Out of whack hormones aren’t just a woman’s problem. Everyone suffers from hormone imbalances that tend to shift heavily as you age. But hormone treatment for men? It doesn’t seem to be as heavily marketed. So how can you make sure your (or your beau’s) levels are in check?
Regularly scheduled bloodwork and labs is the best first step for balancing hormones. “Getting your hormone levels balanced usually brings the rest of your labs into place,” says Michael Hataway, owner and general manager of GameDay Men’s Health in Reno, a men’s health clinic that offers hormone replacement therapy, as well as sexual wellness, hair loss treatment, weight loss treatment, and more.
Hormone treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all, which means every patient has different “optimal” levels. Zeroing in on that can be time consuming, but it’s worth it. “Hormones control every single process—they control your mood, everything,” Hataway says.
But how can you tell your hormones are out of whack? Mood swings, low energy, low libido, anxiety, depression, loss of muscle mass, stubborn belly fat, brain fog, poor sleep, body aches and achy joints, hair loss…. The list goes on and on. Basically, if you’re not feeling yourself, it may be more than aging, and there may be something you can do about it.
While testosterone is a common hormone men need to finagle, it isn’t the only one. The ratio of your testosterone to estrogen is actually what’s most important. While every person has a different need for each, making sure the ratio is in a healthy range makes all of the difference.
The other most important part? How you feel.
Getting a baseline of where your levels are at is the best starting point. From there, you should get your bloodwork done consistently while receiving hormone injections. You may start by checking every six weeks and then reducing appointments to every three months, and then six. That way, if anything changes in your symptoms or levels, it can be addressed early.
After you start dialing in your hormones, support the rest of your body. Diet, mental health, and exercise are all important aspects of an overall wellness profile. And, TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) typically leads to higher levels of energy and motivation, making those other tasks easier to manage.