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We've all heard of menopause; that dreaded time of life for women when we feel like something, or someone else has taken over our bodies.  Sometimes menopause can begin as early as our 30's....mood swings, fatigue, mental fog, depression, weight gain, night sweats, and low libido.  Then eventually, a decade or so later, hot flashes begin and the misery steps up a notch. What about the guys in all of this mess?  Why don't they have to suffer like we do?  Don't they age too?  Well the answer is ABSOLUTELY!  Males begin their hormone decline on average at age 35, losing 2% of testosterone production per year which is important and not just for sexual health.  Testosterone, produced primarily by the female ovary and the male testicles, and to a lesser degree by the adrenal glands (yes ladies, females make and need testosterone), has many functions in our bodies beyond

Tired all of the time?  Keep gaining weight for no apparent reason?  Hands cold all of the time?  Eyebrow and hair thinning?  Dry skin, dry hair, brittle nails?  You have asked your practitioner about these symptoms because you are SURE it's your thyroid, but alas your thyroid blood tests come back "NORMAL"! These are complaints I hear time and time again in my practice.  Most practitioners understand traditional hypothyroidism, where we look at ONE thyroid lab test (the TSH) and forget the most important one (the free T3). Or worse yet, we ONLY look at the labs, and never look or listen to the patient!  Historically practitioners have been taught if the TSH is normal, then your thyroid is working just fine.  According to Dr. Mark Starr, thyroid guru, "Centuries ago, before thyroid tests were available, the ultimate test of whether or not a patient was hypothyroid was the patient's