Hormones are responsible for an entire network within your body that direct biochemical messages which regulate regulate a litany of different functions in your body, metabolism, growth, sleep, sex drive, fertility, and mood. If you have a hormonal imbalance that network is thrown out of whack. Let’s dive into some summaries of studies about hormones that do an excellent job of reflecting how important balanced hormones are for us.
Benefits and health implications of testosterone therapy in men with testosterone deficiency:
· Benefits of testosterone: increased libido*, bone growth and development*, muscle growth and recovery*, weight management*, erectile dysfunction(men), anti-inflammatory*, anti-proliferative* (i.e. men with hypogonadism were seen more likely to develop diabetes with complications than those with sufficient testosterone levels in study done by CLINICAL REUMATOLOGY 2016), cognitive function*, inhibits adipogenesis which is a process of fat cell production*, vital for fertility*, low testosterone is linked to increase risk of insulin resistance*, endothelial and liver production*, and hair growth*
– SEXUAL MEDICINE REVIEWS 2018
Hypogonadism and the risk of autoimmune disease:
Causes for hormonal imbalance: age, poor diet, being overweight, anorexia, chronic stress, diabetes, thyroid issues, birth control, pituitary tumors, exposure to toxins/pollutants/pesticides/herbicides, iodine deficiency, cushing’s syndrome, addison’s disease, turner syndrome, endocrine gland injury, severe allergic reactions or infections, chemotherapy, radiation
· Testosterone deficiency has been linked with autoimmune disease and an increase in inflammatory markers such as c-reactive protein, tumor necrosis, and interleukin-6.
· Patients diagnosed with hypogonadism who were not treated with testosterone had an increased risk of developing any rheumatic autoimmune disease.
· Men with untreated low testosterone had a higher risk of developing any rheumatic autoimmune diseases at year 1, 3, and 5 and a higher risk of developing lupus at the 5-year time point compared to men in the second group of men with normal testosterone levels
· This was a national study of 500,000 that determined men with untreated low testosterone levels was associated with an increased risk of developing any rheumatic autoimmune disease.
-CLINICAL REUMOTOLOGY, 2016
Hormone replacement therapy and prevention of Chronic conditions:
- · HRT often has a bad reputation for side effects; however, when prescribed by a medical professional with appropriate timing, patient, selection and type of replacement used the ultimate effects help improve health and quality of life.
- · Numerous patients nearing menopause and following menopause have disruptive symptoms. And an astounding 80% of women going through menopause have similar symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, disruptive sleep and overall impaired quality of life. Low hormone levels impact both how patient’s feel mentally and physically.
- · Furthermore, HRT can prevent osteoporosis, help to lower blood pressure, and the risk of cardiovascular disease in early postmenopausal women (women before age of 60 or within 10 years of onset of menopause).·
· If you have low estrogen you will have a harder time absorbing calcium which affects bone health, vitamin D absorption , among other things
· Having sufficient estrogen has a correlation to the decreased risk of cardiac disease as well as having anti-proliferative/anti-inflammatory effects
-THE JOURNAL OF ADULT WOMENS HEALTH AND MEDICINE, 2019
Optimizing the health of women at midlife to minimize immediate and long-term morbidity:
· examined the effects of testosterone therapy in women on sexual function, cardiovascular events, metabolic parameters, musculoskeletal health and wellbeing and felt their study is the first step towards filling this important gap in women’s health care.
-Funded by the National Health Medical Research Council, Australia., 2018