Sex Hormones and Your Heart

Sex Hormones and Your Heart

Sex hormones are obviously a very important part of both men’s and women’s health. Sex hormones impact libido, mood, drive and even weight. However, did you know that sex hormones can also have an impact on your heart? New research has been coming out about the impact of sex hormones and heart health—and it is providing insights that every person should be aware of.

According to this research, post-menopausal women have higher amounts of testosterone in their system and a higher ratio of testosterone to estrogen—which are the hormones associated with heart disease later on in life. This should come as no surprise to those who are familiar with cardiovascular disease, as the risk is much lower in women until they reach the age of 50. Before this, women are much less likely to have heart disease when compared to men.

While some studies have shown that higher androgen and lower estrogen levels are factors for heart disease in post-menopausal women—more research is still needed on how these sex hormones impact the heart. 

Of course, men are susceptible to heart disease before they reach the age of 50, and research on low testosterone is already finding some links between cardiovascular health and the presence of this drug.

While more research is being done on the ways to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, studies are already taking a closer look at BHRT or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. This innovative type of therapy can be used on men and women for a variety of conditions and helps to normalize out-of-whack hormone levels. While many people take these hormones for issues with weight gain, fatigue and low sex drive, new information is showing that women who take these hormones to relieve menopause symptoms are showing lower risk of death and lower plaque buildup in the arteries of the heart.

This could make BHRT a major factor in helping to lessen the severity and commonality of heart disease in our world today.If you have concerns about your hormone levels or are looking for more information on your current hormone levels, you can have them checked. In fact, we provide hormone testing right here at LT Men’s Clinic with a simple, yet effective blood test.

If you have questions about your heart health, or are looking for more information on hormones, contact LT Men’s Clinic today to make an appointment. You can call us at 817-369-3605.