Menopause andropause

Menopause and AndropauseKamyar M . Hedayat, MD, Medical DirectorFull Spectrum Health: An Endobiogeny Medical Center6480 Weathers Place Ste 106, San Diego, Ca 92121www.fshcenter.com858-455-9726

(c) 2013: Full Spectrum Health: An Endobiogeny Medical Center www.fshcenter.com

INTRODUCTIONLife is a series of natural transitions

Fetal life to birthAdolescenceAdulthoodMenopause/AndropauseSenescence

However, living is a series of adaptations and modifications of these transitions


ObjectivesHormone review

What is a hormone?Where do they come

from?Menopause

What it isWhy it comes aboutSymptomsTreatment options

AndropauseWhat it isWhy it comes aboutSymptomsTreatment options


Hormones: A brief review

Testosterone


HormonesHormones are chemical messengers that

manage the metabolism of the bodyMetabolism includes how cells and tissues

are built, recycles and built againHormones affect our feelings, mood, strength

of bones, muscles, tendons, etc., immunity, determine our sex, our gender and much more

Hormones manage our reaction to every stress, and all the grand transitions in life, including menopause and andropause


Sex HormonesCHOLESTER

OLPROGESTERO

NE

DHEA

TESTOSTERONE

DIHYDRO- TESTOSTERO

NE

ESTROGENS

ADRENAL

GLAND

GONADS

FAT CELLSLIVER


MenopauseAll it is and all it isn’t


Menopause: What it isMenopause is when the monthly (meno-)

menstrual cycle ends (-pause) Purpose of menstrual cycle: prepare a woman

for a possible pregnancy every month with large increases in estrogen, then, progesterone

All a woman’s eggs are present at birth. They mature at a certain age, then involute over time

When the period of fertility has ended, the body ceases to expend energy on this monthly cycle…Menopause


Why are there symptoms?The need for estrogen does not end with the

end of fertilityEveryone—men and women—needs estrogen

to liveEstrogen builds tissues, helps with energy

production, helps stabilize mood, improves quality of skin, helps with lubrication, balances role of testosterone

The symptoms of menopause from the attempt to find another way to make estrogen (and progesterone) that does not involve the ovaries


Decline in Estrogen Production

…three back-up ways to make estrogen: Adrenal glands, fat, liver


Recall:CHOLESTER

OLPROGESTERO

NE

DHEA

TESTOSTERONE

DIHYDRO- TESTOSTERO

NE

ESTROGENS

ADRENAL

GLAND

GONADS

FAT CELLSLIVER


Symptoms of Menopause

Most symptoms of menopause arise from

• Over-stimulating Adrenals with the nervous system

• Over-producing testosterone

• Under-producing Estrogens

• Over-accumulation of fat (for estrogens)

• Congesting the liver

• Low kidney chi


What to do?Is Menopause a

disease? NoShould it be treated?

Yes: if it is symptomatic

The goal of life is to seek balance

With increase in life span, live better instead of merely longer becomes more imperative


Why to treat itReduce risk of “men’s diseases” due to drop

in estrogenHeart DiseaseAlzheimer’s

Reduce risk of “female diseases”Osteoporosis

As well as quality of life issues: LibidoSkin qualityMood imbalances, etc.


How to treat itHormonal

Synthetic hormonesBio-identical

hormonesMedicinal plants

NutritionalEnergetic:

Acupuncture

Metabolic: Oxygen therapies

Structural: Massage, Chi Ni tsang

Detoxification: IR sauna, medical detox

Aesthetics: Acupuncture, oxygen therapies


ANDROPAUSE


What it isAndropause is a decline in testosterone

productionAndropause is not simply “male menopause”

Men are more dependent on testosterone than women

Decline is slow, not suddenSymptoms are more subtleCulturally and medically, andropause is either

brushed off as “mid-life crisis” or ignored


Why it occursSimilar to women, andropause is related in

part to fertility needs and virilityHowever, unlike women, men are constantly

producing new sperm throughout their adult lives

With advancing age, the need for a high amount of androgens declines

What makes andropause more complicated is the relationship of testosterone with sex hormone binding globulin, androgen receptors, and estrogen


Testosterone and SHBG


Pseudo-AndropauseLiver disease Beta blockersZinc deficiencyMagnesium deficiencyAlcohol consumptionChronic marijuana useSedatives


Role of Various Androgens


Symptoms of AndropauseUsually, we see a decline in one or two of the

major androgens, not just Testosterone: DHEA, Testosterone, DHT Low sex drive Mood instability, irrational decision makingDecreased muscle mass Loss of muscle strength Increased upper and central body fat Osteoporosis or weak bones and back pain


DHT Over-compensationOften we see an over-conversion of testosterone to DHT:

Cardiovascular risk Male pattern hair lossProstate issues


Recall:CHOLESTER

OLPROGESTERO

NE

DHEA

TESTOSTERONE

DIHYDRO- TESTOSTERO

NE

ESTROGENS

ADRENAL

GLAND

GONADS

FAT CELLSLIVER


Risks of hormonal treatmentAccording to advocates of hormonal

treatment, risks of male hormonal replacement may include:Male breast cancerProstate cancerBlood clotsIncreased heart diseaseDiabetes (from increased insulin resistance)Kidney diseaseSwelling of the hands and feet


Treatment OptionsHormonal

Synthetic hormonesBio-identical

hormonesMedicinal plants

NutritionalEnergetic:

Acupuncture

Metabolic: Oxygen therapies

Structural: Massage, Chi nit san

Detoxification: IR sauna, medical detox

Aesthetics: Acupuncture, oxygen therapies


Bio-identical hormones-bewareBio-identical hormones are almost the same

as synthetic hormones: Concentrated and aggressive Force your body to use what it is given without

being to able to regulate it in a natural wayOften requires monthly blood tests, changing

the doses of your “cocktail” and a lot of trial and error


The Endobiogeny approachNatural plant therapy: Whole-plant therapies

Encourage your body’s natural production of hormones

Improve your body’s sensitivity to hormones.Does not require monthly testing Does not require “cocktails” of hormones

Diet: Eating the right foods can help your body make more sex hormones from back up sources

Lifestyle: managing stress and body image issues is also important


Examples of hormonal plantsEstrogen-like Progesterone-like Testosterone-like

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Eleuthro (Eleuthrococcus senticoccus)

Clary sage (Salvia sclarea)

Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris)

Ginger (Zingiber officinalis)

Maca (Lepidium meyenii)

Maca (Lepidium meyenii)

Ginseng (Panax ssp.) Ginseng (Panax ssp.)


QUESTIONS and DISCUSSION

Health & Medicine

Menopause andropause