Women and HRT

[J DUB]

Can anyone give me a good reason why it is readily accepted and even encouraged by most doctors that women undergo HRT, but when it comes to men this practice is taboo? I really do not know much about HRT for women, but I am curious as to why one is accepted but not the other.

[ENDRO]

Originally Posted by J DUB

Can anyone give me a good reason why it is readily accepted and even encouraged by most doctors that women undergo HRT, but when it comes to men this practice is taboo? I really do not know much about HRT for women, but I am curious as to why one is accepted but not the other.

There is over a million men on HRT! I have found when most men reach middle age they stay away from the doctor because they dont want to know what is happening with their body. I have had a fair amount of middle age men talk to me at the gym wanting advice. when I ask them if they have been to the doc for a physical and blood work the answer is no, there is no need I am healthy just a little over weight.

[J DUB]

Yes, I am aware that many men are on HRT, but that does not eliminate the fact that this is still somewhat of an alternative treatment. 1 million men (assuming this is an accurate number) is nothing compared to the number of women on HRT. Doctors push HRT on women with no problem but not many doctors (at least where I live) will suggest to an older guy that maybe he should try testosterone injections.

Can you explain why there is such a discrepancy here, and why testosterone is viewed as being so dangerous while estrogens are not? Some studies have come out regarding health risks with women HRT, but these receive little to no attention as millions of women still take these drugs without thinking twice about it.

[Deacon]

it is being found every day that more and more of the ingredients in birth control cause cancer - they just dont publicicze it to heavy - loss of money you know - much more important than someone's life

[ENDRO]

Originally Posted by J DUB

Yes, I am aware that many men are on HRT, but that does not eliminate the fact that this is still somewhat of an alternative treatment. 1 million men (assuming this is an accurate number) is nothing compared to the number of women on HRT. Doctors push HRT on women with no problem but not many doctors (at least where I live) will suggest to an older guy that maybe he should try testosterone injections.

Can you explain why there is such a discrepancy here, and why testosterone is viewed as being so dangerous while estrogens are not? Some studies have come out regarding health risks with women HRT, but these receive little to no attention as millions of women still take these drugs without thinking twice about it.

First of all doctors dont like talking about testosterone therapy because it is a scheduled 3 item meaning it falls into the same catagory as narcotics and is regulated by the DEA, meaning they have to provide evidance if requested that a person actually needs the product, which is why the blood work is required and follow up check ups so now it becomes a health issue. A doc could have gyno issues to deal with, high blood pressure, cholesterol and ect: not to mention you have to study the drug to know that these issues can occur and how to deal with them from a medical stand point.
From a docs stand point why bother when a individual is other wise healthy and leads a normal life.
estrogen is not scheduled and women have different problems that become heath isuues when estrogen gets real low such as PMS.

[J DUB]

Well what about when men's T levels get too low? Is it not fair to say that this can cause depression, lack of libido/energy, muscular atrophy, etc.? How are these symptoms not problems just like PMS?

[Millard Baker]

T is legitimately indicated is such cases. Most doctors are ignorant regarding endocrinology and demonize androgens just like mainstream society. But good doctors will prescribe TRT when indicated since they are concerned about their patient's health and well-being. Ask SWALE.

[ENDRO]

Originally Posted by administrator

T is legitimately indicated is such cases. Most doctors are ignorant regarding endocrinology and demonize androgens just like mainstream society. But good doctors will prescribe TRT when indicated since they are concerned about their patient's health and well-being. Ask SWALE.

(Exactly) and like anything you have to sort out the good doctors who care about your health and well being from the ones who just want to treat the symptoms and keep you coming back!

[J DUB]

I understand that there are good doctors and bad doctors. The good doctors actually stay in touch with the current trends and actually read and interpret the research done on drugs rather than just listen to a pharmaceutical rep who wines and dines him so he will prescribe a certain drug (which is definitely more common).

However, the original intent of my post was to point out the hypocricy in that women can go on HRT with no controversy yet men who do so make a somewhat controversial decision based on what the majority of people perceive steroids to be.

It seems that it is not too hard to look at the side effects of these men on TRT, which with a population of 1,000,000 would be interesting to observe, and to look at the literature that has been done on "normal" men (such as 1996 NEJM, etc.) and conclude that steroids are no more harmful than the HRT that women undergo. What irritiates me is that one is demonized for no legitimate reason, while the other is perfectly accepted.

[ENDRO]

Originally Posted by J DUB

I understand that there are good doctors and bad doctors. The good doctors actually stay in touch with the current trends and actually read and interpret the research done on drugs rather than just listen to a pharmaceutical rep who wines and dines him so he will prescribe a certain drug (which is definitely more common).

However, the original intent of my post was to point out the hypocricy in that women can go on HRT with no controversy yet men who do so make a somewhat controversial decision based on what the majority of people perceive steroids to be.

It seems that it is not too hard to look at the side effects of these men on TRT, which with a population of 1,000,000 would be interesting to observe, and to look at the literature that has been done on "normal" men (such as 1996 NEJM, etc.) and conclude that steroids are no more harmful than the HRT that women undergo. What irritiates me is that one is demonized for no legitimate reason, while the other is perfectly accepted.

This is true if you tell people that you use steroids for HRT, but if you say I take testosterone injections because of low hormone levels it is widley excepted. I know this because being on HRT for 2 1/2 years this conversation has came up a number of times and my reasoning for this is most people dont really know what a steroid is. I once told a good friend I was using A.S and he flipped out but later down the road a couple months later I told him I was diagnosed with low hormone levels and they where going to give me testosterone to fix the problem, he said cool I hope you get better. He had no clue what a steroid was and most people at a gym can't name more then deca and dbol.

[J DUB]

OK, I see what you mean now. In an article I posted on here (can't remember which one) a guy said something like "people just don't know how bad of a drug steroids is." (Note for Captain Stupid, there is no drug called steroids). This falls in with your reasoning, so I see what you mean now.

So would you say that simply the word "steroids" is part of what makes these substances so bad in the eyes of the public, and that if they were referred to in another term, such as testosterone injections or hormonal enhancement, they would be accepted?

Maybe I am stretching what you said out too far as I tend to do sometimes, but I am always looking for ideas of how to present my argument to people about steroids while trying to have them disassociate themselves from the negativity that they have learned to associate with them.

[Ronin_]

Originally Posted by administrator

T is legitimately indicated is such cases. Most doctors are ignorant regarding endocrinology and demonize androgens just like mainstream society. But good doctors will prescribe TRT when indicated since they are concerned about their patient's health and well-being. Ask SWALE.

when i reach middle age in 15 years or so I think things will be different. So for now Im not sweating it.

Also dont forget Viagra etc with a low libido it makes a world of difference. and in ten years time im sure the advances will be amazing