HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE RESEARCH & NEWS

The Truth About Metabolism

Metabolism is Strongly Correlated with Body Composition

Your metabolism is related directly to the physiological composition of your body. Muscle has the natural ability to increase metabolism, and fat has the unfortunate ability to slow it down. By maintaining a proper and healthy balance of Muscle and Fat, you can positively impact your metabolism, generating more energy and helping you stay healthier and more lively throughout the day.

The easiest way to determine your body composition is through a simple conversion known as the Body-Mass Index. Although not perfect, BMI will give you a roundabout estimate of your muscle-fat ratio, letting you know what your goals should be when exercising and dieting.

Proteins Are the Best Food to Enhance Metabolism

The foods that you eat influence your metabolism powerfully. The more complex the food that you eat, the more energy it takes for your body to turn it into a useful product. Proteins take the most energy for the body to break down, so they burn the most calories.

Simple sugars and carbohydrates take the least energy for the body to break down, and have the least influence on metabolism. The body has the ability to break down simple carbohydrates and convert them directly into fat. Complex carbohydrates such as brown rice and whole grains take more energy to break down and are healthier for the body because they add fiber and other nutrients to the diet.

Women Have Slower Metabolism than Men

It may seem a bit unfair, but it is physiologically more difficult for women than men to burn fat. Women genetically store higher levels of fat than their male counterparts, because this helps with the nursing process and makes it easier for women to bear healthy children.

Men, on the other hand, have higher metabolisms, both because their bodies are less prone to deposit fat, and because Testosterone flowing through their veins encourages the muscles to grow larger, which further enhances metabolism.

The good thing about this for women is that they are biologically designed to carry more body fat than men, which means that as long as they stay within a normal range for their sex, it's not harmful for women to have a slightly higher BMI than their male counterpart pound for pound.

What Exactly Is Metabolism?

In terms of diet, nutrition, and exercise, the word Metabolism usually refers to the rate at which your body burns fat and calories, but the full definition is more broad. Metabolism refers to any activity that your body does that uses energy.

When you exercise, your body is burning consumed and stored calories in order to fuel your physical activity. Any food that you eat will lead to an increase in metabolism, because your body is spending energy breaking the food down. The problem with simple carbohydrates and empty calories is that your body expends significantly less energy breaking simple foods down than more complex foods, such as proteins and whole grains. This causes your body to store more calories than you actually need.

Metabolism can further be broken down into two forms of action: Anabolic Metabolism and Catabolic Metabolism. Anabolic Reactions in the body either store energy or use energy to build cells and other physiological structures. Catabolic Reactions refer to any metabolic reactions which free up stored energy or break down cells or molecules.

What is Metabolic Rate?

Metabolic Rate refers to the speed at which your body burns calories over time. When you hear the word Metabolism used in the context of exercise, nutrition, and diet, it is generally being used as a shorthand for metabolic rate.

The most common scientific measure of Metabolic Rate is Basal Metabolic Rate. Resting Metabolic Rate is a shorthand method of approximating Basal Metabolic Rate using weight, height, sex, and age in a less restrictive setting.

Your Baseline Metabolic Rate gives you a general idea of how your body uses energy. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will naturally burn even in a sedentary environment. The more fat that you have, the fewer calories that your body will ambiently burn.

A Variety of Factors Influence Your Metabolism, Including Lifestyle, Age, and Genetics

Metabolism is impacted by a wide variety of different factors. Lifestyle is the aspect that you have the most control over as an individual. Lifestyle encompasses a wide variety of components, including the foods that you choose to eat and the level of physical activity that you choose to engage in.

You don't have any control over age, but it is important to recognize how age affects metabolism. Children and adolescents have incredibly high metabolism, because they directly use the energy and calories they take in to grow taller and stronger. During early adulthood, most people still have strong metabolisms, but metabolism naturally slows with age, making it harder to maintain a healthy weight.

Genetics is another factor which cannot be controlled by human beings. You got your parents eyes and their height, and you also get their physiological predisposition toward metabolism. Some people are just born to burn energy, and these people will find it easier to keep weight off than those that were born with more modest metabolism.

Metabolism is Controlled Primarily by the Thyroid Gland

The Thyroid Gland is a complex area of the brain which is responsible for controlling the way that your body absorbs and expends energy. Thyroid Hormones control how slowly or quickly that your body burns calories.

It also makes executive decisions regarding what your body does with the nutrients that you take into your body. The Thyroid decides if you need to build protein for muscle or build fat for energy storage. The Thyroid also decides whether you burn fat or muscle during exercise, and how your body reacts to other hormonal influences.

Thyroid Dysfunctions are almost synonymous with Metabolic Disorders. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body does not produce enough Thyroid Hormones to allow the body to function appropriately. This has a negative influence on metabolism, and can lead to extreme fatigue, reduced metabolism, and extreme difficulty maintaining a healthy weight. Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the Thyroid Gland produces too many hormones, which speeds up metabolism, sometimes leading to rapid weight loss or a need to consume a large number of calories to remain at a healthy weight.

Both Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism can be treated with medications which influence the rate at which the Thyroid Gland operates. Hypothyroidism can be treated with Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy which replaces Thyroid Hormone which is not being produced effectively by the brain, and Hyperthyroidism can be treated with medications which block Thyroid Hormone Receptors, limiting the influence of the excess hormone production.

Anaerobic Strength Training is a Fantastic Way to Encourage Faster Metabolism

Weight Lifting and Resistance Training are powerful ways to both help you lose weight and increase your Basal Metabolic Rate. Although there is no debate as to whether or not this is true, there is some debate regarding the mechanism by which these positive changes occur.

There is one school of thought that suggests that reducing body fat and increasing muscle mass increases your metabolism at rest, allowing you to burn more calories even when you aren't engaged in physical activity.

There are many detractors to this hypothesis, however, including the American College of Sports Medicine. The ACSM suggests that the primary benefit of Strength Training for most people in regard to Metabolism occurs during exercise and when new muscle is being developed. They admit that regular Strength Training does increase Resting Metabolism, but for most people, the Metabolic Benefits of Strength Training which occurs in the period during and immediately after physical activity vastly outweighs the slight increase in Resting Metabolism.

As You Grow Older, Your Metabolic Rate Decreases

As we mentioned earlier, briefly, your Metabolism decreases as a factor of age. The rate at which this decline occurs is different from person to person, but all people will burn less energy as they grow older.

One reason for this is that the body becomes less effective at maintaining muscle mass over time. The influence of hormones like Testosterone and Human Growth Hormone start to decline in the late twenties and early thirties, and the metabolic processes of the body start to slow down. The average rate at which metabolism tends to slow down for the individual is around two percent every ten years.

In women, Menopause can also play a more immediate factor in metabolism. It is vitally important to engage in physical activity before, during, and after Menopause, because studies have shown that women that do not engage in regular exercise lose about ten percent of their metabolism, adjusted for age-related loss of muscle mass, than women that have not yet experienced Menopause. Women that exercise regularly do not experience any additional decline beyond the guaranteed two percent per decade.

A Highly Restrictive Diet Has a Negative Impact on Metabolism

Many people believe that one of the easiest ways to lose weight is simply to cut calories. While it is true that responsibly cutting back on calories is an effective aspect of losing weight, cutting calories too much can actually have a negative impact on your ability to lose weight. If you cut your calories to less than 1,200 per day, your body is going to react to that as a sign of starvation and cut back metabolism significantly in order to help the body maintain its weight against that risk. The problem is that if you are simply cutting back in order to try to lose weight, you are going to get vastly limited results.

The best way to lose weight is to cut calories moderately and increase physical activity in order to enhance metabolism. Following this method, you ensure that your body increases its metabolic rate while also reasonably decreasing calories, which produces the most effective rate of healthy weight loss.

Experts also suggest spreading small, nutrient dense, low-calorie meals across the day in order to enhance metabolism. Eating a snack or meal every two to three hours gives your body energy and choosing foods smartly allows your digestive system to work hard to break down the nutrients contained within the complex foods that you are eating.

Caffeine Increases Metabolism

Caffeine belongs to a class of chemical compounds known as stimulants. Caffeine has the ability to positively impact metabolic rate, and research has indicated that a single cup of coffee has the ability to increase metabolism by as much as four percent as it is metabolized by the body.

Caffeine takes around twenty to thirty minutes to fully enter the blood stream, and many people actually use it in order to amplify their physical activity. Caffeine can increase energy levels during exercise and help prevent fatigue. Caffeine can also help the body burn more calories and exercise harder. It's important to consume caffeine in efficient sources, however. Black coffee contains few calories, but if you are drinking peppermint mochas to increase your metabolism, you are being counterproductive.

Of course, too much caffeine can be bad for you, and the body does slowly develop a tolerance to caffeine over time. There are some experts that suggest that the best way to use caffeine to enhance weight loss is to use it for such purposes only for short periods of time. For example, drink coffee before exercising for two weeks, then stop for two weeks.

Eating Spicy Foods Can Boost Your Metabolism

Spicy foods contain a potent chemical known as capsaicin. Capsaicin is what makes spicy foods feel hot no matter what temperature that they really are. They accomplish this by stimulating heat receptors in the mouth and other parts of the body, giving a stronger burning sensation dependent upon the concentration, measured in Scoville Units.

Like caffeine, capsaicin can also be used in order to enhance metabolism. Capsaicin is also a very calorie-effective means to accomplish this, because most hot sauces contain very few calories. Simply using a few dashes of hot sauce on your breakfast, lunch, or dinner can give you a quick and easy metabolic boost.

If you want to boost your metabolism before a workout, take a tablespoon equivalent of green chile pepper or red pepper. This has been shown to provide you with a temporary increase in metabolism which can be as high as 23 percent. If you don't want to deal with the taste, you can also get a beneficial effect from red pepper capsules. Taking a capsule before every meal has been shown to provide an average metabolic increase of ten to sixteen percent over the course of a two day period.

Be Extremely Careful When Considering Weight Loss Supplements

Weight loss pills and supplements may sound like a miracle in a bottle, but most of them also come with a significant risk of side-effects. Never use a dietary supplement without consulting your doctor, because your physician will be able to give you a responsible and professional opinion regarding their use.

For example, Ephedra used to be a widely-used energy and weight loss supplement, but was made illegal in 2004 after it was found that Ephedra could be dangerous to take for many people. Ephedra has the ability to both increase heart rate and blood pressure, which does increase metabolism, but these two factors are also associated with a number of dangerous health conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and anxiety attacks.

We also suggest extreme caution when utilizing amino acid supplements, because the human body can only process a certain concentration of amino acids and other peptide fragments before the liver starts to suffer and become overloaded as a direct result. Try to get your amino acids from the foods that you eat, not from supplements that flood your body.

Climate Has a Direct Impact on Your Metabolism

The human body is a machine that is designed to function at a particular level of body heat. Our bodies work hard to keep our internal temperature between 96 and 98 degrees, and the harder that is to attain, the more energy that will be expended to restore optimal temperature. The chemical reactions in our body depend upon a specific range of temperatures, and the body will start to fail if it becomes too hot or too cold.

Room temperature is the ideal environment for our bodies. The ambient heat generated by the body is enough to sustain an average temperature. The more it deviates from that temperature, the more calories the body will burn. Studies suggest that people that live in hot climates have Basal Metabolic Rates that are between five and twenty percent greater than those that live in cool climates.

Remember that your body doesn't care what the temperature is outside, if you are inside. A helpful tip to slightly increase your metabolism is to keep your home a little cooler or a little warmer than room temperature, depending on the season. The increase in metabolism may only be slight, but every little bit counts when you are trying to sustain a healthy weight.

Your Body Burns More Calories Simply Sustaining Itself Than Working Out

The human body burns a lot of calories just keeping you alive. On average, seventy percent of the calories that you burn during the day would have been burned whether you were running at the gym or sitting around watching television.

This doesn't mean that you should forgo exercise or anything, it just gives you an idea of the amount of work that it takes for your body to keep you happy and healthy. Around thirty percent of the calories that you burn during the day are a direct result of the activities you pursue throughout the day.

People that are sedentary always burn fewer calories than people who are active. People that are sedentary only burn around twenty-five percent of their calories through physical exertion, whereas physically active people burn around-thirty five percent of their calories through exercise and activity.

Hormone Replacement Therapy with Pellet Implants

Testosterone Pellets are one of the most effective forms of Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy. This form of Hormone Balance Treatment involves surgically inserting tiny cylinders of pure Testosterone just underneath the skin. In addition to Testosterone Pellets, there are also Estradiol Implants as well. Testosterone Pellets are made up of Bio-Identical Testosterone, and the Estradiol Pellets contain both Bio-Identical Estradiol and Stearic Acid.

The cylinders are created by taking the hormones and other ingredients and either fusing them or applying high levels of pressure in order to form the hormones into small cylindrical shapes. The pellets are relatively small. They are smaller than a Tic-Tac breath mint and bigger than a grain of rice.

The body of clinical evidence suggests that Pellet Implant Hormone Replacement Therapy is the best way to restore hormone levels in the human body. The rate that the Testosterone is absorbed into the body is more closely compared to the body's natural release patterns than any other form of Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Unlike some other forms of therapy, such as Testosterone Patches, Testosterone Pellets are perfectly designed for Female Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Testosterone Pellets release small and steady levels of Bio-Identical Testosterone which closely mimic the body's own natural patterns. Because of this, Testosterone Pellets restore normal hormone balance more effectively than any other method.

How are Testosterone and Estrogen Pellets made?

In America, most Testosterone and Estrogen Pellets are actually made in pharmacies by compounding specialists. The Pellets are created in a sterile environment and stored in treated glass vials. Although most Testosterone Pellets are made in pharmacies, there is also a form of Testosterone Pellet known as Testopel which is the only current form of Testosterone Pellet Therapy that is expressly approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Testopel provides a 75 milligram dose of Testosterone, but compounded Testosterone Pellets can be specially designed for the individual patient.

What Makes Testosterone Pellets Such a Strong Treatment Option for Testosterone Deficiency?

Testosterone Pellets are highly effective because of their ability to deliver a consistent dose of Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy for an extended period of time. For women, a single implant provides three to five months of Testosterone. For men, a single pellet provides four to six months of Testosterone.

Pellet Implants are a highly desirable form of Testosterone HRT because they effectively bypass the varying and fluctuating Hormone Levels associated with all other forms of Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Creams apply a large dose early in the day that starts to fade later on. Testosterone Patches are steadier than Testosterone Creams, but they are still less consistent than Pellets. Testosterone Injections are the least consistent of all of the above, but they provide a larger initial boost of Testosterone. For this reason, Testosterone Injections also have a slightly higher risk of side-effect than other forms of Testosterone Treatment.

Estrogen Pellets also provide a similar level of consistency in regard to hormone balance. Estrogen Implants optimize health and protect against disease by maintaining a healthy ratio of Estrone and Estradiol. Unlike some other forms of therapy, neither Estrogen Pellets or Testosterone Pellets increase the chance of experiencing blood blots.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy Menopause Benefits

In clinical studies, Testosterone Pellets have been shown to be more successful than other forms of Hormone Replacement Therapy for the treatment of hormone imbalance in women. For women undergoing Menopause, Testosterone Replacement Therapy offers the following benefits:

• Fosters Healthy Bone Mineral Density

• Reduces the Risk of Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

• Increases Sex Drive

• Increases Sexual Ability

• Improves Sleeping Habits

• Reduces Occurrence of Hot Flashes

• Provides Migraine Relief

Testosterone Pellets have been fully accepted as a successful treatment to relieve the headaches and migraines that are sometimes associated with menopause. In regard to sexuality, Testosterone is just as important for women as it is for men. Although Estrogen primarily controls the sexual cycles of the human body, Testosterone controls most aspects of sexual performance, desire, and ability. Testosterone Replacement Therapy improves sexual performance by increasing the sensitivity of the sexual organs and the ability to produce lubrication in preparation for sex.

For women, Testosterone also provides a number of urological benefits. In decreases the intensity of the urge to go, and it prevents patients from having to go as often. It also alleviates the experience of incontinence.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy Benefits

Testosterone Pellets also offer a number of powerful benefits to both men and women suffering from Testosterone Deficiency:

• Improves Energy Levels

• Reduces Anxiety

• Alleviates Depression

• Enhances Overall Sense of Well-Being

• Sharpens Memory

• Improves Concentration

• Increases Muscle Mass

• Fosters Healthier Bone Mineral Density

• Reduces Body fat

Testosterone is vitally important for the mental and physical health for both sexes, and there is strong evidence that healthy Testosterone Levels have a preventative impact on the risk of experiencing a number of different illnesses, including Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's, which appear to have at least some association with Testosterone Deficiency.

Testosterone Implants also have the highest success rate of any form of Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Testosterone Pellets are incredibly convenient, requiring only two to four simple outpatient procedures per year. Many patients simply aren't committed enough to maintain some other forms of therapy as effectively. With Testosterone Implants, the patient has no responsibility other than making his or her doctor's appointments.

Testosterone Pellets have been used for a long time. They were first used as a medical treatment in the 1930s, using real Testosterone harvested from organ donors. Today, Testosterone is formulated using Recombinant-DNA Technology in a laboratory, and it is completely safe and sterile. Although Testosterone Replacement Therapy is made in a lab, it is completely identical to the Testosterone made by the human body, meaning that there is no risk of rejection and no negative consequences of using an unnatural medical treatment. Because Testosterone has been used for so long, there is an extensive body of evidence regarding its safety and efficacy.

Where and How are Testosterone Pellets Inserted?

Testosterone Pellets are implanted in an outpatient procedure utilizing local anesthetic. The process is quick, easy, and produces very little pain for the patient, so it's very easy for the patient to handle. Most commonly, the Testosterone Pellet is surgically inserted underneath the skin into the upper buttocks. The physician will make a small incision and insert the Testosterone Pellet, then use medical tape to close the wound for quick and natural healing.

When choosing Testosterone Pellets, it is important to find a highly experienced medical professional that has a history of performing the treatment in order to perform the treatment effectively and provide the optimum appropriate dose.

What are the Side-Effects of Testosterone Implantation

As with any other form of Testosterone Hormone Replacement, there is always at least some risk of experiencing side effects. These are some side effects that you may experience directly as a result of Testosterone Implantation Surgery:

• Minor Bruising

• Minor Bleeding

• Infection

• Skin Discoloration

• Extrusion of the Testosterone Pellet

Discoloration and minor bruising are relatively common side effects, but the other side effects are incredibly rare. In some cases, Testosterone Replacement Therapy may lead to a very minor increase in hair in some female patients.

Testosterone can also lead to elevated Red Blood Cell counts in some patients. This is because Testosterone plays a role in bone marrow function, which increases the production of the cells. One of the most common symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency is anemia, which leads directly to feelings of fatigue and exhaustion related to Low-T. Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy may in some cases increase Red Blood Cell counts to above normal. In the case that Hematocrit and Hemoblogin levels become elevated, it can be treated simply by giving a routine donation of blood.

In order to limit the risk of experiencing side effects, it is important to avoid vigorous activity following Surgical Testosterone Implantation. Women should wait for about 48 hours before engaging in this form of activity. Men should wait for between five and seven days. Performing vigorous activity before the wound has had time to heal is the primary cause of Testosterone Pellet Extrusion, which means that the pellet has worked out of the skin. Under certain circumstances, the patient may be prescribed antibiotics in order to prevent infection. This is most common when the patient has recently undergone a joint replacement or is diabetic. Even under these circumstances, antibiotics might not be needed, because the procedure is completely sterile and only causes minor bleeding at most.

Why Don't I Hear about Testosterone Implants as Much as Other Forms of Testosterone Therapy?

You may find it strange that Testosterone Pellets aren't as widely talked about as other forms of therapy. This is because Testosterone Pellets are not a patented product and they are not heavily marketed. The only patented form of Testosterone Implant is Testopel, and most Testosterone Implants are simply made inside of a pharmacy. In Australia and Europe, Testosterone Pellets are much more commonly prescribed, and there are actually more pharmaceutical manufacturers which make the pellets. Today, most of the new scientific data regarding Testosterone Pellets come from Australia and Europe for this reason.

Do Men Need Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

As men age, they start to experience a medical condition which shares many similarities with Menopause known as Andropause. The human body starts to slowly produce less and less Testosterone, which can eventually lead to severe hormone deficiency. Men generally produce strong levels of Testosterone throughout late adolescence and early adulthood, and Testosterone Levels start to drop when men enter their early thirties.

In spite of this decline, most men maintain categorically normal Testosterone Levels until sometime between in their mid-forties and mid-fifties. Some men even maintain healthy Testosterone Production into their seventies and eighties! Testosterone Deficiency is a real and significant medical condition that many men experience in America. Recognizing the signs of Testosterone Deficiency is incredible important, because men can start to experience a significant decline in their quality of life even in the thirties as a result of Testosterone Deficiency. Some of the most common symptoms of Testosterone Deficiency that male patients experience in their early thirties are:

• Depression

• Fatigue

• Lack of Libido

• Sexual Dysfunction

• Loss of Bone Mineral Density

• Weight Gain

• Cognitive Decline

• Trouble Sleeping

At the first signs of deficiency, a man should get his Testosterone Levels evaluated. Beginning around the age of fifty, it is highly beneficial for men to have their hormone levels tested even if they are not experiencing significant signs of hormone imbalance, simply to give them a more accurate knowledge of their current hormone state and what they can do to maintain their health.

Estrogen Pellets and Breast Cancer Risk

Compared to other forms of Estrogen Hormone Replacement Therapy, Bio-Identical Estrogen and Testosterone Pellets contribute less to breast cancer risk than other forms of therapy. In regard to Estrogen Replacement Therapy, other forms of the hormone such as Oral Estrogen are not nearly as effective at maintaining an optimal ratio of estrogen and its various metabolites, which increases breast cancer risk. Since Estrogen Pellets closely mimic the natural processes of the body, evidence actually shows that Bio-Identical Estrogen actually may have protective effects upon breast health.

Testosterone Pellets and Breast Cancer Risk

Testosterone Implantation has also been shown to have positive effects upon the health of the breasts. Healthy Testosterone Levels slow down the proliferation of breast cells and have the ability to reduce the risk of breast cancer directly as a result. Clinical evidence shows that Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy has the ability to regulate Estrogen Levels and provide further protection to the health of the breasts.

Other forms of treatment, such as the oral methyl-Testosterone are converted by the body into a synthetic form of estrogen which can actually increase breast proliferation, increasing the risk of breast cancer. Testosterone Pellets have been used in the past as a treatment for patients suffering from advanced breast cancer. In recent years specifically, Androgens like Testosterone have been clinically shown to increase the effectiveness of the breast cancer treatment Tamoxifen.

Why are Recombinant Bio-Identical Hormones Safer than other Synthetic Forms of Therapy?

Bio-Identical Hormones and Synthetic Hormones both have their place in treatment, but for standard Hormone Replacement Therapy Treatment, Bio-Identical Estrogen is generally superior to other forms of Estrogen Therapy. Recombinant Progesterone, for example, does not lead to an increased breast cancer risk like other synthetic Progestin medications. In addition to this, Vaginal Progesterone does not cancel out the heart benefits of Estrogen Replacement Therapy like Synthetic Progestins.

Estriol is a form of Estrogen Replacement Therapy that is commonly used in Europe, but has never been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for approval in America. This form of Bio-Identical Estrogen does not bind as powerfully to Estrogen Receptors as other, synthetic forms of Estrogen, and it does not have a negative impact on breast tissue proliferation. There are a number of studies that show that the vaginal application of Bio-Identical Estriol does not raise breast cancer risk.

There is actually evidence that patients that survive breast cancer and take Estriol as a preventative measure have a lower risk of experiencing breast cancer recurrence and have a lower mortality risk. Hormone Balance is one of the most important keys to a healthy body, and hormone restoration has been shown to have numerous restorative benefits, whether it be in the form of Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, Estrogen Hormone Replacement Therapy, or Human Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy. Patients suffering from significant hormone deficiency are at substantially increased risk of experiencing a number of health disorders and conditions.

Can Estrogen and Testosterone Pellets Counteract Hair Loss and Thinning Associated with Aging in Women?

In women, hormone deficiency is one of the most common reasons that hair loss occurs. Testosterone and Estradiol Implants have the ability to help women grow healthier and thicker hair. It can even encourage the growth of hair in areas where hair has fallen out as a result of hormone deficiency in many cases.

When does the patient start to feel improvement after Pellet Implantation has taken place?

Some psychological changes may take place in the first day or two after implantation. Many patients don't experience any significant changes for as long as fourteen days. Most patients start to experience at least some benefit after around a week of treatment. Physiological changes will start to take place relatively quickly, but changes in body composition may take a few months to occur.

Although Hormone Replacement Therapy has the ability to induce positive changes even without any changes in lifestyle, in order to receive the optimal benefits of treatment, it is necessary to make proactive changes in your life in order to foster a healthier body. This means that you should engage in a healthy exercise routine, start a healthy and responsible diet, and manage your stress. Stress has a significant impact on human health, and is the strongest environmental pressure which contributes to hormone imbalance.

How Long do Testosterone and Estrogen Pellets Remain Active?

Testosterone and Estrogen Pellets slowly break down over time, releasing Bio-Identical Testosterone at a slow and steady rate until the entire pellet has dissolved. The Pellets are made entirely of desolvable products, so the pellet will disappear completely by the time that a new treatment is required. Hormone Replacement Therapy Pellets last for an extensive period of time, much longer than any other form of treatment. Testosterone Patches and Gels must be applied daily. Testosterone Injections are much more flexible, but at best, you will require a Bio-Identical Testosterone Injection once every two weeks. Testosterone and Estrogen Pellets, on the other hand, remain active for months. For women, a single Estrogen or Testosterone Pellet will remain active between three and five months. For Men, the Testosterone Pellet will remain active for four to six months.

How is Hormone Balance Assessed before and during Therapy?

Before treatment begins, you will provide your prescribing physician with a blood sample. This blood sample will be evaluated in a number of different ways, providing the physician with a vivid outlook of your current health and hormone status. In women, the most important tests will reveal underlying levels of Free Testosterone, Total Testosterone, Estradiol, and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone. In many cases, Thyroid Hormone Levels will also be evaluated. In male patients, complete blood count, liver profile, Free and Total Testosterone Levels, and Prostate Specific Antigen Levels will need to be tested. The PSA Test is important because it screens for prostate cancer.

With Hormone Replacement Therapy Pellets, hormone levels are generally tested at some point just before the new HRT Pellets are to be implanted, so that the physician can evaluate the success of therapy and take steps to streamline treatment and ensure its continuing success. The first year is the most important, and after the first year it may not be necessary to evaluate hormone balance quite as frequently.

Ensuring a Safe and Successful Recovery from Testosterone Pellet Implantation

• If you are a woman, avoid any strenuous activity for two days. If you are a man, avoid such activity for seven days.

• Wait a full day before you take a shower.

• If recommended, take two antibiotic pills.

• After implantation, ice the area for one to two hours in order to prevent swelling.

• Leave the incision dressed in dry gauze for two full days. After two days, leave the area open.

• Keep the tape applied over the incision until the edges begin to curl. If it does not loosen on its own, take it off in five to seven days.

• Don't worry if you experience light redness around the incision. This is a common side effect.

• You may experience light physiological discomfort in the three days after the surgery. This is common.

• Infection is a very rare side effect. If swelling and redness grows after two days, you may be experiencing a slight skin infection.

• In order to alleviate discomfort, you can use a heating pad twice a day for ten to fifteen minutes to alleviate discomfort. A warm cloth is also acceptable.

• If you do experience infection, you will need to get a prescription for an anti-biotic such as Keflex.

• If you are allergic to Keflex or Penicillin, you can get an alternate anti-biotic treatment.

One of the awesome things about Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy is that there are a lot of effective treatment options available to restore your Endogenous Testosterone Production. One of these options is the Testosterone Transdermal Patch. The goal of these Testosterone patches is to correct the symptoms of Low-T in males that do not naturally make sufficient Testosterone, an issue that becomes more common and problematic with age.

Testosterone is one of the many vitally important hormones created by the human body and it regulates and contributes to many different functions. Testosterone is important for body composition, bone mineral density, and sexual function, just to mention a few benefits. Men that suffer from Low-T experience a number of significant symptoms that can make it harder for them to live a longer and happier life, including:

• Low Energy

• Extreme Fatigue

• Loss of Sex Drive

• Depression

• Erectile Dysfunction

• Osteoporosis

• Anxiety

• Loss of Muscle Mass

• Increased Body Fat

Testosterone Replacement Therapy Patches have the ability to mitigate or cancel out the effects of Testosterone Decline by providing Bio-Identical Testosterone directly through the skin through an easy-to-apply patch.

Common Brands of Testosterone Transdermal Patch

• Androderm

• Axiron

• Testoderm

How Are Testosterone Patches Used?

Testosterone Patches are intended to be applied directly to the skin. These patches are intended to be applied once every 24 hours. Most physicians recommend applying the Testosterone Patch at night, sometime between 8 p.m. And 12. a.m. To maximize the benefits, it is important to apply the patch at the same time every day. Like all prescription medications, it is vitally important to follow both the advice of your doctor and the instructions on the medication itself.

Use Testosterone Transdermal Patches only as directed. Excess use of Testosterone Patches can lead to a greatly increased risk of experiencing side effects, and applying patches less often than prescribed can greatly reduce the effectiveness of the medication. Never apply more patches than your physician recommends.

Where Are Testosterone Patches Applied?

Some of the most recommended areas of the body to apply Transdermal Testosterone Patches are the thighs, stomach, back, and upper arm. You want the area where the patch is to be applied to be a clean and relatively smooth area.

Here are some places that you don't need to apply Testosterone Patches:

• Skin covered in high levels of body hair

• Areas of skin prone to producing too much oil

• Areas of the body which produce high levels of perspiration

• Directly on top of a bone such as the hip or shoulder

• Places that experience high levels of pressure upon sleeping or sitting

• Directly upon the scrotum

• Irritated skin

• Wounded skin

• Open sores

In addition to these suggestions, it is also important to apply the Testosterone Patch to an area of the body that remains flat at all times. Don't place the Testosterone Patch on areas of the body that can be excessively stretched, folded, or pulled in normal, everyday activity.

Like other forms of Testosterone Replacement Therapy Treatment, it is important to rotate treatment sites with every administration. For Testosterone Patches, most physicians recommend to choose a different area of the body every day of the week. After seven days, it is okay to apply the patch to the same spot once again.

Understand that once you apply the Testosterone Patch, it should remain on at all times over the next 24 hours. Don't remove the Low-T Patch for any reason. The Testosterone Patch is perfectly suitable for sex, showers, baths, and swimming, as long as the patch was applied effectively.

Occasionally, the Testosterone Patch may become loose. If this occurs, simply smooth the patch back directly to the skin with your fingertips. If the patch completely falls off before lunchtime, simply apply a new patch to replace the old one. If the patch falls off after lunchtime, simply wait until the next scheduled time to apply a new patch.

One important thing to note is that although Testosterone Replacement Therapy is a highly effective treatment for Testosterone Deficiency, it is not a cure. Testosterone Patches are intended to supplement or replace your body's own natural Testosterone Production, and Testosterone Levels naturally decline with age.

It is also important to recognize that you need to continue to apply Testosterone Patches even if you eventually feel perfectly healthy. The benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy will gradually fade over the course of weeks and months if you suspend treatment, and your symptoms will eventually return. Don't halt Testosterone HRT without discussing it with your physician.

How to Apply a Testosterone Patch

One thing that makes people really like Testosterone Patches is that they produce very little mess and they are very easy to apply. In order to apply a Testosterone Transdermal Patch, simply follow these instructions:

• Disinfect and clean the area where you will apply the patch.

• Take a wrapped patch and tear the edge off the foil pouch. Don't open the foil until you are absolutely ready to administer the patch.

• The Testosterone Patch itself will have a protective liner. Carefully pull this liner off, as well as the protective silver patch. Simply throw these away.

• Carefully take the patch and place it on the desired area with the sticky side facing the skin. Press the patch against the skin firmly for the next ten seconds. Before moving on with your day, inspect the patch, making sure that is entirely adhered to your skin, especially the edges of the patch.

• At the end of the day, or when it is time to take off the patch, simply pull it from the skin and toss it in a trash can or other waste container. Make sure that the waste container is completely out of reach of both pets and children. They can experience side-effects if they play with or chew on the used patches.

• After throwing the old patch away safely, immediately apply a new patch to a different area of the skin, using the same instructions.

Testosterone Patch Precautions

Testosterone Patches are a safe way to effectively supplement your hormone levels, but there are some precautions that you should take when beginning or continuing a Testosterone Replacement Patch Regimen.

Precautions to Take before Using Testosterone Patches for the First Time:

• A small number of people are allergic to Testosterone, or other medications related to Testosterone. Let your physician know.

• Before starting Testosterone Therapy, make sure that your physician and your pharmacist are aware of all medications, herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, and vitamins that you are currently taking. Some of these products may impact the success or safety of your Testosterone Replacement Regimen.

• Be especially sure to tell your physician if you take insulin or blood thinners, because a sudden change in Testosterone Balance can impact the effects of both of these types of medications. Testosterone Replacement Therapy may necessitate a need to alter your medication dose, or may require you to be a bit more vigilant regarding certain side-effects.

• Inform your doctor if you have a personal or family history of prostate or breast cancer. It is also important for your physician to know if you have ever been diagnosed with liver disease, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or any blood disorders.

• Unlike other forms of Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, Testosterone Dermal Patches are only indicated for use in male patients. Testosterone Patches are not formulated for women, and they should not use Testosterone Patches.

• It is especially important for women that are currently pregnant or may become pregnant to avoid any contact with these medications because they can impact the health of the unborn child. Women that are currently breast feeding should also avoid any form of Testosterone Replacement Therapy because Testosterone may be able to pass to the child through breast milk.

• If you have an appointment to undergo Magnetic Resonance Imaging, also known as an MRI, inform your doctor because you will likely have to remove the patch in order to safely undergo MRI Scanning.

• Testosterone is perfectly safe for sexual activity under most circumstances. The likelihood of exposing your female partner with more than just trace amounts of Testosterone is very unlikely. That being said, it is important to contact a physician immediately if your partner shows signs of being exposed to Testosterone, such as if she starts to develop acne or if she experiences changes in hair growth.

• With Testosterone Patches, there is a risk of experiencing skin irritation in the area where the patch is applied. There is no reason to suspend therapy in the case that you experience slight skin irritation, simply treat the area with a bit of hydrocortisone cream after taking off the patch. It is also important to only use hydrocortisone cream and not use the ointment form. If the skin does not improve after hydrocortisone treatment, you should contact your physician, and he or she will likely offer you a prescription form treatment in order to prevent or eliminate skin irritation.

Are there any dietary restrictions or recommendations associated with Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

Under most circumstances, there are no dietary restrictions or recommendations with Testosterone Patches beyond sticking to a healthy diet in order to maximize the health benefits of treatment. However, Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy will safely restore Testosterone Production even without any changes in diet or nutrition.

What If I Forget to Apply a Patch on Time?

If you forget to put on your Testosterone Patch for the day, simply apply the patch as soon as you can. The only circumstance where you should skip the dose is if it is nearly time to apply the next day's patch. The most important thing to take note of is that you should never apply more patches than prescribed in order to catch up for a missed dose.

What Side Effects Can Result from using Bio-Identical Testosterone Patches?

As with any form of Testosterone, there is always some risk of side-effects associated with Testosterone Transdermal Patches. You may experience these minor side-effects. If these side-effects become severe, or if they remain persistent, please inform your doctor:

• Burning

• Hardness

• Redness

• Pain

• Blisters

• Itching

If you experience the following symptoms, inform your physician, because you may need to adjust your Testosterone Replacement Therapy. These symptoms are not dangerous, and in many cases are only temporary:

• Headache

• Depression

• Acne

• Difficulty Urinating

• Frequent Urinating

• Depression

In rare cases, you may experience more serious symptoms as a result of Testosterone Treatment. These symptoms are very uncommon, but if you do experience any of these symptoms, contact your physician immediately:

• Yellowing Eyes or Skin

• Increased Experience of Erection

• Erections that Don't Go Away

• Vomiting

• Bloody Vomit

• Black Vomit

• Nausea

• Ankle Swelling

• Tarry, Black Stool

• Bloody Stool

• Erections that Happen More Than Usual or That Do Not Go Away

• Severe Itching

• Hives

• Rashes

• Difficulty Swallowing

• Difficulty Breathing

Please note that this is not a definitive list of symptoms. Talk to your physician to learn about the other risks that are potentially associated with treatment.

Testosterone Pills and other medications similar to Testosterone that are taken orally for extended periods of time have the potential to cause serious and life-threatening damage to the liver, and have also been shown to contribute to liver cancer. There is no evidence that current medical forms of Testosterone such as Testosterone Patches, Creams, and Intramuscular Injections have any negative impact on the health of the liver when used in therapeutic doses.

There is no definitive evidence regarding the correlation between Testosterone Replacement Therapy and an increased risk of Prostate Cancer. Evidence suggests that Testosterone may exacerbate existing Prostate Cancer under certain circumstances, and Testosterone HRT should not be taken if you are currently experiencing Prostate Cancer.

Storage and Disposal Recommendations for Testosterone Transdermal Patches

• When storing Testosterone Patches, keep the treatment in the container that you received it in. Keep the container closed tightly, and put the box somewhere safe and out of the reach of pets or children.

• Testosterone Patches should be stored at room temperature, and the effectiveness of treatment can be impacted by excess moisture or exposure to heat. Don't store Testosterone Patches in the bathroom for this reason.

• Apply Testosterone Patches as soon as you open up the protective pouch that it is contained in. Testosterone Patches are sensitive to extreme pressure and heat and there is a risk that the patch can burst if exposed to these conditions.

• If the patch is damaged or if the protective patch has been tampered with, do not administer the medication.

• If you no longer have a need for your Testosterone Patches or if the medication has passed its expiration date, simply throw away the patches. For more information regarding proper disposal, talk to your physician.

What Should You Do in the Case of Severe Testosterone Overdose?

If you wear more Testosterone Patches than you have been prescribed, mix different forms of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, or if you wear patches for an excessive length of time, you may deliver an overdose of Testosterone to your blood stream. If you do so, there is a chance that you may experience significant symptoms.

If you experience symptoms resulting from Testosterone Overdose, contact a poison control center immediately. In the event that you are caring for a victim that has stopped breathing or has otherwise collapsed, call 911.

Symptoms of Testosterone Overdose:

• Weakness of Numbness of a Leg or Arm

• Fainting or Faintness

• Slurred, Slow, or Difficult Speech

Other Important Testosterone Transdermal Patch Information

Semi-annual medical appointments are an important part of any form of Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Never skip a medical appointment with your physician or the lab associated with your blood testing. Throughout Testosterone Treatment, your physician will order laboratory tests in order to ensure that you are responding appropriately to the medical treatment.

When your physician recommends that you undergo evaluation, always go to the same medical clinic, because different labs often perform the same diagnostic tests in slightly different ways that can impact the results.

Testosterone Patches and other forms of Testosterone Replacement Therapy can impact the results of some types of lab testing. Before you undergo any form of medical testing or diagnostic evaluation, inform your physician and the specialists at the lab about your current Testosterone Replacement Protocol.

Never let anyone else try or make contact with your medication. Testosterone is only intended for the treatment of clinically diagnosed Testosterone Deficiency, and the use by healthy individuals significantly increases the risk of experiencing side-effects.

General Testosterone Transdermal Patch Information

Testosterone Patches vs. Testosterone Gels

These forms of therapy are both very easy to use and don't require much preparation. Testosterone Patches do give a more streamlined dosage of Testosterone through an entire 24 hour period than Testosterone Gels. Testosterone Gels provide a fairly steady level of Testosterone, but Testosterone Levels drop more quickly. Testosterone Gels do involve a bit of mess, which may lead you to prefer Testosterone Patches. Testosterone Gels are approved for use by women. Testosterone Patches are not approved for women.

Testosterone Patches vs. Testosterone Injections

Testosterone Injections have three advantages over Testosterone Patches. First, Testosterone Injections are cheaper than Testosterone Patches, which may influence the decision of the more price-conscious patient. Second, Testosterone Injections dosage can be titrated to provide a very specific dosage. Testosterone Patches come in specific doses, which generally start at 2 milligrams, which is why the patches aren't approved for usage by women. Third, Testosterone Injections only need to be administered every week to two weeks, whereas Testosterone Patches must be applied daily.

Testosterone Patches vs. Testosterone Pellets

Testosterone Pellets have the advantage of being the most cost effective form of Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, costing between $230-$500 per dose. A single dose lasts three to four months for women and four to five months for women. They supply an incredibly steady level of Testosterone as they dissolve underneath the skin, making them slightly more steady than Testosterone Patches. Testosterone Pellets are inserted using a slightly invasive yet minor out-patient surgery.

How Much do Testosterone Patches Cost?

Testosterone Pellets and Injections are the cheapest forms of therapy as of today. Testosterone Injections cost around $100-$200 per month. Testosterone Patches and Testosterone Creams both cost $200-$500 per month. The reason that these forms of treatment are more expensive is that they are still patented medications. Once these treatments go generic, the price will drop.

Testosterone Patches have a number of advantages over Testosterone Injections. First, there is very little prep and no pain associated with use of Testosterone Patches. Some people may wish to avoid needles, or would simply like to avoid the mild pain associated with Testosterone Injections. Testosterone Patches are much easier to use. Testosterone Patches also provide a very steady level of Testosterone over time, whereas Testosterone Injections have a higher level of variation between doses.

Testosterone Patch Dosage

The normal initial dose for many forms of Testosterone Replacement Therapy is four milligrams of Testosterone per day, applied every evening and kept on the skin for a full 24 hour period. After two weeks of treatment, Testosterone Levels will be checked in the morning after the treatment was applied the night before. At this point, the treatment dosage will be adjusted if needed in order for Serum Testosterone Levels to reach a point between 400-930 nanograms per deciliter by increasing the dosage to six milligrams or reducing the dose to two milligrams. Certain treatment providers may provide more specific levels of patch dosage.

How to Get Testosterone Patches

Testosterone Patches can be acquired via prescription for the treatment of Testosterone Deficiency. The Conscious Evolution Institute offers many forms of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, including Testosterone Patches, Testosterone Creams, and Testosterone Injections. The Conscious Evolution Institute offers fast and efficient diagnosis and prescription for various forms of Hormone Replacement Therapy including Testosterone HRT, Sermorelin Acetate HRT, and Human Growth Hormone HRT.