What is DHT?
Men and women need some DHT—but not too much
If you’ve been researching hormone replacement therapy—for men or for women—you’ve probably heard a lot about testosterone. Testosterone is widely labeled the most important androgen hormone, or male hormone. But in reality, there is a form of testosterone that is less prevalent but more potent: DHT.
DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is a strong form of testosterone that is about 5 times more powerful. It binds to the same receptors in the body, but with a stronger, longer-lasting bond. DHT plays an important role in puberty for both men and women, especially with respect to the development of body hair and pubic hair. DHT also stimulates the development of the male genitals and the prostate and, in combination with testosterone, is vital for the expression of male sexual behavior.
DHT Conversion Must Be Controlled
Normally, testosterone levels in the body are controlled by the action of the hypothalamus and the pituitary. When more testosterone is needed, the hypothalamus produces gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which tells the pituitary to produce luteinizing hormone. When luteinizing hormone reaches the testes or the ovaries, this signals them to produce more testosterone. As testosterone levels peak, the opposite signals start getting sent. Production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and luteinizing hormone is suppressed, which in turn suppresses testosterone production.
DHT production should rise and fall in sync with this cycle, because specific hormones in the testes or ovaries work to convert about 5 to 10 percent of free testosterone into DHT. But if your pituitary is too worn out, it might not be producing the right signals at the right times, and you could end up with too much DHT in your system. In men, this can result in increased risk of prostate problems, including enlarged prostate and prostate cancer. In women, it can result in hair loss, as DHT will shrink hair follicles until they eventually disappear.
Our Testosterone Treatment Accounts for the Effects of DHT
At Renew Youth, we are well aware of the risks of excess DHT for men and for women. Our treatments are designed to protect you against these risks, while still ensuring you get enough testosterone to meet your needs.
For women suffering from DHT-related hair loss, we offer treatments that can be applied at the hair follicles to protect them from shrinkage. This is a much better solution than reducing testosterone levels, since women need a little bit of testosterone for a healthy sex drive.
We protect men from DHT conversion risks by using testosterone injections as our preferred delivery method for testosterone replacement therapy. Testosterone delivered by injection is less likely to convert to DHT compared to other delivery methods like patches and pills.
To learn more about safe and effective testosterone treatment options, please contact us today.
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