Hormone Replacement Therapy
Dr. Kojian proudly offers the most comprehensive hormone replacement treatment and hormone replacement therapy available today in Fremont CA. We also service those in the areas of San Jose, Cupertino, San Francisco, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Oakland, and Marin County.
This starts with a free consultation and followed by a prescription for lab test/ blood work which is in most cases covered by insurance.
Once your results are delivered to Dr .Kojian then a thorough analysis of your personal medical history and body chemistry is done in order to create a customized program of bio-identical hormones, supplements and vitamins.
To restore your body's hormone and nutrient levels in balance, an assessment of where you are today is essential. Your results will be returned within 10 to 14 days to Dr. Kojian who will customize a program for you. The overall benefits to the patient are outstanding.
Your progress will be managed by Dr. Kojian.
What are Bioidentical Hormones or BHRT?
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is known as BHRT. Bioidentical hormones are identical to the hormones produced in your body. In women, the main hormones replaced are estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and thyroid. In men, the hormones replaced are mainly testosterone and thyroid.
Goals of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
The goal is to alleviate symptoms caused by progressive decrease in production of hormones by the body, protective benefits originally provided by naturally occurring hormones and re-establish a hormonal balance.
BHRT Hormones are made by your compounding pharmacist based on your specific symptoms and test results. The therapy may be delivered in the form of pellets, topical creams, pills, capsules, lozenges, or sub-dermal implants.
The method of delivery is based on the specific hormones in your preparation and your preference. This therapeutic plan is individualized and personalized to meet your needs. There are pharmaceutical FDA BHRT options for estradiol, progesterone and testosterone that are less personalized.
With Bioidentical it is important to note that one size does not fit all.
Benefits Of Achieving Hormone Balance With BHRT
- Decrease or cure hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia.
- Improve mental clarity and focus.
- Accelerate fat burning and increased capacity to lose weight and get in shape.
- Calm anxiety and decrease depression.
- Alleviate foggy thinking and memory lapses.
- Restore sexual function and increase libido.
- Reduce hormonally triggered headaches and other PMS symptoms such as irritability, bloating, and fatigue.
- Regulate menstrual bleeding and decrease painful periods.
- Possibly avoid surgical interventions for bleeding irregularities and pelvic pain caused by hormone imbalances.
- Optimize fertility in men and women.
- Hormones and Weight Loss.
- Insulin and Cortisol – The Other Offenders
While estrogen and progesterone are central, there are other facilitating hormones that may be acting up also – most often, insulin and cortisol. Many women in their thirties experience never before known food cravings and the target of those is sweets. There is a very significant connection between estrogen and progesterone levels and insulin.
Insulin is the hormone made in the pancreas. This long thin organ is neatly tucked away under the left side of your rib cage and controls blood sugar levels. When insulin is released into the blood stream, blood sugar level drop instantly. If too much insulin is released, blood sugar level overshoots and drops too low. This sudden drop in blood sugar may leave you feeling weak, queasy, shaky, sweaty and craving sweets.
With the setting in of "Low blood sugar" things begin to compound. As the body's production of progesterone decreases and circulating estrogen becomes dominant, insulin is released more rapidly and more often. So we are both unable to properly metabolize calories and, at the same time, taking more in.
Cortisol, is the "stress hormone" produced in the adrenal glands that sit right above the kidneys. When you are under stress and have high levels of cortisol, your body is physiologically unable to go into a weight loss mode. Elevated cortisol levels trick the body into believing danger is ahead. Your body is programmed to conserve all your fat reserves for impending crisis. Cortisol can also affect the proper production of other hormones.
To learn more about hormonal balancing - Be sure to read the following:
- Balancing Hormones
- Hormonal Weight Loss
- Female Menopause
- Dr.Kojian's Method
- Male Menopause – Andropause
- Hormonal depression and Anxiety
Balancing Hormones
As a woman,balancing hormones becomes an issue which is affected by the following:
- The normal fluctuations of your menstrual cycle
- Postpartum phase
- Perimenopause
- Menopause
- Hysterectomy
- Genetics
Women will experience hormonal fluctuations at different stages of life.
Key periods for women are marked by the perimenopause stage where hormone challenges begin with the fight of progesterone versus estrogen. Testosterone, thyroxine, epinephrine, glucagon will join in along with insulin and cortisol.
It is not surprising most women gain weight in their 30s and continue to gain into their 40s, 50s and beyond. Men can experience sudden drops in testosterone, HGH and DHEA levels, causing weight gain, poor stamina, low exercise endurance and accumulation of fat in the abdomen area. They can also have imbalances of insulin, cortisol, glucagon, thyroid or thyroxine, epinephrine.
Men can benefit from supplementation of testosterone, HGH and thyroid. Hormones can surely help with your weight loss plan and healthy lifestyle.
To learn more about hormonal balancing read on :
Hormonal Weight Loss
When hormones are in balance, hormonal weight loss is achieved. At Dr. Kojian's Clinics, hormonal balancing and supplementation are considered mandatory and essential for optimal health.
The battle of the bulge is ashared story among women and men in their early 40s. It is not just the extra pounds that are troublesome – it's how and where your body gains weight. Most fat tends to accumulate around the stomach, buttocks and thighs.
Is it a bad diet, lack of exercise or not enough sleep? All can contribute.
The usual suspects are progesterone, thyroid, estrogen and cortisol. When a woman's body no longer produces enough progesterone, either in perimenopause or menopause, she has entered a state of"estrogen dominance."
Estrogen dominance causes an increase in what is called "thyroid binding globulin." When this globulin, the thyroid gland, becomes dysfunctional, we can diet and exercise with a vengeance and still not lose the weight.
Progesterone is the hormone needed to equalize estrogen so that, with a healthy diet and exercise, the body's metabolism will respond and weight loss canoccur. Progesterone has calming effects in women and can help regulate fluid retention.
Hormone dysfunction is directly proportional to the degree of estrogen dominance. By supplementing progesterone, we can effectively address some of the biochemical reasons for weight gain. The goal is to address the excess estrogen and eliminate the hypothyroid condition so that, with a healthy diet and exercise, the body's metabolism will respond and weight loss can occur.
By putting estrogen-progesterone in balance, we can reduce weight that is essentially good, old-fashioned water weight caused by bloating. Too much estrogen causes tissues around the abdominal area to retain water.
In younger women, this bloating is most noticeable around their menstrual cycle when their progesterone levels naturally drop to bring on menstruation. As women age and their progesterone levels do not cycle up during the month, estrogen dominance results with non-stop bloating.
Progesterone acts as a natural diuretic reducing the bloating and promoting weight loss.
To learn more about hormonal balancing, read about Dr. Kjian's method here.
Read Dr. Kojian's method of bioidentical hormone replacement thereapy to learn how hormonal balancing contributes to hormonal weight loss.
Female Menopause
Female Menopauserefers to that time in a woman's life when menstruation ceases for 12 months. The ovaries decrease their output of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone and women begin to experience the effects of this decrease in hormones.
During menopause, hormone levels drop which can trigger profound mental, emotional, and physical changes. The symptoms of menopause include:
- Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats
- Irritability
- Mood swings, sudden tears
- Trouble sleeping through the night
- Loss of libido
- Dry vaginal wall
- Crashing fatigue
- Anxiety, feeling ill at ease
- Difficulty concentrating, disorientation
- Aching muscles and joints
- Headaches and migraines
- Fluid retention
- Depression
- Exacerbation of existing conditions
- Increase in allergies
- Weight gain
- Hair loss or thinning
- Increase in facial hair
In addition to decreased levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, many other hormones including thyroid hormone and human growth hormone taper off during menopause.
As hormones levels decrease, profound changes begin occurring with growth and metabolism that affect the breasts, vagina, bones, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, cardiovascular system, skin, brain, and energy levels.
Many women experience hot flashes, loss of libido, weight gain, insomnia, and emotional changes such as depression and anxiety. Some long-term risks of menopause include osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
Medical research has proven that the majority of women's disorders, including menopause, PMS, migraines, and depression can be treated with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
For women in the midst of menopause, BHRT -bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, thyroid and testosterone can bring a rebirth of energy, sexual desire, and the ability to have a healthy active life.
Bioidentical hormones offer the same benefits of synthetic hormones without many of the unwanted dangerous side effects.
BHRT – The Dr. Kojian Method
This Method developed by Dr. Kojian MD is a thorough analysis of your medical history and body chemistry. From this analysis, a customized program of bio-identical hormones, supplements and vitamins are established and provided by physician qualified under this Program.
Restorative Medicine – By Dr.Kojian
This Method rejects the pharmaceutical paradigm that fails so many. Rather than tricking your body with drugs, we optimize your hormonal levels that restore your body to a healthy balance. The result is vitality and good health throughout aging.
Aging produces a decrease of many hormones in your body which begins around age 35. This decrease creates an environment in which serious conditions can take hold and flourish. From anxiety, heart disease, depression, bone density loss, erectile dysfunction, Alzheimer's to macular degeneration and many more, the list of aging conditions and diseases are extensive.
These conditions are treated traditionally with prescription drugs which mask symptoms and fail to address the underlying cause of the condition. The inevitable negative side effect of drug therapies is often as bad as the condition they are fighting.
This Method never uses synthetic hormones distributed by so many "fountain of youth" companies. These hormones are of questionable origin and effectiveness. Instead, we deliver bioidentical hormones which are exactly like those your body once produced and we deliver them in the optimal dosage and manner.
Because this Method is about balancing the entire body, my patients find they benefit in ways beyond relief of the condition that brings them to me. Depending on the individual, this Method can help with fatigue, weight gain, depression, anxiety, A.D.D., A.D.H.D., skin problems and in many cases, decrease and alleviate the need for traditional medication therapies for many illnesses.
This Method has profoundly improved the lives of thousands of people around the world who suffered for years with little or no relief from conventional drug treatments and for those that just wanted to improve their quality of life. These people are living proof that bodies in natural balance are naturally healthy.
This method does not diagnose, treat or prescribe; rather; it works with me to create and optimize your program over time.
Once you complete testing, your initial program will be sent to me as well as future optimizations you may require. This method must be supervised by a qualified healthcare professional.
Male Menopause – Andropause
Male Menopause also known as andropause affects men as hormone levels and testosterone deficiencies fluctuate leading to physical and mental changes associated with aging.
While men don't experience hormone changes the same way women do with sudden symptoms like hot flashes and drastic mood swings, they do experience symptoms that have a significant impact on vitality and virility.
The symptoms of andropause occur gradually and are the direct result of an age-related decline in testosterone and progesterone with an increase in estrogen production. Symptoms can be exacerbated by the decline in thyroid, growth hormone and DHEA that often accompany andropause.
Andropause Symptoms:
- Body fat gain, particularly abdominal
- Loss of lean muscle tissue
- Depression
- Hair loss
- Wrinkling and drying of skin
- Fatigue
- Decreased libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Hot flashes, blushing, sweating
- Aches and pains
- Poor sleep quality, insomnia
- Nervousness, anxiety, irritability
- Memory lapses
- Reduced exercise endurance
- Reduced motivation, apathy
Men often attribute these symptoms to stress at work or financial pressures at home. Andopause is a medical condition and treatment with BHRT as part of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is available.
While changes to physical appearance can be dramatic, the most dangerous effect of increased estrogen is the amplified risk of enlarged prostate, heart attack or stroke. It is important to check hormone levels and treat the symptoms when they appear and have routine physical exams.
Hormonal Depression and Anxiety
Women and men who suffer hormonal depression and anxiety (menopause and andropause) often complain of stress, fatigue, depressed sex drive, weight gain, and anxiety. Mild depressed mood is often the first sign of hormonal imbalance including adrenal exhaustion Mild depressed mood is often the first sign of hormonal imbalance including adrenal exhaustion.
When someone experiences a significant change in mood for an extended period of time associated with loss of interest in usual activities, has sleeping and eating disorders, and withdraws from family and friends, she or he may have depression.
Depression can happen to anyone of any age. It afflicts about twenty million Americans each year. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression.
Deficiencies in thyroid, testosterone, progesterone and estrogen can affect mood and lower serotonin levels. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter for mood and energy. Therefore, depression and anxiety appears when your serotonin drops due to an estrogen level declination. Testosterone deficiency has also been implicated in depression.
Anxiety refers to a complex combination of negative emotions that includes extreme fear, apprehension, and worry which is often accompanied by physical sensations such as palpitations, chest pain and/or shortness of breath. Anxiety disturbs mood, thoughts, behavior and physiological activity.
The main cause of anxiety is hormone imbalance. Estrogen in women and testosterone in men have a definite effect on mental state since they regulate the levels of cortisol which is the hormone that produces stress. If your estrogen drops, cortisol will not be controlled which produces more stress. Anxiety appears when cortisol is not properly controlled due to an estrogen level declination.
This hormonal imbalance can also cause mood changes including, mild depression, extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, memory changes and inability to concentrate.
Balancing hormones with BHRT, stress reduction, exercise and good nutrition can treat depression and anxiety.