Category: Bio-Identical Hormones and Testosterone Therapy

Bioidentical Testosterone Replacement for Men in Tampa

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Decreased testosterone in men, or “low T”, is a common condition.  Testosterone is a hormone produced by the testicles.  Symptoms of low testosterone include: fatigue, decreased energy and libido, increased bone and muscle mass loss, depression, irritability, anxiety, lack of concentration, los of body hair and infertility.  As men age it is normal for their testosterone levels to decrease.  However, if the levels decrease too rapidly, or to a level that is too low, symptoms may develop.

Blood tests are used to determine if replacement testosterone may be necessary.  There are various forms of testosterone replacement including: bio-identical cream, patches, gels and injections.  Bio-identical testosterone cream is a prescription cream formulated in a compounding pharmacy.  The pharmacy creates a dose based on your individual needs as determined by you and your physician.  The cream is applied once or twice daily.  By using bio-identical testosterone, many men are able to achieve significant improvement in their symptoms.

Dr. Ann Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician, is pleased to offer bio-identical hormone therapy to her patients.  Dr. Hermann maintains offices in Tampa and St. Pete Beach, Florida.  Please contact us at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

Bio-Identical Hormones for Women in Tampa

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Testosterone is an important hormone produced by the adrenal glands and ovaries.  It helps maintain normal ovarian function, cognition, sexual behavior and bone metabolism.  As a woman ages, her testosterone levels will naturally decline.  Studies have shown declines beginning as early as age 30. Some women can tolerate this decline without issue, other women will become symptomatic.   She may begin to develop:  poor concentration, headaches, fatigue, lack of libido, dry skin and eyes, muscle loss, anxiety or depression.  Low testosterone can occur with or without a decrease in other hormones.   Your physician will use blood work to determine your hormonal levels.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy offers testosterone replacement that is formulated into a cream.   Other hormones such as estradiol, progesterone, and DHEA may also be added to the cream.   It is applied once or twice daily.  This cream is compounded by a specialty pharmacy that creates a dose based on your individual needs as determined by you and your physician.  Many women are able to achieve significant improvement in their symptoms with replacement therapy.

Dr. Ann Hermann, a holistic internal medicine physician, is pleased to offer bio-identical hormone therapy to her patients.  Dr. Hermann maintains offices in Tampa and St. Pete Beach, Florida.  Please contact us at (813) 902-9559 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

Is Natural Progesterone Cream Safe and Effective? Learn from Tampa and St Pete’s Expert

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Posted by Anne Hermann on Fri, Apr 13, 2012 @ 04:39 PM

Anne Hermann, MD

Bioidentical hormones are exactly the same molecule as those produced in our own bodies.  Most standard hormones are chemically different than the hormones made by our bodies.  Progesterone is a hormone that is also converted to other hormones in our bodies.  So, when we take the bioidentical form, we are not only replacing progesterone, but also the other hormones that are made with progesterone.  Standard, synthetic progesterone cannot be converted into other hormones in our bodies.

As early as the late 1990’s, I saw patients who used natural progesterone cream for menopausal symptoms.  At that time, most doctors had no knowledge about the difference between standard hormone therapy and bioidentical hormones.   When I spoke with one expert in the field, he told me that “in order to absorb enough progesterone through the skin, you would have to wear a progesterone patch the size of a vest”.  I knew this could not be correct as my patients were having real benefit from the progesterone creams they were using.  I set out to perform a study to determine how much natural progesterone is absorbed from the creams.  At Bassett Hospital, a Columbia University Hospital, where I did my residency, I worked with two clinical pharmacologists, Joe Bertino, PhD and Ann Nafsiger, MD.  They helped me develop a protocol to compare the FDA approved oral natural progesterone, Prometrium to over the counter progesterone cream.  The results were surprising to many (but not to me):  40 mg of progesterone cream twice a day gives same blood value of progesterone as 200 mg per day of Prometrium!

Because we already know that prometrium is effective against endometrial cancer, we can say that progesterone cream is equally effective at this.  The cream provides additional benefit because it does not yield as many by-products as the oral form.  Now, research is leaning towards bioidentical progesterone as being less likely to cause breast cancer than synthetic progesterone.

All progesterone use should be used under medical supervision.

For more blogs on bioidentical hormones, check out http://www.doctorhermann.com/blog/?Tag=Bioidentical+Hormone+Therapy.

To schedule your consult with Dr. Anne Hermann, call (813) 902-9559.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy from Tampa and St Petersburg’s Own Expert!

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Posted by Anne Hermann on Wed, Apr 11, 2012 @ 04:10 PM

Anne Hermann, MD

What You Need to Know about Bioidentical Hormone Therapy from Tampa and St Petersburg’s Own Expert!

This article focuses on female hormone therapy.  On my blog, I also post articles focused on male hormone therapy.  As an author of nationally recognized research on bioidentical hormone therapy, I have been treating men and women for 9 years in Tampa Bay.  I recommend hormone replacement therapy when non-hormonal and natural therapies do not work in treatment of menopausal symptoms including:

  • hot flashes
  • weight gain
  • sleep disturbance
  • “brain fog”
  • poor libido
  • vaginal dryness
  • skin changes

The medical community is learning that some forms of hormone replacement, called bioidentical hormones, have less side effects and less danger than standard hormones.  Less risk does not mean no risk, and I always discuss these pros and cons with my patients.

Hormone therapy is not recommended for women with the following:

  • · Current or past history of breast cancer (standard hormone therapy increase risk of breast cancer)
  • · Coronary heart disease especially if older than 60 or went through menopause more than 10 years ago
  • · A previous blood clot, heart attack, or stroke (standard therapy increase risk of blood clots and stroke)
  • · Women at high risk for these complications

Benefits:

  • Reduces the risk of bone fracture caused by osteoporosis.
  • Lowers risk of colon cancer
  • Make women with menopausal symptoms feel better

The North American Menopause Society, the Endocrine Society, the International Menopause Society, and guidelines from the European Menopause and Andropause Society for the management of menopausal women all favor the use of bioidentical forms of hormone replacement in women with high risk of blood clots.  Unlike standard estrogen treatment, bioidentical estradiol does not increase risk of blood clots or stroke (doses ≤ 50 μg).  Bioidentical progesterone also has less risk of blood clots and breast cancer than standard therapy. Based on these data, which are now included in the guidelines, the use of transdermal estradiol and micronized progesterone could reduce the excess risk of blood clots, stroke, and possibly even breast cancer associated with hormone use.  Simon JA. What’s new in hormone replacement therapy: focus on transdermal estradiol and micronized progesterone. Climacteric. 2012 Apr;15 Suppl 1:3-10.

I was the first author in the study that demonstrated that the bioidentical form of progesterone cream is absorbed as well as progesterone pills. Over-the-counter progesterone cream produces significant drug exposure compared to a food and drug administration-approved oral progesterone product.  Hermann AC, Nafziger AN, Victory J, Kulawy R, Rocci ML Jr, Bertino JS Jr.J Clin Pharmacol. 2005 Jun;45(6):614-9.  Look out for my blog on this topic in the future.

Anne Hermann, MD is double board certified in Internal Medicine and as a Physician Nutrition Specialist. To schedule your consult, please call (813) 902-9559.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.