivery method, and that may be largely what you are paying for. The advantage of compounded cream is that the dosage can be tailored to the individual need, just like women have widely varying levels of hormone deficiencies, so do men.

Nature's Viagra: Why Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men Is Hotter Than Ever

Jacksonville, Fla. (PRWEB) May 21, 2009 --

All the attention celebrities have been giving bioidentical hormones in recent months is paying off for credible practitioners who can successfully prescribe the therapy as an anti-aging and menopausal treatment option. Bold-faced names such as Oprah, Dr. Phil, and Suzanne Somers have brought more attention to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) than ever before. Unfortunately, with all the focus on how bioidentical hormones help women going through "The Change," no one is letting the guys know that BHRT can also be their sexual salvation.

C.W. Randolph, Jr., M.D., board certified gynecologist and Medical Director of the Natural Hormone Institute, says the vast majority of the patients in his practice used to be women. But now, one in every three patients he sees is a man. "Men are excited to learn that they have options besides Viagra to maintain a healthy sex life as they get older," says Dr. Randolph. "And, because of recent medical studies released by Harvard University Medical School, the importance of reversing age-related testosterone level decline is being recognized as a key factor in promoting long-term prostate health."

Male patients who seek BHRT are primarily focused on erectile performance, says Randolph, but after their testosterone deficiency is treated with bioidentical testosterone they quickly reap the added benefits of increased energy, improved mood and more lean muscle mass.
Randolph, co-author of the bestselling book From Hormone Hell to Hormone Well, says "Growing research also suggests that low testosterone levels may be intimately linked with insulin resistance and its related conditions of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors - high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels and abdominal fat - that make heart disease and diabetes more likely."

Randolph works with male patients by testing their hormone levels to determine individual hormone level deficiencies. Then a man's optimal hormone balance is restored via a personalized prescription of bioidentical testosterone. "A regimen of bioidentical testosterone is less expensive and more effective than Viagra, without the side effects. Even better, a man doesn't have to allow a 30 to 45 minute window before he can spring into action. Once lagging testosterone levels are replenished, a man can be as spontaneous in his 40's, 50's, 60's and beyond as he was in his rambunctious 20's."

Menopausal Barbie

We all know menopause is not for the faint of heart, and even if your breasts are made of plastic (and I don't mean you are addicted to plastic surgery----I mean if your breasts are really, really plastic), you will face challenges. Our favourite doll, Barbie, turns 50 this year, and The Times online talks about menopausal Barbie ------ check it at out by clicking here. NOTE: I'm having a really lousy day, so I am deliberately putting something silly and lighthearted on the blog today, while I look for some more substantive, informative articles on BHRT, hormones, menopause/andropause, and related issues!