Hormones Replacement Therapy for Graceful Aging a Major Trend

By Dr. Sony Sherpa | Published on January 27, 2019
Reviewed By Gilmore Health | On: July 24, 2021

Aging as described in this article is an inevitable process for everyone that involves a slow but sure decline in health. Most people believe getting older essentially means getting weaker, having a reduced libido, and being unable to perform athletic tasks. However, this is no longer true. With the rapid advancements in science and technology, there are many interventions that can enable an older individual to be as fit or even fitter than a younger person. In this article, we share with you 4 hormone replacement therapies to maintain your youth and age gracefully.

Replacing Lost Hormones

As we age, our body stops producing or reduces the production of many hormones or even becomes resistant to some essential hormones. These hormones include sex hormones, growth hormones, sleep hormones, etc.

Owing to some amazing scientific breakthroughs, these hormones can be synthetically produced or some drugs can stimulate increased production of these hormones.

1.Sex hormones: Estrogen & Progesterone

Estrogen & Progesterone are female sex hormones produced by the ovaries.

Function:

1. Regulate menstrual cycle
2. Breast development during puberty
3. Maintain feminine fat distribution in the hips, legs, and breasts
4. Maintain sexual libido and drive
5. Lubricate vagina during sexual arousal
6. Essential for calcium deposition in bones

Deficiency Symptoms

Rapid reduction in estrogen production occurs after menopause.

1. Osteoporosis: Reduced bone density thus resulting in easily occurring fractures from minor trauma
2. Ovarian cancer
3. Reduced libido and sexual drive
4. Vaginal dryness

Replacement Benefits

Estrogen or estrogen/progesterone combination pills in low doses can relieve uncomfortable menopause symptoms, increase sexual libido, increase vaginal lubrication and prevent osteoporosis

2. Sexual hormones: Testosterone

Testosterone is the main male sex hormone produced by the gonads in males and by the ovaries in females. Although it is predominantly considered a male sexual hormone, females also produce some quantity of testosterone. For more facts on testosterone read more here!

Function

1. Regulate fertility
2. Stimulates sperm and red blood cells production
3. Increase sexual libido and drive
4. Maintain and increase muscle mass

Deficiency Effects

1. Infertility
2. Reduced sexual drive
3. Reduced muscle mass
4. Decreased Red blood cells and sperm count

Replacement Benefit

Although testosterone pills are available, they can have side effects due to high testosterone levels. Increasing testosterone levels by more natural methods such as a healthy lifestyle, quitting smoking, physical exercise and lifting weights are better and safer.

3. Human Growth hormone

Human Growth Hormone is an essential hormone produced by the pituitary gland.

Function:

1. Stimulates growth
2. Stimulates cellular reproduction
3. Stimulates cell regeneration
4. Crucial for children and adolescents for their physical growth and development
5. HGH increases protein synthesis; increases muscle mass and promotes lipolysis.

Deficiency effects?

1. Increased fat deposition
2. Reduced muscle mass
3. Unhealthy rapid weight gain
4. In children: Dwarfism

Replacement Benefits

Growth hormones can be replaced by synthetic HGH that comes in the form of HGH injections. However, this has serious side effects. Therefore, raising growth hormone levels naturally through exercise, fasting, and possibly by taking supplements that stimulate natural HGH production is a better approach. For more on HGH injections read more here!