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Semaglutide for Weight Loss: Facts, Benefits, and Risks

Weight is a common concern and struggle in modern-day society, with many people trying to lose weight but making no progress despite their best efforts. In addition to the impact excess weight leaves on your self-esteem, it is also a common contributing factor to many health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.

It can be frustrating to follow specific guidelines only to see no results, but there are weight-loss aids that can help. For those categorized as obese or those with an overweight BMI and a weight-associated health condition, semaglutide may help with your weight loss efforts.

What Is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) is a medicine used in two primary demographics. Its first purpose is to help certain individuals lose weight, and its second purpose is to reduce blood sugar levels and the risk of major cardiovascular events (e.g., stroke, heart attack) in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

As a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist, semaglutide works by:

lowering the amount of glucagon released
increasing insulin resistance
delaying gastric emptying
reducing appetite.

GLP-1 is a hormone primarily produced by the gut, but it also is produced by the pancreas and nervous system. It works by targeting the brain to regulate appetite, especially after eating. It also slows how quickly the stomach empties, which helps you feel fuller for longer and reduces how much you feel the need to eat.

Since semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist, it mimics the actions of GLP-1, producing these same effects.

Semaglutide Uses

There are three brands of semaglutide, and each one is FDA approved for a specific condition.

Ozempic: a subcutaneous injection used to lower blood sugar levels in those with type 2 diabetes. It is intended to be used in conjunction with diet and exercise and may also be used for patients with cardiovascular disease to help lower the risk of stroke or heart attack.

Wegovy: a subcutaneous injection used for weight management of a specific population.

Rybelsus: a tablet taken once a day to help lower blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise.

For those looking to lose weight through the use of semaglutide, it will be with Wegovy, which helps with long-term weight loss by regulating the body’s appetite and the number of calories consumed.

Who Can Use Semaglutide for Weight Loss?

Wegovy is intended for a specific population, which includes adults with either a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher and a health condition related to weight.

Applicable health conditions can include:

type 2 diabetes
high blood pressure
high cholesterol

Semaglutide for Weight Loss Benefits

Research into semaglutide for weight loss has shown many benefits.

As for GLP-1 agonists in general, they have been researched for over 16 years, consistently showing results for reducing body weight in patients with and without diabetes.

Semaglutide has been shown to be superior in promoting bodyweight reduction compared to other GLP-1 agonists, though, with the participants in a 2018 study using semaglutide exhibiting weight loss of more than 5%.

When approving Wegovy, the FDA referenced a clinical trial where those who received Wegovy lost an average of 12.4% of their body weight, with an average BMI of 38 in the participants.

Another trial cited by the FDA showed that those who took Wegovy lost 6.2% of their body weight compared to participants who were only given a placebo.

Semaglutide for Weight Loss Risks

There is a boxed warning for semaglutide regarding its ability to increase the risk of developing thyroid gland tumors, which can include the development of a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). This warning is based on the observance in animal studies of the development of tumors upon administration of semaglutide, but it is unknown if this same complication will affect humans.

Because of this warning, it is often not recommended to use semaglutide if you or anyone in your family has a history of MTC or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), which is a condition that causes tumors to develop in more than one gland in the body.

It is also important to contact your doctor immediately if, while taking semaglutide, you experience:

hoarseness
shortness of breath
difficulty swallowing
a lump or swelling in the neck

Indications

Having certain health conditions may affect how well semaglutide works, so it is important to tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, but especially:

diabetic retinopathy
depression
kidney disease
digestion problems
type 1 diabetes
type 2 diabetes (if using Wegovy)
thyroid cancer
diabetic ketoacidosis
pancreatitis

Side Effects of Wegovy

Some of the mild and common side effects associated with Wegovy include:

burping
bloating or pain in the abdomen
gas
indigestion or heartburn
dizziness
diarrhea
headache
nausea
vomiting
constipation
fatigue
stomach flu

These mild side effects often go away within a few days to a couple of weeks, but be sure to talk to your doctor if they become bothersome or worsen.

While there are some potentially severe side effects of Wegovy, they are not common. However, they can include the following:

low blood sugar
gallbladder problems
allergic reaction
increased heart rate
pancreatitis

Improving Weight Loss Results

While semaglutide can help with weight loss, the greatest results are seen when combining it with other lifestyle changes, namely, reduced calorie intake, regular exercise, and behavioral therapy.

When examining the benefits offered by calorie reduction and semaglutide co-use, a 2021 study included 611 randomized participants to test semaglutide vs. placebo over 68 weeks, with them following a low-calorie diet for the first 8. The study found that more individuals who took semaglutide obtained bodyweight decreases of at least 5% compared to placebo, and more people from the semaglutide group obtained weight losses of 10% or 15%.

This same trial also used semaglutide as an adjunct to behavioral therapy. The researchers concluded that using semaglutide to supplement behavioral therapy may help more patients achieve more than the 5% or 10% weight loss typically seen solely through behavioral interventions at 6 to 12 months.

Calorie Reduction

Discuss with your doctor what type of calorie reduction you should follow to see results while still ensuring you are providing your body with enough fuel. Finding the correct calorie range to aim for is crucial for weight loss success, as aiming for a daily calorie amount that is too low is difficult to sustain, leading many to discontinue weight loss efforts completely.

Another way to promote weight loss is to be mindful of the food you receive these calories from. For example, it is better to meet your calorie count by consuming fruits, veggies, and whole grains than by eating only processed foods. This is because, when eating whole foods, you can consume more food, feel fuller for longer, and provide your body with essential vitamins and minerals.

Regular Exercise

Yet another critical component of reaching a healthy body weight is regular exercise. For those who are overweight, this may seem challenging because of the strain placed on the body through their excess weight, which can make exercise seem impossible.

Your doctor can discuss with you some low-impact exercises that are a great place to start, with examples that include walking, cycling, or swimming. Despite being low impact, these exercises are still a great way to get moving, nurture your body, and promote weight loss.

Behavioral Therapy

Our eating habits are primarily based on pre-set behaviors, which is why behavioral therapy can help us break these habits and forge newer and healthier habits. Behavioral therapy can consist of counseling about exercises and nutrition or education on self-monitoring these areas.

Therapy may also help someone identify their mental barriers to weight loss and help them address these challenges. When you have the tools needed to mentally face these challenges, you can see better success with your weight loss efforts.

Semaglutide for Weight Loss

For those struggling with their weight, many weight loss aides offering quick results are viewed as too good to be true, and for a good reason. Most methods touting quick results also result in fast weight regain once the diet is stopped, placing you back where you started. However, semaglutide does not promise quick and drastic results, which is one way in which it is different.

While semaglutide can help with weight loss through its modification of hormones controlling appetite, the best results are seen when it is combined with healthy lifestyle changes, such as calorie reduction, regular exercise, and behavioral therapy. When taking semaglutide, the ultimate goal is forging a healthier life, and semaglutide helps give a boost when these good habits are already in place.

If you fit the criteria for Wegovy and are interested in this medication for weight loss, reach out to our clinic today to begin making a positive change in your health.

References

Singh, G., Krauthamer, M., & Bjalme-Evans, M. (2021). Wegovy (semaglutide): a new weight loss drug for chronic weight management. Journal Of Investigative Medicine, 70(1), 5-13. doi: 10.1136/jim-2021-001952

Ahrén, B., Atkin, S. L., Charpentier, G., Warren, M. L., Wilding, J., Birch, S., Holst, A. G., & Leiter, L. A. (2018). Semaglutide induces weight loss in subjects with type 2 diabetes regardless of baseline BMI or gastrointestinal adverse events in the SUSTAIN 1 to 5 trials. Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 20(9), 2210–2219. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.13353

FDA Approves New Drug Treatment for Chronic Weight Management, First Since 2014. (2021). https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-drug-treatment-chronic-weight-management-first-2014

Wadden, T. A., Bailey, T. S., Billings, L. K., Davies, M., Frias, J. P., Koroleva, A., Lingvay, I., O’Neil, P. M., Rubino, D. M., Skovgaard, D., Wallenstein, S., Garvey, W. T., & STEP 3 Investigators (2021). Effect of Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Placebo as an Adjunct to Intensive Behavioral Therapy on Body Weight in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: The STEP 3 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA, 325(14), 1403–1413. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.1831

Semaglutide Injection: MedlinePlus Drug Information. (2022). https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a618008.html

About Dr. Mel Irvine

Dr. Mel Irvine, DNP and Clinical Sexologist specializes in sexual medicine and beauty in Fort Myers Florida. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Florida Gulf Coast University and her master’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2018, she completed a preceptorship at San Diego Sexual Medicine with Dr. Irwin Goldstein and obtained her clinical sexologist certification from STII with Dr. Carol Clark. She is passionate about working with singles and couples to learn and explore their sexuality and sexual health needs through providing a comfortable and nonjudgmental atmosphere. As a provider she offers a balanced and holistic approach that encompasses a multimodal care delivery model.

Our sexual medicine and beauty treatments in Fort Myers Florida:

Hormone Replacement Therapy	Body Sculpting & Skin Tightening
HRT For Women Treatment	Injectables & Neurotoxins Treatments
HRT For Men Treatment	O-Shot™ Treatments
PRP Therapies for Beauty and Skin Services	P-Shot™ Injection Treatments
InMode Microneedling	Erectile Dysfunction Therapies
Sexual Desire Treatment Options	PRP Therapies for Sexual Wellness

November 3, 2022/by John

Vitamins And Supplements That Increase Vaginal Lubrication

News, Personal

Vaginal dryness is an unpleasant condition, and while it is most often associated with menopausal women, it can affect women at any age, with anxiety, stress, and dehydration common factors causing decreased lubrication.

In addition to being uncomfortable, vaginal dryness can negatively affect a woman’s sex life while also increasing the risk of vaginal infection, proving just how important it is to increase vaginal lubrication.

While external methods of increasing vaginal lubrication, such as with the use of lube, are available, specific vitamins and supplements may help the body increase natural lubrication, easing any discomfort caused by vaginal dryness.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is often considered for its role in bone health, but studies have shown that it can also help increase vaginal lubrication.

A review of six studies found that whether vitamin D is taken orally as a supplement or through a suppository, it can help decrease dryness affecting women during menopause.

Yet another study containing 200 older women found that higher levels of vitamin D in the blood led to higher levels of vaginal lubrication and greater consistency in vaginal moisture.

Vitamin E

Another type of vitamin that can help vaginal lubrication is vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin often lauded for its antioxidant abilities, although its benefits extend further than that. A study on 52 women who used a vitamin E suppository found that 12 weeks of use improved symptoms of vaginal atrophy, one of which was vaginal dryness.

Vaginal dryness is also an often-unknown symptom affecting women undergoing cancer treatment. A study on suppositories containing vitamin E, vitamin D, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin A showed promise for improving symptoms of vaginal dryness for women in this population.

However, one thing to keep in mind about vitamin E is that research surrounding its benefits for vaginal dryness has primarily used suppositories as the method of supplementation, and more research is needed to see if oral vitamin E can provide these same benefits.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a common ingredient in skincare for its ability to increase and preserves skin hydration. As an added bonus, hyaluronic acid may be able to provide these same benefits to the vaginal lining.

Studies have shown that suppositories and topical gels containing hyaluronic acid helped to increase vaginal lubrication. These results were also observed in suppositories and topical gels with only hyaluronic acid or when combined with vitamins E and A.

Hyaluronic acid may also show promise for improving vaginal dryness when used as a supplement, especially when combined with alpha-lipoic acid, glucosamine sulfate, and vitamins A, C, and E. However, more research into hyaluronic acid as an oral supplement is needed to confirm that it is beneficial for vaginal wellness when taken this way.

DHEA

Hormones play an essential role in the state of the vagina, including its dryness or lubrication. While estrogen is the primary female sex hormone and important in regulating the female reproductive system, most of its productions would not occur without dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

DHEA is produced by the body and is an essential source of estrogen. However, DHEA levels peak in your 20s and then gradually decline, leading to lower estrogen levels and vaginal dryness.

Supplementing DHEA levels may help regulate estrogen levels and reverse vaginal dryness, though, with a 2016 study finding that a daily suppository of DHEA increased vaginal lubrication after just 12 weeks.

Low libido can also contribute to vaginal dryness, as sex drive is vital in stimulating the body for natural lubrication. However, for those with low libido, DHEA may help address this, potentially increasing vaginal lubrication.

Fish Oil

Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for the proper functioning of the endocrine system, or the system in the body responsible for your hormones.

A study in 2019 found that increasing the intake of two types of omega-3s (docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)) relieved menopause symptoms, including vaginal dryness.

Looking at the effect of omega-3 supplementation on hormone levels, a study found that estradiol levels increased in those who took a supplement combo of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D3 for eight weeks. Estradiol is a form of estrogen and often drops during menopause, contributing to vaginal dryness.

Sea Buckthorn Oil

The high fatty acid content of sea buckthorn oil, a supplement that comes from the seeds, leaves, and berries of the sea buckthorn plant, can help strengthen your skin barrier and prevent water loss in the skin.

Research regarding this oil for vaginal lubrication is limited. Still, one small study did see promising results in the ability of oral sea buckthorn oil supplementation to improve mucus quality in women suffering from vaginal atrophy, which is one contributor to vaginal dryness.

Alternative Ways to Address Vaginal Dryness

In addition to trying the above supplements, there are other actions you can take to help address your vaginal dryness.

First and foremost, avoid soaps and feminine hygiene products containing fragrances and dyes, as these can mess with the good bacteria found in the vagina, leading to an out-of-balance pH, irritation, and dryness. The vagina is self-cleaning, so allow it to work on its own.

Additionally, for those experiencing vaginal dryness during sex, make sure you are doing plenty of foreplay, which may be all that is needed to increase lubrication.

In some cases, it may be your hormonal birth control causing your vaginal dryness. Discussing this with your doctor can help determine if this is the cause and what alternatives there are.

Vitamins and Supplements for Vaginal Dryness

There are many vitamins and supplements that may be able to increase vaginal lubrication. Many of these supplements have been studied in suppository form, which involves placing them directly in the vagina, but some also show benefits when taken orally.

As with any new vitamin or supplement, it is always recommended to speak with a doctor before beginning, as they may interact with medications you already take or a health condition that you have.

For those looking to correct the imbalance in their body causing vaginal dryness, supplements and vitamins are a natural way to support your body and increase lubrication, easing discomfort. Whether they are increasing hormone production or supplementing a vitamin needed for vaginal lining integrity, vitamins and supplements can help address vaginal dryness due to a myriad of causes.

References

Goncharenko, V., Bubnov, R., Polivka, J., Zubor, P., Biringer, K., & Bielik, T. et al. (2019). Vaginal dryness: individualised patient profiles, risks and mitigating measures. EPMA Journal, 10(1), 73-79. doi: 10.1007/s13167-019-00164-3

Riazi, H., Ghazanfarpour, M., Taebi, M., & Abdolahian, S. (2019). Effect of Vitamin D on the Vaginal Health of Menopausal Women: A Systematic Review. Journal Of Menopausal Medicine, 25(3), 109. doi: 10.6118/jmm.19194

Bala, R., Kaur, H., & Nagpal, M. (2016). Authenticity of vitamin D in modified vaginal health index in geriatric subjects. International Journal Of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics And Gynecology, 4119-4122. doi: 10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20164067

Golmakani, N., Emamverdikhan, A., Tabassi, S., Hassanzadeh, M., Sharifi, N., & Shakeri, M. (2016). A survey of the therapeutic effects of Vitamin E suppositories on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. Iranian Journal Of Nursing And Midwifery Research, 21(5), 475. doi: 10.4103/1735-9066.193393

Dinicola, S., Pasta, V., Costantino, D., Guaraldi, C., & Bizzarri, M. (2015). Hyaluronic acid and vitamins are effective in reducing vaginal atrophy in women receiving radiotherapy. Minerva ginecologica, 67(6), 523–531.

Dos Santos, C., Uggioni, M., Colonetti, T., Colonetti, L., Grande, A. J., & Da Rosa, M. I. (2021). Hyaluronic Acid in Postmenopause Vaginal Atrophy: A Systematic Review. The journal of sexual medicine, 18(1), 156–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.10.016

Angelucci, Michela & Federica, Frascani & Garo, Maria. (2019). Efficacy of an oral supplement containing hyaluronic acid, collagen, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, alpha-lipoic acid, methylsulfonylmethane and vitamins on vaginal dryness in young women.. Nutrafoods. 1. 58-67. 10.17470/NF-019-0009.

Labrie, F., Archer, D. F., Koltun, W., Vachon, A., Young, D., Frenette, L., Portman, D., Montesino, M., Côté, I., Parent, J., Lavoie, L., Beauregard, A., Martel, C., Vaillancourt, M., Balser, J., Moyneur, É., & VVA Prasterone Research Group (2016). Efficacy of intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on moderate to severe dyspareunia and vaginal dryness, symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy, and of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Menopause (New York, N.Y.), 23(3), 243–256. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000000571

Vegunta, S., Kling, J. M., & Kapoor, E. (2020). Androgen Therapy in Women. Journal of women’s health (2002), 29(1), 57–64. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2018.7494

Abshirini, M., Siassi, F., Koohdani, F., Qorbani, M., Khosravi, S., Aslani, Z., Pak, N., & Sotoudeh, G. (2019). Higher intake of dietary n-3 PUFA and lower MUFA are associated with fewer menopausal symptoms. Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society, 22(2), 195–201. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2018.1547700

Al-Shaer, A., Abu-Samak, M., Hasoun, L., Mohammad, B., & Basheti, I. (2019). <p>Assessing the effect of omega-3 fatty acid combined with vitamin D3 versus vitamin D3 alone on estradiol levels: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in females with vitamin D deficiency</p>. Clinical Pharmacology: Advances And Applications, Volume 11, 25-37. doi: 10.2147/cpaa.s182927

Larmo, P. S., Yang, B., Hyssälä, J., Kallio, H. P., & Erkkola, R. (2014). Effects of sea buckthorn oil intake on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Maturitas, 79(3), 316–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.07.010

About Dr. Mel Irvine

Dr. Mel Irvine, DNP and Clinical Sexologist specializes in sexual medicine and beauty in Fort Myers Florida. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Florida Gulf Coast University and her master’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2018, she completed a preceptorship at San Diego Sexual Medicine with Dr. Irwin Goldstein and obtained her clinical sexologist certification from STII with Dr. Carol Clark. She is passionate about working with singles and couples to learn and explore their sexuality and sexual health needs through providing a comfortable and nonjudgmental atmosphere. As a provider she offers a balanced and holistic approach that encompasses a multimodal care delivery model.

Our sexual medicine and beauty treatments in Fort Myers Florida:

Hormone Replacement Therapy	Body Sculpting & Skin Tightening
HRT For Women Treatment	Injectables & Neurotoxins Treatments
HRT For Men Treatment	O-Shot™ Treatments
PRP Therapies for Beauty and Skin Services	P-Shot™ Injection Treatments
InMode Microneedling	Erectile Dysfunction Therapies
Sexual Desire Treatment Options	PRP Therapies for Sexual Wellness

November 1, 2022/by John

Unmasking Testosterone

News, Personal

Testosterone replacement therapy, a vital treatment for restoring balance to declining hormone levels, is being vastly underused. Besides the stigma surrounding hormone replacement therapy, one of the primary reasons for this is that many people have undiagnosed low testosterone levels because their doctors fail to run all the important tests.

The traditional method for detecting testosterone levels measures the total testosterone in the blood. However, this provides only a portion of the information about testosterone and, therefore, provides only a tiny snippet of information about someone’s health.

In order to fully understand someone’s hormone levels, it’s important to look deeper than the total testosterone level, especially if their symptoms suggest there’s something that you’re missing.

Total Testosterone Vs. Free Testosterone

Your total testosterone levels are the amount of testosterone found in the blood. However, this can be broken up further.

Around 98% of testosterone is bound to albumin or sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and these are called “bound testosterone.”

The remaining 2% of testosterone is referred to as “free testosterone” because it is unbound. It is this free testosterone that is responsible for many of the actions we associate with testosterone, including secondary sex characteristics like a deep voice and body hair.

Free testosterone is also what enters specific cells and promotes reproduction, such as in the muscles and bones.

The Problem with Total Testosterone

Most providers will use a total testosterone test to gauge testosterone levels in the body, but this doesn’t consider that only the free testosterone is what contributes to the symptoms commonly associated with low testosterone. Those with excessive bondage to albumin or SHBG may show normal total testosterone levels, but low free testosterone.

For example, a young male patient with total testosterone levels of 300-500 may be brushed aside since their testosterone levels fall within the normal range. Yet, a closer investigation shows that their free testosterone is below 10 when most men thrive on levels well into the double digits.

The same is shown with women, who have normal total testosterone of 20, but may have free testosterone as low as 0.01.

When doctors fail to listen to their patient’s symptoms and further explore their hormone levels, patients continue struggling to accomplish their everyday tasks.

It comes as no surprise that sleep problems, anxiety, depression, low energy, low libido, brain fog/difficulty concentrating, weight gain, and mood changes are becoming more common. These symptoms result from hormone imbalances, and too many doctors are not adequately measuring hormone levels.

A Rise in Symptoms

As doctors continue to avoid addressing hormone levels, there has been an understandable rise in preventable symptoms.

Just looking at testosterone, low levels have been reported with symptoms such as:

anger
anxiety
hostility
overall irritability
depression

Low testosterone can also increase stress levels, which then impacts cardiovascular health.

These symptoms make it challenging to enjoy daily life, vastly decreasing someone’s quality of life.

By remedying low testosterone levels, we not only improve those characteristics that we typically associate with testosterone, such as libido, muscle mass, and bone mass, but we also have a way to improve the well-being of patients that are mentally suffering because their body cannot produce enough of the hormones that they need to be happy and calm.

These patients may find that they don’t need antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs, but instead, an evaluation of their hormone levels to see if there are any imbalances.

Using Testosterone to Monitor Overall Health

Testosterone levels can also provide valuable insight into a patient’s health.

For example, testosterone levels can decrease for many reasons, not just age. In fact, in many cases, it might not be age itself that causes testosterone to decline, but the changes in health that occur with age.

Some whole-body factors that can cause a decrease in testosterone include:

high blood pressure
high cholesterol levels
using illegal drugs
being overweight or obese
using anabolic steroids
drinking excessive amounts of alcohol

By detecting low testosterone levels, a doctor may then be able to determine if it is caused by any of these conditions and what the patient can do to address it and improve their overall health. Hormones are interrelated with many body processes, and properly measuring hormones is the only way to take full advantage of this connection.

Hormone Therapy: Getting to the Root of The Problem

Hormone therapy is typically passed aside in favor of other medications.

However, patients may be prescribed multiple medications to address their symptoms, but they only act as a band-aid. To truly find relief and get off these unnecessary medications, it is necessary to address the root of the problem, which in many cases is hormonal.

Additionally, gaining control over someone’s hormones can help to prevent other health conditions from occurring. For example, having low testosterone increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. By balancing testosterone levels, the risk of developing this disease will lessen.

It’s important to look even further, too. A patient has low free testosterone, but why? Is it genetic, or is there an underlying medical condition? Asking these questions offers a way to determine what might be affecting someone’s hormone levels and can result in a solution that actually fixes the problem instead of mitigating symptoms.

An Individualized Approach

Your hormones are the most important players in regulating body processes, yet society has created a stigma surrounding hormone replacement therapy that labels it as dangerous and risky.

The problem isn’t hormone replacement therapy; the problem is the “one size fits all” mentality that has been applied to it.

Testosterone replacement therapy is becoming more popular but is also too “cookie cutter”; most people who are prescribed it are given similar dosages and treatments. However, hormones are not the same as antibiotics, they are much more individualized to the patient, and these treatments should reflect that.

When you give every patient similar hormone dosages, it’s understandable why some of these adverse side effects are happening. Doctors and scientists are trying to find a standard dosage amount, but there is nothing standard about the hormone levels in a patient’s body or how their body uses these hormones.

Some people might need more hormone therapy, while others need very little. Some patients’ bodies may quickly accept the hormone therapy, while others may not, requiring a higher dose or other intervention. As doctors, these are the consideration that must be made, yet too many are stuck on a one-path mind.

Addressing the Risks

For many doctors and patients, HRT is often seen as a risky and unfavorable option because of the adverse side effects that can occur, so let’s address this.

One of the most cited risks of HRT is the increased risk of cancer. However, research shows that this is not always the case, and for some patients, testosterone replacement therapy actually reduces cancer risk.

For example, in a 2019 study on trans men undergoing testosterone therapy, their risk of breast cancer was lower than the risk of breast cancer in cisgender women.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in males, and in the past, research suggested that testosterone therapy increased the risk of prostate cancer. However, new research is showing that this relationship is more complex.

Studies have shown that a male’s baseline testosterone level can relate to the risk of prostate cancer, with some studies reporting that higher testosterone levels lead to higher risk and other studies saying the opposite. In short, other factors are likely at play here besides just testosterone levels.

Several trials regarding men on testosterone therapy also showed no higher risk of prostate cancer, and this was seen in studies that had follow-up times of 3 months, 3 years, and 20 years.

Even more, several studies have reported success in using testosterone replacement therapy as a treatment after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. They have shown no difference in recurrences between those on testosterone therapy and those without it.

This idea that HRT is a dangerous treatment that can cause cancer is an antiquated view that recent studies do not support. It is time to stop avoiding a treatment that can provide genuine benefits to patients because of outdated resources.

Even more, in studies where HRT may have increased cancer risk, the authors report that the increased risk is often very minimal, and the benefits offered by treatment far outweigh this slightly increased risk.

Making The Most of Testosterone

Considering how vital our hormones are for our body, they are often overlooked in regard to treatment. Testosterone, in particular, is a sex hormone that many do not realize plays a much larger role in both the male and female body, and its supplementation can help address many of the problems someone might be experiencing.

Not only that, but taking the time to fully understand a patient’s testosterone levels and going beyond “total testosterone” provides a clearer picture of their health. By ignoring a patient’s symptoms because the first blood test shows that everything is normal, the doctor is doing a disservice to their patient’s well-being.

Each patient is different, and because of this, their hormone levels (and what level produces certain side effects) are going to differ. It’s time that we stop chasing “normal” numbers because patients are more than a number, and they need doctors that look beyond the result of one test.

References

Johnson, J., Nachtigall, L., & Stern, T. (2013). The Effect of Testosterone Levels on Mood in Men: A Review. Psychosomatics, 54(6), 509-514. doi: 10.1016/j.psym.2013.06.018

Yao, Q., Wang, B., An, X., Zhang, J., & Ding, L. (2018). Testosterone level and risk of type 2 diabetes in men: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Endocrine Connections, 7(1), 220-231. doi: 10.1530/ec-17-0253

de Blok, C., Wiepjes, C., Nota, N., van Engelen, K., Adank, M., & Dreijerink, K. et al. (2019). Breast cancer risk in transgender people receiving hormone treatment: nationwide cohort study in the Netherlands. BMJ, l1652. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l1652

Eisenberg, M. (2015). Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Prostate Cancer Incidence. The World Journal Of Men’s Health, 33(3), 125. doi: 10.5534/wjmh.2015.33.3.125

About Dr. Mel Irvine

Dr. Mel Irvine, DNP and Clinical Sexologist specializes in sexual medicine and beauty in Fort Myers Florida. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Florida Gulf Coast University and her master’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2018, she completed a preceptorship at San Diego Sexual Medicine with Dr. Irwin Goldstein and obtained her clinical sexologist certification from STII with Dr. Carol Clark. She is passionate about working with singles and couples to learn and explore their sexuality and sexual health needs through providing a comfortable and nonjudgmental atmosphere. As a provider she offers a balanced and holistic approach that encompasses a multimodal care delivery model.

Our sexual medicine and beauty treatments in Fort Myers Florida:

Hormone Replacement Therapy	Body Sculpting & Skin Tightening
HRT For Women Treatment	Injectables & Neurotoxins Treatments
HRT For Men Treatment	O-Shot™ Treatments
PRP Therapies for Beauty and Skin Services	P-Shot™ Injection Treatments
InMode Microneedling	Erectile Dysfunction Therapies
Sexual Desire Treatment Options	PRP Therapies for Sexual Wellness

September 20, 2022/by John

Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Men Under 30

News, Personal

The hormones in our body play a powerful role in many actions, but that doesn’t mean that they always stay at the level we need them. Some natural decline in hormones is expected as we age, but in some cases, this decline occurs sooner than expected.

Testosterone is one such example of this, which gradually starts declining at the age of 30. However, some men may suffer from low testosterone levels when under 30. To help support these cases, testosterone replacement therapy is a treatment option.

The Role of Testosterone

The most prominent sex hormone in men is testosterone, which is primarily produced by the testes with small quantities also produced by the adrenal glands.

Testosterone plays a prominent role in producing traditionally male characteristics, such as fat distribution, sperm production, body hair, muscle mass and strength, and a deeper voice.

However, testosterone is also crucial for other functions of the body, including regulating sex drive, bone mass, and the production of red blood cells.

Low Testosterone Levels: Signs and Potential Causes

Testosterone tends to peak during adolescence and early adulthood but then naturally declines with age, typically at a gradual rate of 1% to 2% each year starting at age 30. However, some men may find that their testosterone levels decrease more rapidly and dramatically at an earlier age, leaving younger men with low testosterone levels.

Some of the signs of testosterone deficiency in adult men include:

loss of muscle mass
reduced facial and body hair
hot flashes
low libido
infertility
small testicles
brittle bones
increased breast size
irritability
depression

Low testosterone levels can result from a range of conditions.

Some conditions affecting the testes include infection, direct injury, castration, chemotherapy, radiation treatment, or tumors.

Conditions affecting the pituitary gland can also result in low testosterone levels, with these causes including:

medications (especially morphine, steroids, and major tranquilizers)
tumors
HIV/AIDS
certain autoimmune conditions and infections

Other factors affecting testosterone levels do not impact a single organ, but instead the whole body. These factors include:

high blood pressure
high cholesterol levels
using illegal drugs
being overweight or obese
using anabolic steroids
drinking excessive amounts of alcohol

Some inherited diseases may also cause low testosterone levels in men under 30, such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Kallman’s syndrome, Down syndrome, or Klinefelter syndrome.

Those with health conditions of liver disease or diabetes may also suffer from low testosterone.

Treating Low Testosterone Levels

If you are experiencing the symptoms of low testosterone, it is important to see a doctor, especially one who specializes in hormones. Your doctor can help you determine the cause of your low testosterone, which may be from an underlying medication condition requiring treatment or lifestyle habits that can be changed.

Once the cause is determined, your doctor can work with your to help address the cause and manage your symptoms through testosterone replacement therapy.

Testosterone replacement can also help improve some of the conditions resulting from low testosterone levels. For example, men with osteoporosis due to low testosterone may see an increase in bone strength (and reduced fracture risk).

Testosterone Replacement Therapy

If you have low testosterone levels, one of the most common forms of treatment, besides addressing the cause of these low levels, is testosterone replacement therapy, which restores testosterone levels in the blood.

It is prescribed to men with hypogonadism, diagnosed through a blood test that reads testosterone levels as below 300 nanograms per deciliter. In addition, you must have symptoms such as breast growth, fatigue, and sexual dysfunction.

Testing Testosterone Levels

One problem with testing testosterone levels is that a man may appear to have normal testosterone levels, yet they still experience the symptoms of low testosterone. In these cases, measuring the amount of active (free) testosterone in the body is crucial.

Around 98% of the testosterone in the body is bound to albumin or sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). This testosterone is referred to as “bound testosterone,” and the remaining 2% that is not bound is referred to as “free testosterone.”

This free testosterone is what connects to the testosterone receptors within the body’s cells, and it is the absorption of free testosterone that allows for certain cell functions, such as cell replication in the muscles and bones. Free testosterone is also responsible for creating secondary sexual characteristics.

Most testosterone tests account for “total testosterone,” which is all the testosterone found in the bloodstream. However, these tests do not account for cases of excessive bondage to albumin or SHBG, which can decrease the amount of free testosterone.

Testing for free testosterone may uncover low testosterone levels even if total testosterone appears normal.

Receiving Testosterone Therapy

Through this treatment, which is only available with a prescription, testosterone can be delivered in many ways, including

injections into the muscle every few weeks
a patch applied inside the mouth
gels or patches applied to the skin
pellets inserted under the skin of the buttocks

When starting testosterone replacement therapy, you will often notice improvements in blood testosterone levels within a week. Improvements in sexual function, alertness, mood, energy, and overall well-being can take longer to appear, anywhere from 4 weeks to several months.

Unless your low testosterone levels are due to a medical illness, testosterone replacement therapy is often a lifelong treatment. It also requires routine checkups with your doctor to assess your blood testosterone levels and ensure that the smallest dosage is used to still obtain results.

The Power of Testosterone

For men younger than 30 who display low testosterone levels, testosterone replacement therapy is a way to restore blood testosterone levels and relieve symptoms that result from a low amount of this hormone.

Despite the many benefits of testosterone, there are some medical conditions that may make someone an unideal candidate, so it is important to discuss with your doctor if testosterone replacement therapy is right for you.

When done correctly, testosterone replacement therapy can replace testosterone levels without raising them too high. Seeing a qualified doctor who closely monitors your hormone levels is vital to minimize potential risks and see the full-body benefits of testosterone replacement therapy.

References

Rastrelli, G., Guaraldi, F., Reismann, Y., Sforza, A., Isidori, A., Maggi, M., & Corona, G. (2019). Testosterone Replacement Therapy for Sexual Symptoms. Sexual Medicine Reviews, 7(3), 464-475. doi: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.11.005

Miner, M., Canty, D., & Shabsigh, R. (2008). Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Hypogonadal Men: Assessing Benefits, Risks, and Best Practices. Postgraduate Medicine, 120(3), 130-153. doi: 10.3810/pgm.2008.09.1914

About Dr. Mel Irvine

Dr. Mel Irvine, DNP and Clinical Sexologist specializes in sexual medicine and beauty in Fort Myers Florida. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Florida Gulf Coast University and her master’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2018, she completed a preceptorship at San Diego Sexual Medicine with Dr. Irwin Goldstein and obtained her clinical sexologist certification from STII with Dr. Carol Clark. She is passionate about working with singles and couples to learn and explore their sexuality and sexual health needs through providing a comfortable and nonjudgmental atmosphere. As a provider she offers a balanced and holistic approach that encompasses a multimodal care delivery model.

Our sexual medicine and beauty treatments in Fort Myers Florida:

Hormone Replacement Therapy	Body Sculpting & Skin Tightening
HRT For Women Treatment	Injectables & Neurotoxins Treatments
HRT For Men Treatment	O-Shot™ Treatments
PRP Therapies for Beauty and Skin Services	P-Shot™ Injection Treatments
InMode Microneedling	Erectile Dysfunction Therapies
Sexual Desire Treatment Options	PRP Therapies for Sexual Wellness

September 19, 2022/by John

The Relationship Between Inflammation and Sugar Consumption

News, Personal

Inflammation is a natural component of the immune system that aids the body through its healing process. However, certain foods, such as sugar, can cause inflammation in the body. While this is normal, over-consumption of sugar can lead to chronic low-grade inflammation, which can contribute to many different health problems.

Let’s further explore the relationship between sugar consumption and inflammation and what you can do to protect your health.

The Connection Between Sugar and Inflammation

When the body senses an injury or infection, it reacts by releasing chemicals that fight off the harmful antigens while also protecting it. This results in inflammation, which can cause warmth, redness, and swelling.

Like a virus or bacteria, sugar can also cause inflammation in the body. Scientists believe that this is because sugar stimulates the production of free fatty acids in the liver. The compounds that result as the body digests these free fatty acids can then trigger inflammatory processes.

In 2018, a systematic review found several studies that linked the consumption of more dietary sugar, primarily due to sugary drinks, with chronic inflammation. The studies found that those who had a higher sugar diet possessed more inflammatory markers in the blood, especially a marker called C-reactive protein.

Additionally, a 2014 study found that those who reduce their sugary drink intake experienced a decrease in inflammatory markers in the blood.

Findings such as this not only show that sugar can cause inflammation, but that the inflammation caused by sugar can be undone by decreasing sugar consumption. However, it is important to do this sooner than later since, while you can lower inflammatory markers, it is not possible to undo the damage already caused by chronic inflammation.

The Dangers of Chronic Inflammation

Some of the signs of chronic inflammation can include:

body pain
anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders
weight gain
insomnia and constant fatigue
frequent infections
diarrhea, constipation, and acid reflux

Chronic inflammation can also increase the risk of certain health conditions, including depression, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and dementia.

Detecting Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation can be gauged based on the presence of inflammatory markers, some of which include C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma viscosity (PV), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). These markers are measured through blood tests, and they serve an important role in helping doctors diagnose and monitor inflammatory conditions.

Research has shown that sugar not only increases inflammatory markers but also increases LDL cholesterol and insulin resistance. A study on 29 healthy individuals saw these increases after the participants drank just one can of soda each day, consuming an additional 40 grams of added sugar.

Not only does sugar cause inflammatory markers to spike, but this effect lasts even after the food is consumed. For example, a study on fructose consumption found that a 50 g dose of fructose caused a spike in CRP 30 minutes later, and it remained high for more than two hours.

How Does Sugar Cause Inflammation?

We’ve seen the studies showing that eating sugar causes an increase in inflammatory markers, but why is it that this occurs?

There are many ways that sugar may affect the body and cause inflammation, such as:

Increased Gut Permeability

Consuming too much sugar can increase the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, two conditions that can increase gut permeability.

The gut is a central part of the body, playing a significant role in the immune system. However, when gut permeability increases, toxins, bacteria, and undigested food can more easily move out of the gut and into the bloodstream. Your body then reacts to these foreign components with inflammation.

With high sugar consumption, the gut is continually “leaky,” leading to chronic low-grade inflammation.

Excess AGE Production

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are harmful compounds that can form when fat or protein combines with sugar in the bloodstream. The more sugar you consume, the more sugar in the bloodstream, and the greater chance of this happening.

When there are too many AGEs in the body, oxidative stress and inflammation can occur.

Weight Gain

One of the complications of excess sugar consumption is weight gain, which can lead to inflammation in two ways: excess fat can increase inflammatory markers and may lead to insulin resistance, increasing sugar levels in the bloodstream.

Higher LDL Cholesterol

There are two types of cholesterol in the body, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Despite there being two types of cholesterol, one is often referred to as “bad” cholesterol (LDL), while the other is referred to as “good” (HDL).

This is because LDL cholesterol contributes to the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries. This then narrows the arteries and increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other cardiovascular health concerns.

Excess LDL cholesterol has also been associated with higher levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP).

Sugar can increase LDL cholesterol, which then increases inflammation.

Risks of Chronic Inflammation

While sugar is not the only cause of inflammation in the body, it is a contributor, and many health conditions can result from excess sugar consumption and the resultant chronic low-grade inflammation.

Diabetes

One effect that a diet high in added sugar can cause to the body is insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone responsible for turning blood sugar into energy for cells. However, with insulin resistance, the body is unable to use the sugar circulating in the blood, and this sugar can end up building up.

Over time, this insulin resistance can lead to diabetes, a comorbidity factor for many other health concerns.

Heart Disease

Multiple studies have reported a strong link between sugary drink consumption and heart disease risk. There are many ways in which sugar can lead to this increased risk, including the increase in LDL cholesterol, increased blood pressure, increased inflammatory markers, insulin resistance, and obesity.

The relationship between sugar and heart disease can be significant, with one study on more than 75,000 women finding that a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates resulted in a 98% greater risk of heart disease.

Cancer

Multiple studies have shown a relationship between sugar consumption and increased cancer risk.

More research is needed to further examine this relationship, but scientists suspect that the inflammatory nature of sugar is what causes the increased risk of cancer. This is because chronic inflammation may damage the cells of the body and their DNA.

Other scientists believe that chronically high insulin levels play a role in cancer development, something to which excess sugar consumption also contributes.

How to Reduce Inflammation Naturally

You can reduce inflammation in many ways, with one of the biggest being a reduction in sugar consumption. Multiple studies have shown that eating less sugar can decrease inflammation, so this should be a top priority.

As a guide, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that your sugar intake not exceed 10% of your daily energy intake, but aiming for a lower percentage may offer greater health benefits.

Another way to naturally reduce inflammation is by getting enough sleep. Studies have shown that inflammatory markers rise when you don’t get enough sleep. So, to help with your inflammation, make sure that you are spending enough time asleep each night.

To lower inflammation, it is also helpful to avoid other foods that commonly cause inflammation. While sugar can cause inflammation in the body, it is not the only food to be a culprit of this, with some other inflammatory foods including:

trans fats (fried foods, fast food, donuts, cookies)
saturated fats (red meat, decadent desserts, full-fat dairy products)
alcohol
excess omega-6 fatty acids (sunflower oil, corn oil, vegetable oil)
MSG (soy sauce, prepared soups, deli meats)
refined carbohydrates (white rice, bread, white potatoes)

Managing your weight is another important way to reduce the risk of inflammation since obesity is a risk factor for chronic inflammation. This is because excess fat in the body can increase inflammatory factors, so weight loss is the most effective strategy for reducing chronic inflammation.

A final way to address inflammation is by correcting any hormonal balances. The sex hormones of testosterone and estrogen can slow the production of inflammatory factors. So, if estrogen or testosterone levels are low, which can occur with age and certain life stages (i.e., menopause), the production of inflammatory factors may increase.

By working with a doctor to test your hormone levels and address any imbalances, you could reduce chronic inflammation.

Sugar and Inflammation

While sugar is a component of many tasty drinks and beverages, consuming it in excess can cause chronic inflammation in the body, which can increase the risk of health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Sugar is not the only thing to blame for chronic inflammation, but it does play a key role and limiting sugar consumption has shown significant improvements in inflammation levels.

Other ways to address inflammation and lower it include getting enough sleep and correcting hormonal imbalances. If you are concerned about inflammation in your body, reach out to your doctor to check your inflammatory markers and discuss how to lower them and protect your health.

References

Hert, K., Fisk, P., Rhee, Y., & Brunt, A. (2014). Decreased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages improved selected biomarkers of chronic disease risk among US adults: 1999 to 2010. Nutrition Research, 34(1), 58-65. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2013.10.005

Watson, J., Jones, H., Banks, J., Whiting, P., Salisbury, C., & Hamilton, W. (2019). Use of multiple inflammatory marker tests in primary care: using Clinical Practice Research Datalink to evaluate accuracy. British Journal Of General Practice, 69(684), e462-e469. doi: 10.3399/bjgp19x704309

Aeberli, I., Gerber, P., Hochuli, M., Kohler, S., Haile, S., & Gouni-Berthold, I. et al. (2011). Low to moderate sugar-sweetened beverage consumption impairs glucose and lipid metabolism and promotes inflammation in healthy young men: a randomized controlled trial. The American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, 94(2), 479-485. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.013540

Jameel, F., Phang, M., Wood, L., & Garg, M. (2014). Acute effects of feeding fructose, glucose and sucrose on blood lipid levels and systemic inflammation. Lipids In Health And Disease, 13(1). doi: 10.1186/1476-511x-13-195

Frazier, T., DiBaise, J., & McClain, C. (2011). Gut Microbiota, Intestinal Permeability, Obesity-Induced Inflammation, and Liver Injury. Journal Of Parenteral And Enteral Nutrition, 35(5_suppl), 14S-20S. doi: 10.1177/0148607111413772

Scheithauer, T., Dallinga-Thie, G., de Vos, W., Nieuwdorp, M., & van Raalte, D. (2016). Causality of small and large intestinal microbiota in weight regulation and insulin resistance. Molecular Metabolism, 5(9), 759-770. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2016.06.002

Schmidt, A., Hori, O., Brett, J., Yan, S., Wautier, J., & Stern, D. (1994). Cellular receptors for advanced glycation end products. Implications for induction of oxidant stress and cellular dysfunction in the pathogenesis of vascular lesions. Arteriosclerosis And Thrombosis: A Journal Of Vascular Biology, 14(10), 1521-1528. doi: 10.1161/01.atv.14.10.1521

Bosma-den Boer, M., van Wetten, M., & Pruimboom, L. (2012). Chronic inflammatory diseases are stimulated by current lifestyle: how diet, stress levels and medication prevent our body from recovering. Nutrition &Amp; Metabolism, 9(1), 32. doi: 10.1186/1743-7075-9-32

About Dr. Mel Irvine

Dr. Mel Irvine, DNP and Clinical Sexologist specializes in sexual medicine and beauty in Fort Myers Florida. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Florida Gulf Coast University and her master’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2018, she completed a preceptorship at San Diego Sexual Medicine with Dr. Irwin Goldstein and obtained her clinical sexologist certification from STII with Dr. Carol Clark. She is passionate about working with singles and couples to learn and explore their sexuality and sexual health needs through providing a comfortable and nonjudgmental atmosphere. As a provider she offers a balanced and holistic approach that encompasses a multimodal care delivery model.

Our sexual medicine and beauty treatments in Fort Myers Florida:

Hormone Replacement Therapy	Body Sculpting & Skin Tightening
HRT For Women Treatment	Injectables & Neurotoxins Treatments
HRT For Men Treatment	O-Shot™ Treatments
PRP Therapies for Beauty and Skin Services	P-Shot™ Injection Treatments
InMode Microneedling	Erectile Dysfunction Therapies
Sexual Desire Treatment Options	PRP Therapies for Sexual Wellness

September 14, 2022/by John

Regenerative Medicine: Helping the Body Heal Itself

News, Personal

Medicine and science are seeing a promising new addition to their field where cells, tissues, and organs that had once been damaged are undergoing regeneration and repair, making them functional once more.

With regenerative medicine, the damaged parts of the body are replaced or even stimulated to repair themselves, offering a reprieve from the symptoms associated with the damage.

What Is Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative medicine combines the principles of engineering and biology to create therapies for conditions that cause tissue loss, cell depletion, or damaged organs.

Regenerative medicine aims to replace tissues or organs that have become damaged due to trauma, disease, or a congenital issue. By replacing, or “regenerating,” these cells, tissues, or organs, normal function can be restored or established.

Some of the technologies used in regenerative medicine include 3D organ printing, tissue engineering, and organoids.

The appeal of regenerative medicine lies in its ability to treat chronic conditions that had previously been a cause of consistent suffering. For example, health conditions such as heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s are, in some cases, treatable, but in many cases are something whose progress can only be slowed.

However, regenerative medicine may be able to address the root cause of a disease (instead of its symptoms), effectively treating it and preventing it from recurring.

While regenerative medicine is beneficial for any situation that results from cell depletion or damage, it is especially beneficial for chronic diseases. This is because many chronic diseases initially result from cell depletion. For example, heart disease is often characterized by a loss of healthy heart muscle, while Alzheimer’s disease is associated with the loss of brain cells.

Stem Cells: A Key Component of Regenerative Medicine

One of the most powerful tools utilized in regenerative medicine are stem cells, which act as a blank slate that can become any type of cell in the body. For example, the cells that make up the heart differ from those that make up the pancreas.

However, stem cells are unique because they have not yet become these specialized cells, so their possibilities are endless.

This makes stem cells especially appealing when conducting research in the field of regenerative medicine because scientists can test stem-cell-based therapies that regenerate lost tissue.

While the use of stem cells is still relatively new, some regenerative medicine methods, such as Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy, induce stem cells already in the body, still making use of these powerful cells.

Mechanisms of Regenerative Medicine

There are three main concentrations within regenerative medicine:

Cellular Therapies

This therapy revolves around stem cells and their ability to differentiate into different cells based on where they are injected.

The body already uses stem cells when repairing itself, so by injecting the stem cells into the damaged area or inducing stem cells to travel to a certain area of the body, regenerative medicine makes use of the body’s natural mechanisms.

Stem cells can be collected from fat, bone, dental pulp, bone marrow, cord blood, skeletal muscles, and other sources.

Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

This concentration involves the creation and implantation of biologically compatible scaffolds. The scaffold acts as a support system that cells can grow around, and it helps to create new tissue at a specific site.

While there have been millions of patients treated with tissue-engineered devices, the field as a whole is still only in its beginning stages, and there is still much to come as it continues to grow and expand.

Currently, most of the success has been around soft tissue regeneration, such as cartilage, skin, tendon, and ligament.

Medical Devices and Artificial Organs

When an organ fails, the typical method of addressing this is through a transplant from an organ donor. However, there are many challenges associated with this, with the primary one being that there is a limit on the number of organs available for transplantation. In many cases, the need for organs is greater than the amount available, which results in many patients being unable to get the organs they need.

Additionally, when donating an organ, the donor must take immunosuppression drugs, which can have some side effects.

To combat these challenges, regenerative medicine has created many medical devices that supplement or replace the function of a failing organ or organ system, such as the lungs, heart, kidney, or liver.

Regenerative Medicine Applications

Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy

One area of regenerative medicine is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. This treatment method collects platelet-rich plasma from the patient and then injects it back into the target area.

To create PRP, the doctor collects a blood sample and then spins it in a centrifuge. Doing this separates the platelet-rich plasma from the other components of blood. The doctor then injects the platelet-rich plasma back into the body at the target locations.

Platelets are a component of the immune system and possess powerful healing properties. When injected into an area with damage, they target the body’s healing abilities to the specific site by drawing blood to the area. Specifically, platelets release growth factors when injected, which then stimulates growth and repair and activates the local stem cells.

Because of this, PRP therapy makes use of the stem cells already in the body, and simply directs them to a location in need of regeneration and repair.

Some uses for PRP therapy include erectile dysfunction, vaginal atrophy, and hair loss. PRP therapy can also be used on the face to restore youthfulness and address changes in skin that occur with aging.

Two types of PRP therapy are the V-shot and P-shot, which are administered to the vagina and penis, respectively. When injected into the damaged tissue of the sex organs, stem cells are stimulated to form new sensory cells and blood vessels. This then helps to improve function and increase sensitivity.

Cord Blood

One of the newer emergencies in the field of regenerative medicine is the use of cord blood stem cells for many different functions of the body.

One area of study involves seeing if cord blood stem cells can slow insulin production loss in children with type 1 diabetes. With type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the pancreatic ß-cells and keeps them from functioning. However, stem cells have been shown to preserve their function and modify immune tolerance, two roles that show potential in treating type 1 diabetes.

Cord blood stem cells have also been studied in the field of cardiology in regard to their ability to improve function and blood flow at injured sites in the cardiovascular system. Since cardiovascular problems can also cause erectile dysfunction, cord blood stem cells may be a future method of erectile dysfunction treatment.

The application of stem cells to the nervous system has also been observed, something which is important due to the slow, and often nonexistent, regeneration rate of nerve cells. Studies have shown that stem cells can migrate to injured areas of the brain to repair the damaged tissue and alleviate any symptoms associated with mobility.

One of the primary appeals of using cord blood stem cells is that the patient’s own stem cells are utilized, which means there is less risk of the body’s immune system rejecting the cells.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

For men and women with low sex hormone levels, hormone replacement therapy offers a way to naturally increase these levels and relieve the symptoms associated with low hormone production.

One common application of this is for menopausal women, where estrogen hormone therapy addresses the symptoms that can occur with low estrogen levels. In fact, hormone therapy is the most efficient treatment for the symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, which occur, in part, when the vaginal tissue experiences cell loss and becomes thin and dry due to declining estrogen levels.

For men with low testosterone, erectile dysfunction and other sexual problems can occur, but hormone therapy offers a way to replenish testosterone levels and restore sexual function.

Hormones play a significant role in many body functions, so by supplementing low-hormone levels, you can address these deficiencies and help the body function more optimally.

Harnessing The Body’s Healing Abilities

Regenerative medicine offers an exciting new field of medicine, focusing on ways to stimulate the body’s own immune system and restore function that had been damaged. This provides a treatment method for many conditions which had previously been incurable.

While some areas of regenerative medicine, including stem cells, are still undergoing research regarding their capabilities, others have already shown immense improvement for those who use them.

Platelet-rich plasma and hormone replacement therapy are two forms of regenerative medicine that use the body’s own healing capabilities to address problem areas. Through these forms of regenerative medicine, the body can begin working as it should again, restoring balance and increasing function.

With regenerative medicine still having much to explore, it will be exciting to see where the advances continue to go and what condition regenerative medicine may be able to address next.

References

Bonferoni, M., Caramella, C., Catenacci, L., Conti, B., Dorati, R., & Ferrari, F. et al. (2021). Biomaterials for Soft Tissue Repair and Regeneration: A Focus on Italian Research in the Field. Pharmaceutics, 13(9), 13

Wan, X., Zhang, D., Khan, M., Zheng, S., Hu, X., & Zhang, Q. et al. (2022). Stem Cell Transplantation in the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: From Insulin Replacement to Beta-Cell Replacement. Frontiers In Endocrinology, 13. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.859638

Greco, N., & Laughlin, M. (2010). Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells for Myocardial Repair and Regeneration. Methods In Molecular Biology, 29-52. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60761-705-1_3

Ali, H., & Bahbahani, H. (2010). Umbilical cord blood stem cells – potential therapeutic tool for neural injuries and disorders. Acta neurobiologiae experimentalis, 70(3), 316–324.

Fait, T. (2019). Menopause hormone therapy: latest developments and clinical practice. Drugs In Context, 8, 1-9. doi: 10.7573/dic.212551

About Dr. Mel Irvine

Dr. Mel Irvine, DNP and Clinical Sexologist specializes in sexual medicine and beauty in Fort Myers Florida. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Florida Gulf Coast University and her master’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2018, she completed a preceptorship at San Diego Sexual Medicine with Dr. Irwin Goldstein and obtained her clinical sexologist certification from STII with Dr. Carol Clark. She is passionate about working with singles and couples to learn and explore their sexuality and sexual health needs through providing a comfortable and nonjudgmental atmosphere. As a provider she offers a balanced and holistic approach that encompasses a multimodal care delivery model.

Our sexual medicine and beauty treatments in Fort Myers Florida:

Hormone Replacement Therapy	Body Sculpting & Skin Tightening
HRT For Women Treatment	Injectables & Neurotoxins Treatments
HRT For Men Treatment	O-Shot™ Treatments
PRP Therapies for Beauty and Skin Services	P-Shot™ Injection Treatments
InMode Microneedling	Erectile Dysfunction Therapies
Sexual Desire Treatment Options	PRP Therapies for Sexual Wellness

September 10, 2022/by John

The Effect of Nutrition on Essential Hormones

News, Personal

While we typically eat whatever foods seem the most appealing, the foods that we put into our body can significantly affect may aspects of our health, including hormonal balance.

Hormones are chemical messengers for the body and control almost every process that it completes, including:

immunity
metabolism
reproduction
menstrual cycle
mood

In order for these areas to operate as they should, your hormone levels need to be in the correct balance. However, certain things, such as the food you eat, can affect this.

Hormones Affected by Food

There are over 50 hormones that have been identified in the body, but there are a certain few that are consistently researched and referenced, especially in relation to food.

Estrogen

Estrogen is also known as the female sex hormone, although it is also present (and important) in men.

In women, estrogen is essential in developing pubic hair and breasts, and in causing the hips to widen. However, in both men and women, estrogen is also vital for blood clotting, bone formation, and skin and nail health.

Estrogen levels can become too low or too high, with low estrogen contributing to feelings of depression. However, when estrogen levels fluctuate, such as during menopause, symptoms such as low libido, hot flashes, and weight gain can occur.

Testosterone

While estrogen is the female sex hormone, testosterone is the male sex hormone. Besides contributing to the typical male attributes such as body hair and a deeper voice, testosterone is also important in both men and women for improving sexual function, gaining muscle mass, and boosting strength.

Changes in testosterone have also been associated with conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart problems, and metabolic syndrome.

Many factors affect testosterone regulation, including diet, which can help keep testosterone levels from dropping too low.

Insulin

Most often associated with those who have diabetes, insulin is a hormone essential for regulating metabolic processes, including balancing blood sugar levels.

Insulin accomplishes this by allowing your liver, organs, and fat to absorb glucose. However, if the body does not generate enough insulin or if you have developed insulin resistance (making it difficult for your body to use insulin well), blood sugar levels can rise.

The foods you eat can affect how sensitive insulin is, with different foods causing insulin sensitivity to increase or decrease.

Cortisol

More commonly referred to as the stress hormone, cortisol plays a vital role in the fight-or-flight response. However, it can be dangerous if cortisol remains at high levels chronically.

Consistent high cortisol levels can cause:

weight gain
anxiety
heart problems
migraines
brain fog
sleep disturbances

While some of the most popular ways to control stress, and thus control cortisol, include regular exercise, removing the stressor, and breathing exercises such as meditation or yoga, diet can also affect cortisol levels.

Foods And Supplements to Eat

The following food and supplements have been shown to help balance certain hormone levels.

Protein

Protein is an important source of amino acids, which the body cannot make on its own. However, protein is also essential for making peptide hormones, which are protein-derived.

The endocrine gland makes peptide hormones from amino acids, and they play a crucial role in body processes such as:

appetite
energy metabolism
stress
growth
reproduction

For example, studies have shown that eating protein decreases ghrelin, also known as the hunger hormone. Protein also helps to stimulate hormone production for glucagon-like peptide-1 and peptide YY, which are two hormones that help you feel full.

Healthy Fats

Consuming healthy fats can help to reduce insulin resistance and appetite.

Healthy fats include medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), and what makes them “healthy” fats is that they are more likely to be taken up by the liver for immediate energy usage versus being stored in the fat tissue.

Research has shown that MCTs are less likely to promote insulin resistance and can also help increase insulin sensitivity.

For those under chronic stress, research also suggests that omega-3s, a type of healthy fat, may help keep cortisol levels from increasing.

Fiber

Fiber is an essential part of your diet, and this includes its effect on hormones.

Studies have shown that fiber helps to increase insulin sensitivity.

Additionally, both soluble and insoluble fiber can help stimulate the production of hormones that increase feelings of fullness. This then helps to prevent overeating, which can lead to obesity.

Mediterranean Diet

As for specific diets, the Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce estrogen levels that can become too high when following the Western diet, which primarily consists of animal products and sugars. These higher estrogen levels are also listed as risk factors for ovarian and breast cancer.

While estrogen is an essential hormone for female and male reproductive health, bone and heart health, blood sugar balance, brain function, and immune health, too much of it can pose the risk of acute and chronic health conditions, such as metabolic disorders, obesity, and various cancers.

Because of this, it is crucial to keep estrogen levels within a normal range, and the Mediterranean diet can help with that.

The Mediterranean diet focuses on whole grains, fish, seeds, cruciferous vegetables (e.g., broccoli, cauliflower), and legumes.

Soy Products

Soy products contain phytoestrogen, which is a bioactive substance that acts like estrogen in the body. For those who are suffering from low estrogen levels, such as those going through menopause, soy products may help to balance estrogen levels and relieve symptoms.

Soy has also shown promise in reducing the risk of certain health conditions that occur with menopause, such as improving blood cholesterol levels, lowering the risk of ischemic heart disease, and relieving hot flashes.

Research has also shown that soy products regularly can help reduce testosterone levels. The exact mechanism behind this is still under research, but scientists suspect that it is because the phytoestrogens it possesses can reduce testosterone levels.

Cruciferous Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables produce a phytochemical called indole-3-carbinol, which is important in promoting liver function. This then helps the liver support hormone balance by removing the waste products and “spent” hormones.

Because of this, cruciferous vegetables play an important role in balancing your hormonal system.

Some examples of cruciferous vegetables include:

broccoli
Bok choy
cauliflower
cabbage
brussels sprouts
kale
radish

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that can be found in food or taken as a supplement, and benefits those with hormone imbalance in many ways.

Magnesium helps to increase insulin sensitivity, which leads to lower blood sugar. It also helps to support quality sleep, which is an important component of finding hormonal balance.

Magnesium also helps to reduce excess cortisol production, effectively relaxing the nervous system. It also helps those with thyroid imbalances by decreasing inflammation that can cause this autoimmune response.

Some foods with magnesium include:

almonds
leafy greens
chocolate
sunflower seeds
sesame seeds

Foods to Avoid

Some of these foods should be avoided in general for hormone balance, but there are also some products that should only be avoided if your body overproduces or underproduces a hormone. For example, estrogen is one hormone that can be high or low in someone’s body, and what foods to avoid (or consume more of) will depend on your estrogen levels.

Sugar

Sugar doesn’t need to be cut entirely out of your diet, but it is important to minimize added sugar. This is because added sugar can negatively affect hormone function, which then contributes to diabetes and obesity.

Added sugar can promote insulin resistance, with insulin being an essential hormone for regulating blood sugar levels. If you develop insulin resistance, you can then develop diabetes.

Added sugar may also fail to stimulate leptin production, which is the fullness hormone. This can lead to decreased calorie burning, which can contribute to weight gain.

Red Meat

While protein helps regulate hormone levels, consuming too much red meat may increase your body’s estrogen production to abnormal levels. This is because red meat is rich in hydrogenated and saturated fats.

Dairy Products

Dairy products can result in inflammation in the gut, which can impact your hormone levels.

Soy Products

Soy products are one of those offerings that can benefit some but cause more severe symptoms in others. This is because they contain phytoestrogens, so if your estrogen levels are already high, soy products may raise them even further, which can impact your ovulation cycle and reproductive health.

Along those same lines, since phytoestrogens can decrease testosterone, soy products should be avoided in those who already have low testosterone levels.

Caffeine and Alcohol

Both caffeine and alcohol can cause increases in cortisol secretion.

When cortisol levels are chronically high, it can increase your stress levels, visceral fat, and blood pressure. So, it’s best to keep cortisol levels low when you’re not in a stressful situation, and avoiding these two things can help.

Balancing Hormones: Nutrition is Just a Part

In addition to the food you eat, it is also crucial to only eat as much as your body needs to function optimally. Overeating can result in weight gain, which can cause all the problems associated with obesity.

Additionally, combining exercise with your nutrition can further help with hormone balance and return all hormones to a level that promotes optimal functioning.

Overall, having the correct balance of hormones in your body significantly contributes to how your body functions and, thus, how you feel. By giving your body the proper fuel, you can considerably improve how you feel, leading to a greater quality of life.

References

Rose, A. (2019). Role of Peptide Hormones in the Adaptation to Altered Dietary Protein Intake. Nutrients, 11(9), 1990. doi: 10.3390/nu11091990

de Carvalho, K., Pizato, N., Botelho, P., Dutra, E., & Gonçalves, V. (2020). Dietary protein and appetite sensations in individuals with overweight and obesity: a systematic review. European Journal Of Nutrition, 59(6), 2317-2332. doi: 10.1007/s00394-020-02321-1

Wang, S., Yang, L., Lu, J., & Mu, Y. (2014). High-Protein Breakfast Promotes Weight Loss by Suppressing Subsequent Food Intake and Regulating Appetite Hormones in Obese Chinese Adolescents. Hormone Research In Paediatrics, 83(1), 19-25. doi: 10.1159/000362168

DiNicolantonio, J. J., & O’Keefe, J. H. (2017). Good Fats versus Bad Fats: A Comparison of Fatty Acids in the Promotion of Insulin Resistance, Inflammation, and Obesity. Missouri medicine, 114(4), 303–307.

Hou, M., Zhou, W., Sun, L., Wang, B., Shen, J., Cao, L., & Lv, H. (2021). Effect of Fish Oil on Insulin Sensitivity in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials. Canadian Journal Of Diabetes, 45(6), 531-538.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2020.11.004

Muscaritoli, M. (2021). The Impact of Nutrients on Mental Health and Well-Being: Insights From the Literature. Frontiers In Nutrition, 8. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.656290

Hervik, A., & Svihus, B. (2019). The Role of Fiber in Energy Balance. Journal Of Nutrition And Metabolism, 2019, 1-11. doi: 10.1155/2019/4983657

Rebello, C., O’Neil, C., & Greenway, F. (2016). Dietary fiber and satiety: the effects of oats on satiety. Nutrition Reviews, 74(2), 131-147. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuv063

Patel, S., Homaei, A., Raju, A., & Meher, B. (2018). Estrogen: The necessary evil for human health, and ways to tame it. Biomedicine &Amp; Pharmacotherapy, 102, 403-411. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.03.078

Wiggs, A., Chandler, J., Aktas, A., Sumner, S., & Stewart, D. (2021). The Effects of Diet and Exercise on Endogenous Estrogens and Subsequent Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women. Frontiers In Endocrinology, 12. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.732255

Dillingham, B., McVeigh, B., Lampe, J., & Duncan, A. (2005). Soy Protein Isolates of Varying Isoflavone Content Exert Minor Effects on Serum Reproductive Hormones in Healthy Young Men. The Journal Of Nutrition, 135(3), 584-591. doi: 10.1093/jn/135.3.584

Jargin S. V. (2014). Soy and phytoestrogens: possible side effects. German medical science : GMS e-journal, 12, Doc18. https://doi.org/10.3205/000203

Taskinen, Packard, & Borén. (2019). Dietary Fructose and the Metabolic Syndrome. Nutrients, 11(9), 1987. doi: 10.3390/nu11091987

Stanhope, K. (2015). Sugar consumption, metabolic disease and obesity: The state of the controversy. Critical Reviews In Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 53(1), 52-67. doi: 10.3109/10408363.2015.1084990

About Dr. Mel Irvine

Dr. Mel Irvine, DNP and Clinical Sexologist specializes in sexual medicine and beauty in Fort Myers Florida. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Florida Gulf Coast University and her master’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2018, she completed a preceptorship at San Diego Sexual Medicine with Dr. Irwin Goldstein and obtained her clinical sexologist certification from STII with Dr. Carol Clark. She is passionate about working with singles and couples to learn and explore their sexuality and sexual health needs through providing a comfortable and nonjudgmental atmosphere. As a provider she offers a balanced and holistic approach that encompasses a multimodal care delivery model.

Our sexual medicine and beauty treatments in Fort Myers Florida:

Hormone Replacement Therapy	Body Sculpting & Skin Tightening
HRT For Women Treatment	Injectables & Neurotoxins Treatments
HRT For Men Treatment	O-Shot™ Treatments
PRP Therapies for Beauty and Skin Services	P-Shot™ Injection Treatments
InMode Microneedling	Erectile Dysfunction Therapies
Sexual Desire Treatment Options	PRP Therapies for Sexual Wellness

September 4, 2022/by John

The Relationship Between Autoimmune Disorders and Hormonal Deficiencies

News

Autoimmune diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent, especially among women. In fact, the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association estimates that 80% of the 24 million Americans with autoimmune diseases are women, and 85% or more of those with multiple autoimmune diseases are female.

This gender divide in those affected by autoimmune diseases leads to the inevitable speculation that sex hormones, which differ between men and women, may play a role in autoimmune disease development.

What Are Autoimmune Diseases?

An autoimmune disease occurs when your immune system begins attacking your body instead of foreign contagions, such as viruses and bacteria.

The immune system works by marking foreign proteins and then destroying them. However, for those with an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly marks proteins that are a part of you. Then, when the immune system sets out to destroy any marked proteins, it ends up attacking itself.

Sex hormones appear to play a role in autoimmune diseases since these diseases typically fluctuate with hormonal changes. For example, some instances that cause autoimmune diseases to flare up include the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or using oral contraceptives. All of these instances result in dramatic changes in female sex hormone levels.

The Role of Female Hormones

When looking at sex hormones, testosterone typically has an immunosuppressive effect, whereas estrogen has an immunoenhancing effect. Just two of the roles of estrogen in the immune system include regulating the immune response and inducing T cells (a component of the immune system) to home in on marked proteins.

It’s not just estrogen that impacts the immune system, either, with progesterone helping to inhibit the inflammatory innate immune response.

This shows that female hormones play a vital role in the immune system, and how effectively they accomplish this depends on their concentration in the body.

Hormonal Changes in Women

Women undergo at least two significant endocrinological changes in their life, puberty and menopause. In addition, women who become pregnant also undergo significant hormonal changes, with breastfeeding adding an extra component for those who do it.

In addition to impacting your mood, these hormonal changes are also extremely taxing on the immune system because of the interactions between the innate and adaptive immune systems, hormonal milieu, and the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

To show how these hormonal changes affect a body, a study found that women around the age of 50 had neutrophil percentages that dropped while lymphocyte percentages rose. This makes perimenopausal women more susceptible to lymphocyte-mediated autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Autoimmune Diseases by Life Stage

Many autoimmune diseases in women increase and decrease in risk based on the life stage a woman is in and the corresponding hormones they produce more or less of.

For example, multiple sclerosis (MS) is most prevalent among women of reproductive age and affects twice as many women as men. Studies have also shown that MS is closely linked to the female hormonal and reproductive cycles. Additionally, disease severity typically increases in postmenopausal women when estrogen levels decline.

Even more, MS relapses reduce during pregnancy, and this is because the female body produces more sex hormones during this time. This evidence shows the connection between hormone deficiency and MS development and how HRT may be able to address the symptoms.

Other autoimmune diseases have shown peaks during certain ages for women, whereas men typically show an increasing incidence with age. For example, with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), there is a peak in incidence for women between the ages of 35-39 and 55-59. In contrast, men show increasing incidence after 60, with a peak at 70+ years.

Hormonal Deficiencies

Beside estrogen and progesterone, a hormone that is typically low in women with autoimmune diseases is DHEA, which is a natural steroid produced by the reproductive organs, adrenal glands, and the brain.

DHEA is used to make testosterone and estrogen, but it is also known to have anti-inflammatory effects. When it comes to autoimmune diseases, inflammation is often a key component, and this decline in DHEA may be what leads to increased inflammation.

One study examining DHEA levels and Sjogren’s disease found that there was a strong correlation between low DHEA and Sjogren’s symptoms. The researchers concluded that the symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome appeared due to low sex hormones, and supplementing with DHEA allowed the body to turn it into estrogen, improving the participant’s symptoms.

Hormone Replacement Therapy for Autoimmune Disorders

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment method that, much as the name suggests, supplements the body with hormones to balance any declining levels.

There are many different hormones available in hormone replacement therapy, including estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone.

The preferred hormone for treatment will typically depend on the autoimmune disease, as different diseases result from different hormone declines. However, in most cases, the reduction is of a female sex hormone, which can include the class of estrogens (e.g., estradiol, estrone, and estriol) and progesterone.

While female sex hormones appear in the greatest quantity in women, men also utilize these hormones, meaning they can also experience the effects when these hormones become too low.

For the autoimmune disease of MS, studies have found that estriol was the most beneficial estrogen to supplement, with women who have relapsing-remitting MS experiencing a significant reduction of relapse rates when given standard of care medication in addition to oral estriol.

For rheumatoid arthritis (RA), another type of autoimmune disease, research has found that hormone replacement therapy with progesterone and estrogen can help to reduce the overall activity of RA.

These studies show that hormone replacement therapy can be effective in treating or relieving symptoms of autoimmune diseases, especially in women.

However, in order to see the most benefit, your doctor will need to consider the autoimmune disease you have, and they may also wish to discuss when you notice flare-ups in your symptoms. Your doctor can also test your hormone levels to see if there are any below-normal levels, and this information can help your doctor determine which hormone needs supplementation.

There are some risks to consider in regard to hormone treatment for autoimmune diseases. For instance, some studies have reported that while HRT can help to improve the overall disease, flare-ups, when they do occur, are much more intense.

Additionally, those with autoimmune disorders may need long-term HRT to manage their condition, but using hormones long-term is associated with some risks, including high blood pressure, blood clots, and increased risk of some cancers.

These are both things to discuss with your doctor to determine if the potential risks are worth the benefits afforded by HRT.

References

Desai, M., & Brinton, R. (2019). Autoimmune Disease in Women: Endocrine Transition and Risk Across the Lifespan. Frontiers In Endocrinology, 10. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00265

About Autoimmunity – Autoimmune Association. (2022). Retrieved 18 August 2022, from https://autoimmune.org/resource-center/about-autoimmunity/

Taneja, V. (2018). Sex Hormones Determine Immune Response. Frontiers In Immunology, 9. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01931

Hall, O., & Klein, S. (2017). Progesterone-based compounds affect immune responses and susceptibility to infections at diverse mucosal sites. Mucosal Immunology, 10(5), 1097-1107. doi: 10.1038/mi.2017.35

Brandt, J., Priori, R., Valesini, G., & Fairweather, D. (2015). Sex differences in Sjögren’s syndrome: a comprehensive review of immune mechanisms. Biology Of Sex Differences, 6(1). doi: 10.1186/s13293-015-0037-7

Chen, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhao, G., Chen, C., Yang, P., Ye, S., & Tan, X. (2016). Difference in Leukocyte Composition between Women before and after Menopausal Age, and Distinct Sexual Dimorphism. PLOS ONE, 11(9), e0162953. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162953

Belman, A., Krupp, L., Olsen, C., Rose, J., Aaen, G., & Benson, L. et al. (2016). Characteristics of Children and Adolescents With Multiple Sclerosis. Pediatrics, 138(1). doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-0120

Bove, R., Healy, B., Secor, E., Vaughan, T., Katic, B., & Chitnis, T. et al. (2015). Patients report worse MS symptoms after menopause: Findings from an online cohort. Multiple Sclerosis And Related Disorders, 4(1), 18-24. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2014.11.009

Runmarker, B., & Andersen, O. (1995). Pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of onset and a better prognosis in multiple sclerosis. Brain, 118(1), 253-261. doi: 10.1093/brain/118.1.253

Jarukitsopa, S., Hoganson, D., Crowson, C., Sokumbi, O., Davis, M., & Michet, C. et al. (2015). Epidemiology of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus in a Predominantly White Population in the United States. Arthritis Care &Amp; Research, 67(6), 817-828. doi: 10.1002/acr.22502

Voskuhl, R., Wang, H., Wu, T., Sicotte, N., Nakamura, K., & Kurth, F. et al. (2016). Estriol combined with glatiramer acetate for women with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. The Lancet Neurology, 15(1), 35-46. doi: 10.1016/s1474-4422(15)00322-1

Holroyd, C., & Edwards, C. (2009). The effects of hormone replacement therapy on autoimmune disease: rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Climacteric, 12(5), 378-386. doi: 10.1080/13697130903025449

About Dr. Mel Irvine

Dr. Mel Irvine, DNP and Clinical Sexologist specializes in sexual medicine and beauty in Fort Myers Florida. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Florida Gulf Coast University and her master’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2018, she completed a preceptorship at San Diego Sexual Medicine with Dr. Irwin Goldstein and obtained her clinical sexologist certification from STII with Dr. Carol Clark. She is passionate about working with singles and couples to learn and explore their sexuality and sexual health needs through providing a comfortable and nonjudgmental atmosphere. As a provider she offers a balanced and holistic approach that encompasses a multimodal care delivery model.

Our sexual medicine and beauty treatments in Fort Myers Florida:

Hormone Replacement Therapy	Body Sculpting & Skin Tightening
HRT For Women Treatment	Injectables & Neurotoxins Treatments
HRT For Men Treatment	O-Shot™ Treatments
PRP Therapies for Beauty and Skin Services	P-Shot™ Injection Treatments
InMode Microneedling	Erectile Dysfunction Therapies
Sexual Desire Treatment Options	PRP Therapies for Sexual Wellness

August 19, 2022/by John

PRP Joint Injections

News

What Are PRP Joint Injections?

PRP joint injections involve the injection of platelet-rich plasma into an injured joint. This increases the concentration of growth factors at the injured site, accelerating the healing process.

The appeal of PRP joint injections is that they can be directed right to the injured area. So, if you have pain in your knee, the platelet-rich plasma will be injected right into the knee. This ensures that the healing properties of platelets go directly to the spot that needs them.

What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a liquid consisting of a high concentration of platelets from the patient’s own body. PRP therapy then injects this liquid back into the patient to accelerate the healing of ligaments, tendons, joints, and muscles.

This type of therapy is becoming increasingly popular to combat conditions such as hair loss, sexual dysfunction and joint damage because it can target a specific location and, by using your own blood, there is minimal risk of the body rejecting the therapy. PRP is also safe to use with other treatments, such as medications, without fear of complication.

Platelet-rich plasma consists of two components: platelets and plasma. Platelets are a type of blood cell which play an important role in healing, with white platelets most often known for their clotting abilities. However, platelets also contain growth factors that can trigger cell reproduction and tissue regeneration, leading to healing in the damaged area. The second component of PRP is plasma, which is the liquid portion of your blood.

PRP is created by collecting a sample of your blood and then spinning it in a centrifuge until the PRP is separated from the other components of your blood. The doctor then injects the PRP into the injured area, and healing begins.

What Does PRP Therapy Do?

When PRP is injected into the damaged joint, it attracts stem cells that help repair damaged tissue, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and muscle.

This can produce results such as:

reduce pain
inhibit inflammation
improve joint function
slow, halt, or repair damaged tissues
increase the production of natural lubricating joint fluid

PRP injections do not inject anything unnatural into the body, they simply create a way for your body to focus its natural haling abilities.

Who Are PRP Joint Injections For?

PRP joint injections are ideal for those with joint pain that is taking a long time to heal or is recurring.

This is because PRP joint injections help to rebuild damaged tissue, returning full functionality to the joint and relieving pain. Additionally, PRP injections reduce inflammation and stimulate joint lubrication, which eases joint stiffness.

Some people who may be more likely to benefit from PRP joint injections include athletes and older adults, as these individuals have the most stress placed on their joints.

PRP joint injections are also beneficial for those with degenerative joint conditions, such as arthritis. PRP joint injections help to slow the progression of the disease, keeping your joint health from getting worse.

When used for joint injections, PRP therapy often shows the most noticeable results after a few weeks of treatment. It can depend on the condition, though, with some people finding improved joint health after just one injection, whereas those with degenerative diseases may need additional injections to slow the progression.

What Conditions Can PRP Joint Injections Help With?

Osteoarthritis

One of the most common conditions affecting the joints is arthritis, with osteoarthritis one form of this disease. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease where the tissue in the joints breaks down over time. The joints most often affected by osteoarthritis include the knees, hands, hips, lower back, and neck.

Osteoarthritis is very often considered a “wear and tear” disease, and it is typically caused by old age or repetitive use (especially common in athletes).

PRP therapy offers a way to direct healing abilities to the tissue which is breaking down. This is often the cartilage or, in the knee, the meniscus, which protects the bones from rubbing against each other. When this tissue breaks down, the bones rub every time the joint is moved, causing pain and, when inactive, stiffness.

PRP helps to slow the progression of osteoarthritis, preventing it from getting worse. In some cases, it may even help to repair the damaged tissue.

Chronic Tendon Injuries

Some individuals may find that they consistently suffer from tendon injuries, such as jumper’s knee or tennis elbow. As the names suggest, these injuries are especially common in athletes who repeat the same motion over and over, such as a tennis player who always swings their dominant arm.

The primary component of healing for these conditions is typically rest, but they can also take a long time to heal. By adding PRP therapy, the healing process can be sped up and stimulated so that you can return to normal activities sooner.

Ligament Tears

Ligament tears can be painful conditions that take a long time to heal. Sometimes the tear is minor, and the treatment revolves around rest. However, because of how long they take to heal, it is easy to re-injure them, sometimes making it feel as though it never heals.

In these situations, PRP therapy can aid the healing process and help you finally heal the torn ligament. It is helpful for times when your ligament continues to tear or when the tear is very slow-healing.

Bursitis

Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between tissues of the body around the major joints, such as elbows, shoulders, knees, and hips. Bursitis occurs when the bursae become inflamed, and it can lead to pain when using the affected joint.

PRP therapy can help relieve bursitis pain by reducing inflammation in the bursae and promoting tissue healing.

Bursitis is yet another repetitive use condition, making PRP therapy effective at healing it and preventing further flare-ups.

Healing Post-Surgery

Surgical procedures on the tendons, ligaments, and muscles of joints typically have very long recovery times. PRP therapy is often used after these procedures to help accelerate healing and return you to full mobility sooner.

About Dr. Mel Irvine

Dr. Mel Irvine, DNP and Clinical Sexologist specializes in sexual medicine and beauty in Fort Myers Florida. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Florida Gulf Coast University and her master’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2018, she completed a preceptorship at San Diego Sexual Medicine with Dr. Irwin Goldstein and obtained her clinical sexologist certification from STII with Dr. Carol Clark. She is passionate about working with singles and couples to learn and explore their sexuality and sexual health needs through providing a comfortable and nonjudgmental atmosphere. As a provider she offers a balanced and holistic approach that encompasses a multimodal care delivery model.

Our sexual medicine and beauty treatments in Fort Myers Florida:

Hormone Replacement Therapy	Body Sculpting & Skin Tightening
HRT For Women Treatment	Injectables & Neurotoxins Treatments
HRT For Men Treatment	O-Shot™ Treatments
PRP Therapies for Beauty and Skin Services	P-Shot™ Injection Treatments
InMode Microneedling	Erectile Dysfunction Therapies
Sexual Desire Treatment Options	PRP Therapies for Sexual Wellness

August 14, 2022/by John

The Benefits of Applying Progesterone to the Scrotum

News, Personal, Press

Progesterone is very often considered for its role in pregnancy, and while it does play an important role in this process, it can also offer some benefits for men. Namely, progesterone cream may help how men feel and sleep while also maintaining their overall hormonal balance.

The Role of Progesterone

Progesterone itself is a building block for many hormones, including testosterone. This is why its application can help to balance and maintain overall hormone levels.

Testosterone is considered the male sex hormone, and as such, it is responsible for defining male characteristics, such as body hair and a deep voice.

However, progesterone also plays a role in regular body functions such as building bone mass, promoting brain activity, regulating blood sugar levels, and keeping the body in a healthy balance.

Progesterone also impacts thyroid hormone production, which controls metabolism, or the process by which our body turns fat into energy.

The many roles of progesterone in the male body include:

fertility support
testosterone biosynthesis
supports healthy mood
blocking gonadotropin secretion
improving sleep
supports healthy energy levels
supports healthy DHEA levels
supports healthy blood pressure
decreases the risk of prostate cancer
supports healthy muscle mass
mobilizes fat for energy and regulates weight
prevents the conversion of testosterone into DHT
healthy erectile function support

Progesterone may also affect the immune system, cardiovascular system, kidney function, respiratory system, adipose tissue, tumors in the CNS, and behavior. In short, progesterone affects a lot of your body.

The Symptoms of Low Progesterone

While hormone levels continually go up and down, men who experience progesterone levels that are frequently too low can develop some complications and unpleasant symptoms.

Since progesterone is a precursor to testosterone, low progesterone levels can also lead to low testosterone, with both conditions causing unpleasant symptoms.

Some signs of low progesterone in men include:

depression
hair loss
bone loss
depression
loss of muscle mass
erectile dysfunction
cognitive concerns
mood swings
low libido
weight gain
fatigue
development of male breasts
impotence

Low progesterone levels can also result in a condition called estrogen dominance. This occurs because progesterone is an agonist to estrogen, so if progesterone is too low, estrogen levels are able to rise higher than they should be.

Some of the symptoms of estrogen dominance in men include:

abdominal weight gain
lethargy
brain fog
insomnia
anxiety
irritability

Men with low progesterone levels are also at an increase in health conditions such as arthritis, prostate cancer, osteoporosis, and prostatism (an obstruction of the bladder neck, typically due to an enlarged prostate).

Testing Progesterone Levels

When men start to experience problems with the above symptoms, they may think to only check their testosterone levels since that is the most prominent hormone in men. However, it is also beneficial to see if progesterone levels are lower than they should be, since this may be the reason behind the low testosterone levels.

Testing hormone levels, in a general, is a simple process where your healthcare professional only needs to take a blood sample using a small needle. There may be a slight sting as the needle goes in and out of the skin, but overall, it is a simple and quick way to monitor your hormone levels.

Your doctor may also check hormone levels using a saliva test.

What Can Cause Low Progesterone Levels?

There are a myriad of conditions that can cause low progesterone levels, such as:

Age

As we age, our progesterone levels become significantly lower, also causing testosterone levels to decline.

Diet

While progesterone is not a vitamin or mineral that can be consumed through food (like vitamin D or iron), there are some foods that may help stimulate your production of progesterone.

These foods include:

broccoli
beans
cabbage
brussels sprouts
cauliflower
nuts
kale
spinach
pumpkin
whole grains

There are also some foods that can decrease the amount of estrogen in the body, which can help with the balance between estrogen and progesterone.

cabbage
bananas
walnuts
shellfish

A diet that lacks these foods may contribute to your low progesterone levels.

Stress

Stress can also significantly impact progesterone levels. This is because when your body experiences chronic stress, it produces more of the hormone cortisol to help manage the stress. However, progesterone is a precursor to cortisol, so progesterone levels decline when your body produces more cortisol.

Smoking

Studies have shown that those who smoke have a significantly lower level of progesterone than those who don’t.

Increasing Progesterone Levels with Progesterone Cream

For those with low progesterone levels that cause unpleasant symptoms, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be an appealing treatment option. HRT encompasses many hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. While these hormones can be delivered in various ways, such as through an injection or pill, men who suffer from low progesterone may see the greatest benefit from progesterone cream.

Progesterone cream is typically used for women to help relieve the symptoms of menopause. However, for men, this cream can be applied topically to the scrotum.

The scrotum is the bag of skin that holds the testes, which produce both progesterone and testosterone.

For hormonal creams, it is important to apply them at the site in which they are needed. For men with low progesterone levels, this means applying the progesterone cream to the scrotum. This allows the hormones to be absorbed by the testes, where they can then be transformed into testosterone.

When taking progesterone cream, it is essential to apply it every day, typically twice a day, although you should follow the instructions provided by your doctor.

Additional Habits to Increase Progesterone

While our age is not something we can control, there are other habits you can adopt, in addition to using progesterone cream, to help keep your progesterone at a healthy level, such as:

maintain a healthy body weight
consume foods that stimulate progesterone production (e.g., broccoli, beans, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower, pumpkin, nuts, whole grains, and spinach)
reduce stress
stop smoking

Progesterone for Male Health

While progesterone is often considered a female hormone, it plays essential roles in the male body and can decline due to many reasons, the most permanent being age.

Because of the many side effects of low progesterone levels, men often seek a way to address them. Progesterone cream is an easy-to-use treatment, and when applied directly to the scrotum, it delivers the hormones right to the site where they are needed.

References

Herrera, A., Nielsen, S., & Mather, M. (2016). Stress-induced increases in progesterone and cortisol in naturally cycling women. Neurobiology Of Stress, 3, 96-104. doi: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2016.02.006

Adeyemi, D., Oyeyipo, I., Akanbi, K., & Oluwole, T. (2018). Nicotine alters progesterone and estradiol levels during the first trimester of pregnancy in Wistar rats. JBRA Assisted Reproduction. doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20180014

About Dr. Mel Irvine

Dr. Mel Irvine, DNP and Clinical Sexologist specializes in sexual medicine and beauty in Fort Myers Florida. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Florida Gulf Coast University and her master’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2018, she completed a preceptorship at San Diego Sexual Medicine with Dr. Irwin Goldstein and obtained her clinical sexologist certification from STII with Dr. Carol Clark. She is passionate about working with singles and couples to learn and explore their sexuality and sexual health needs through providing a comfortable and nonjudgmental atmosphere. As a provider she offers a balanced and holistic approach that encompasses a multimodal care delivery model.

Our sexual medicine and beauty treatments in Fort Myers Florida:

Hormone Replacement Therapy	Body Sculpting & Skin Tightening
HRT For Women Treatment	Injectables & Neurotoxins Treatments
HRT For Men Treatment	O-Shot™ Treatments
PRP Therapies for Beauty and Skin Services	P-Shot™ Injection Treatments
InMode Microneedling	Erectile Dysfunction Therapies
Sexual Desire Treatment Options	PRP Therapies for Sexual Wellness

August 11, 2022/by John

Tag Archive for: Sexual Health

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