Overview

Have you been experiencing a lowered sex drive? Or have you seen a decrease in energy, muscle loss, and change in your mood? A male hormone imbalance treatment session with us might be just what you need for overall wellness. Here's what you should know about how functional medicine can help male hormone imbalance.

What is Male Hormone Imbalance?

As the body's chemical messengers, hormones are responsible for everything from puberty and reproduction to controlling your mood and metabolism. A disruption to hormone levels can lead to the onset of disease and illness. In males, hormone imbalances can occur for several reasons, including aging.

An imbalance in testosterone levels in men can lead to:

• reduced sex drive in aging male patients
• erectile dysfunction
• male infertility
• changes to mood
• decrease in energy
• loss of muscle
• increase in developing osteoporosis
• loss of hair
• enlarged prostate

What Are the Causes of Male Hormone Imbalance?

Male hormone imbalance can be caused for several different reasons. A decrease in levels of testosterone, also known as andropause, is common in aging patients. Male hormone imbalances can also be caused due to:

• stress
• viral or bacterial infections
• cancer in the adrenal gland or testicles
• injury to the testes

Balancing hormones in the body is key to preventing the onset of illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer. Hormone imbalances can affect your sleep, increase anxiety, and depression.

What to Expect During a Male Hormone Imbalance Treatment Session

If you've never had treatment for male hormone imbalance, you might be wondering what to expect during your first appointment. A trained physician at Chris Strickland will begin by asking you a comprehensive set of questions to determine your current health status, including your mental and emotional health. From there, your physician will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm and will send it to the lab to carry out a testosterone levels test. This measures the levels of testosterone in your blood and helps determine if levels are too low or too high. Depending on your results, you may be prescribed several different types of treatment, such as:

• testosterone replacement therapy in the form of gel patches, hormone pellets inserted under the skin, injections, or tablets
• dietary changes
• yoga and tai chi, to improve your body's movement
• mental health sessions for patients experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression

For more information about male hormone imbalances, contact Chris Strickland at (706) 769-9779.