As we age, the hormones that give us our youthful vitality start to decline and our bodies start to decline in turn. In some cases, replacing certain missing hormones can enhance our health and make us feel younger and more energetic.

DHEA

DHEA is a precursor hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It is crucial in the formation of estrogen and testosterone and is essential to growth and attaining physical maturity.  DHEA therapy is helpful for treating conditions such as chronic fatigue, auto-immune disorders, osteoporosis, obesity and dementia. Although supplementing with DHEA alone may correct these deficiencies, your physician may find it more effective to tailor an individual treatment plan to target specific imbalances in testosterone or estrogen for individual conditions, such as using estrogen replacement for menopause symptoms.

Progesterone

Progesterone is a vital precursor hormone for both men and women, which converts to cortisol, estrogen or testosterone. It regulates sleep and boosts brain function and immunity, which accounts for the poor sleep, moodiness and foggy thinking that comes with the decrease of progesterone as we age. For women, it is essential for proper functioning of the reproductive system. Progesterone deficiency can lead to weight gain due to increased cortisol levels and sexual dysfunction due to lowered levels of sex hormones. A deficiency can also impair immune function.

Testosterone

Testosterone is the principle member of the androgen hormones group. In men, testosterone is responsible for the body changes during puberty, sex drive and sperm production. In women, it is important for sex drive, mood, energy and weight functions. A testosterone deficiency makes it difficult to achieve or sustain a lean body, and can also lead to a lowered sex drive. Testosterone supplementation therapy must be carefully administered by a qualified physician to avoid serious side effects such as

• redness, swelling and pain in the extremities
• blurred vision or temporary blindness
• sudden and severe weakness in extremities on one side of the body
• slurred speech or inability to speak
• headaches and seizures

Estrogen

Estrogen is actually a word which refers to the three hormones estradiol, estriol and estrone. It plays a larger role in the aging process for women than for men. It is essential for proper sexual development of all of the female sexual and reproductive organs. It affects hundreds of female body functions and regulates a number of metabolic processes. In men, it facilitates the growth of body hair, the development of muscles and also helps protect men's bones and brain function. Estrogen replacement therapy in women is largely used to control the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, moodiness and fatigue. While studies originally showed that estrogen replacement therapy increased the risk of breast cancer, further studies have shown the risk to be negligible or non-existent. Your physician can assess your risk and determine if this treatment is right for you.

Hormone replacement therapy has legitimate uses for the treatment of many conditions in both women and men. To learn more, consult a qualified physician, like Modern Therapy, who can measure your levels and prescribe a proper treatment therapy.