The hormone testosterone exerts a positive effect on 
                    cardiovascular health and high blood pressure. 
                    Bioidentical hormones offer a natural solution for men.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common symptom of testosterone deficiency.
In most cases, erectile dysfunction is related to atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis can be associated with low testosterone levels in men during male menopause. Men with high blood pressure are 2 times more likely to have low testosterone. Older men with low testosterone levels have twice the risk of depression. 

 Bioidentical Hormones for Men -
 beginning hormone replacement therapy

Before beginning bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for men it is important to evaluate hormone levels through a male hormonal evaluation. Doctors specializing in bioidentical hormones for men and natural hormone replacement therapy are well equipped in evaluating your hormonal status and prescribing the appropriate bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Bioidentical hormone doctors will assess hormonal health through an examination of male menopause symptoms and signs of andropause as well as hormone testing.

 
 Male hormonal evaluation - hormonal testing

A blood test or a 24 hour urine test is considered to be the most accurate method of assessing hormone levels in men. A male hormonal panel through a blood test is an easy and accurate technique to evaluate hormonal health. 24 hour urine collection is a detailed panel that includes hormones as well as their metabolic pathways. However, male hormonal panel using the 24 hour urine test requires collection of every urine sample within a 24 hour period. This may be cumbersome for busy individuals. Doctors specializing in bioidentical hormones for men order both blood and 24 hour urine hormonal panels for their male patients. Attempting to evaluate hormone levels through a saliva test is inaccurate and therefore not utilized by qualified hormone doctors. 

 Evaluating male hormone levels through a blood test

The hormones that should be measured through a blood test are: 

1. Total testosterone
2. Free testosterone
3. DHEA
4. Estradiol
5. SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin)

Other hormone levels that might be measured are: 

1. LH (luteinizing hormone)
2. FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)
3. DHT (dihydrotestosterone)

In order to fully understand and be able to correctly diagnose a man's hormonal health, a doctor who specializes in bioidentical hormones for men may also evaluate thyroid hormone levels and adrenal hormones including DHEA and cortisol.

The optimal conditions for testing and measuring the hormonal levels of men are on an average day without any excessive stress or extreme physical activity. Specialty laboratories are usually better equipped to perform higher quality and more accurate testing then general laboratories.

Monitoring of PSA (prostate specific antigen), hematocrit and lipid levels is recommended in patients on bioidentical hormones, specifically testosterone replacement therapy. All of these aspects are important to ensure a successful bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and prescriptions of appropriate doses of the needed bioidentical hormones for men.
 


Bioidentical Hormone Doctors -
Doctors who Specialize in Bioidentical Hormones

In addition, the interpretation of laboratory testing has to be done by a medical doctor who specializes in bioidentical hormones for men and natural hormone replacement therapy. Conventional doctors can interpret only referenced laboratory hormone levels, they do not have specialized comprehension to interpret suboptimal or sub-clinical test values and symptoms. Doctors who are trained and knowledgeable about various methods of administering bioidentical hormones for men through the utilization of natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy are familiar with the benefits as well as the side-effects and shortcomings of bioidentical hormones for men. A bioidentical hormones doctor is your best ally in natural testosterone replacement therapy. 

 Benefits of Bioidentical Hormones for Men, bioidentical hormone 
 replacement therapy

Restoring testosterone levels to the optimal value through natural testosterone replacement therapy can have many benefits for a man with low testosterone levels. The best results are often obtained through the use of bioidentical hormones for men.
The most important objective of normalizing testosterone levels to a youthful range is an improvement in quality of life. Depending on the severity of testosterone depletion, this improvement can be significant in most cases. Normal testosterone levels in men equal increased vitality, energy and health.
Testosterone is an element that keeps a man’s body in youthful condition. Testosterone provides the body with the required anabolic function. Normal testosterone levels in men will ensure optimal performance of the heart and brain. Testosterone has been shown to extend the health span of men. Therefore, men who do not have a sufficient amount of the hormone testosterone are advised to begin bioidentical hormone replacement therapy under the guidance of a knowledgeable doctor who specializes in bioidentical hormones for men.

The bioidentical hormones for men that are most often utilized in natural hormone replacement therapy are: testosterone and DHEA