Welcome to hormone therapy 101, where you will learn all about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and what it can do for your body. There isn’t anything to be ashamed about here – except for the signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Those are still nothing to be ashamed of, but wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to treat this issue? There is!
If you are already wondering what hormone therapy does to you, think for a moment about your current energy levels, body composition, athletic performance, and more. If you are, or have been, experiencing low energy or sex drive levels, a decrease in muscle mass, or even a decline in your athleticism, then you can benefit from HRT in more ways than one. Don’t get stuck in a rut of hormonal imbalances and the nasty side effects that come with them. Get your athletic game back with HRT! Let’s learn more about the benefits of hormone therapy.
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
When your body is unable to produce enough of a specific hormone on its own, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replaces those hormones in your body. HRT can also help if your body produces too many hormones. Either way HRT targets hormonal imbalances in the body and works to correct them.
Hormone therapy is done through medication. Hormones used for HRT include testosterone and estrogen, the two primary sex hormones that are naturally found in the human body. Despite being designated sex hormones, these two hormones play a critical role in your body’s productivity, functioning, and performance. If you want to be able to compete and perform at your best, then you need to ensure your hormone levels are stable and normal.
You can check your hormone levels via blood tests and lab results, but it is also good to start by assessing the symptoms you may be experiencing:
- fatigue
- hair loss
- low energy
- lack of libido
- poor body composition
These symptoms and more can impact men and women alike, so let’s take a deeper dive into what types of HRT exist and what they may look like for your needs. However, before we get further into hormone therapy, let’s look at hormones and what they do for the human body.
The Significance of Hormones
You are probably familiar with the terms testosterone and estrogen. Even if you know the terms and what they mean, do you know what these hormones do and why they are important? Let’s break it down.
As it was previously mentioned, the main male sex hormone, testosterone, is essential for:
- sexual health
- reproductive functioning
- muscle mass
- facial and body hair
- red blood cell production
Even in men, a small amount of testosterone is converted into estradiol, a form of estrogen. Over time, testosterone levels decline, and the body’s normal functions also start to slow down. The good news is that there’s something you can do to prevent the decrease in hormones. The same is true for women, too!
Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone, and is vital for:
- sexual health
- reproductive functioning and processes
- menopause
- puberty
- birth and after-birth
- weight distribution
- bone density
If you take HRT, you can usually assess how long you need to take it based on the reason for taking it and how long the symptoms last or subside while taking hormone therapy. Why suffer from hormonal imbalances when you don’t have to? The moral of the story is that hormones play a critical role in your body’s overall success, no matter where they originate in the body. If your hormones are out of whack, everything else will be, too.
What are the Basic Types of Hormone Therapy for Men and Women?
When diet and exercise do not work on their own, HRT can be a helpful intervention for both men and women. That in itself is annoying – think of how often you have restricted your favorite foods or spent hours in the gym, just to see no progress. If you aren’t seeing results after giving time and attention to your health regimen, it may be time to explore alternative solutions. Also, HRT is not gender-specific, just like testosterone is not just found in males and estrogen is not only in females. HRT can help both men and women replenish hormone levels and be their best athletic selves.
HRT looks like testosterone supplements for men help with muscle gain and fat loss. For women, HRT looks like progesterone, estrogen, or a combination of the two (for combination hormone therapy). Women who take these HRT supplements can also benefit from fat loss and gaining a slimmer, more toned physique.
Signs and Symptoms of Decreased Hormone Levels
HRT can be used to prevent the production of these hormones if they are being produced in excess amounts of testosterone and estrogen. HRT is needed to decrease hormone levels, those signs and symptoms may look like any of the following:
- low sperm counts
- enlarged prostate for men
- acne
- difficulty sleeping
- weight gain
- high blood pressure and cholesterol
- irregular menstrual periods
- mood swings
- headaches
- infertility
- erectile dysfunction
Now that you know what HRT is and why you might need it, let’s talk about how you can try out this therapy.
HRT can be taken in oral or injectable supplements, so there are options based on your needs and medical preferences. Some HRT methods include creams, patches, or gels that can be directly applied to the skin. These products will be determined and then prescribed based on your needs and preferences.
We know HRT can sound more technical than it needs to be! As a quick recap, let’s go through it one more time. Hormone therapy involves either blocking hormones from being produced in the body, manipulating the way hormones act, or supplementing a lack of hormones being made in the body. Different HRT treatments target these hormonal imbalances depending on the different levels and will be prescribed as such, depending on your individual needs.
What are the Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy?
If you haven’t gathered by now, HRT helps with muscle gain and stubborn belly fat. In addition, HRT has many benefits. When HRT treatments enter your body, you will benefit because it will:
- increase your energy to achieve training goals and results
- boost your sex drive to stimulate your sexual health
- suppress your appetite so that your hunger cues can indicate when you are starving
- decrease hot flashes and other menopause-related symptoms in women
- strengthen bone density
- foster hair and nail growth and health
- regulate mood and sleep
- weight loss
Who is a Good Candidate for Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Next on the list is to discuss who can benefit from HRT. The easy way to start the answer to this question is to detail who should not take HRT due to various medical reasons:
- high blood pressure
- certain types of cancer
- history of blood clots, stroke, or previous heart attack (or are at risk for these)
- pregnant women
- smokers
Of course, you should clear HRT with your doctor or a medical specialist before starting any sort of regimen, but HRT may be right for you if you do not fall into one of the categories previously mentioned. Below you will find some of the different ways you will see the benefits of HRT.
- struggle to see results with a clean diet and exercise
- experience muscle and bone weakness, or suffer from osteoporosis
- menopause or are pre-menopausal
- side effects of low testosterone
Different Side Effects When Taking HRT
Just be mindful that you might experience the following side effects if you start an HRT regimen:
- breast tenderness or swelling
- acne
- nausea
- mood changes
- changes in sleep and appetite
While some people with cancer are not recommended to take hormone therapy, HRT is actually used to treat certain types of cancer. For example, HRT can be used in patients with prostate and breast cancer who need hormonal support. However, it depends on the stage of cancer you have and how much it has spread throughout the body. Hormone replacement therapy needs to be taken and treated carefully, just the same as any medication or supplement routine.
It is important to note that most of what you might find on the Internet about hormone therapy stems from information about menopause treatment. You do not need to be going through menopause to use HRT. In fact, as we have shown, there are numerous benefits and uses for hormone replacement therapy, whether you are male or female. You just need to decide, with your primary doctor, if hormone replacement therapy is right for you and how long to try it for.
Is HRT Right for You?
The older you get, the more likely you are to experience issues that stem from hormone depletion. That is a normal fact of life. There are some risks and potential side effects associated with taking HRT and it is not recommended for everyone. However, HRT can help alleviate annoying symptoms of hormone depletion that can help you get back on track and reclaim your A-game in performance and athleticism. Who wouldn’t want that, right?
If it is time for you to try a solution to stop fatigue, weight gain, and struggles in the gym, then it is time to take hormone therapy. If these collective symptoms arise and do not subside, or you know they are out of the norm for you, you can take a lab sample of your blood to check your hormone levels. That will be your next indication of what your hormone levels are and what treatments might be needed.
You deserve to be able to live and perform at your peak without worrying about how hormonal imbalances are negatively impacting your health and wellness. We are here to tell you the ins and outs of what possibilities HRT can hold for you.
Bodybuilders and HRT
Another thing to note is that if you are a bodybuilder or athletic competitor, check the rules of the competition you enter to see what rules and restrictions regarding HRT exist. Therefore, while hormonal imbalances are natural, and supplements can be, it is important to recognize that competition regulators may feel strongly about HRT. The only way to know if it is for you or not is to try it, so let us help you get Elite with HRT.
HRT with Elite Health Online
Elite Health Online is your home for all things HRT and more. Our team of experienced professionals will help you get on track for your best self yet. Our offerings include hormone therapy, stacks, protocols, lab work options, peptides, and more to satisfy your weight goals, physical health, mental health, and sexual health needs. We will work with you to come up with an optimal, individualized plan so that none of your goals are left unattained.
Why Elite Health Online? Because we are the number one source to help you improve your health, fitness, and the place to receive the right supplements to help you achieve the best results. We know that natural remedies and the mundane diet and exercise routine don’t cut it for everyone. We also know that talking about hormones can be considered taboo, and you shouldn’t have to suffer the uncomfortable symptoms of hormonal imbalances alone. Hormone replacement therapy is a great solution and can help you get your athleticism and hormone levels back on track. Performing at your peak is our goal, and we won’t stop till you get there.
So, what does it take to become Elite? Whether male or female, we have your solution for complementary and integrative health solutions right here. Start achieving results and feeling great again, today! Book your appointment now to get started!
