Media Release
WOMEN
TOO!
JUST IN TIME FOR FATHER’S DAY
- THE BEST GIFT -
A HAPPY HEALTHY AND CHEERFUL PARTNER
For the last six years the
Well Men Program has provided a unique approach to male health care in
Australia. Promoted under the banner of “Male Health Needs Special
Attention” the program has offered a more individualized, in depth approach to
health care for men than is commonly available in mainstream medical practice.
This approach includes but is not limited to the neglected area of male hormonal
problems and balance.
Based in the full time Well
Men Centre in Perth, but also organizing day clinics in other capital cities,
the Well Men Program is now opening its doors to women under a new
initiative called “Women Too” introduced in Perth today.
It has become clear, says
Well Men Program founder, Linda Byart that women need special attention too,
especially at this time when there is a great deal of anxiety and confusion
stemming from the recent publicity about risks associated with female hormone
replacement.
Many women have simply
abandoned treatment that was effectively managing difficult to live with
symptoms. The result is that
hormonal turmoil has returned to many households.
Just in time for Father’s Day, it’s good news for blokes that there
are gentler, safer ways for women to regain and retain hormonal balance through
all stages of their lives, she says.
In fact Women Too is a
response to the many requests we have received from the partners of our male
patients whose lives have been turned around by the Well Men Program, Mrs Byart
said.
These women have asked us
to make the same level of time, interest, individualized approach and hormonally
inclusive health care available to them also and in many cases this has been
endorsed by their men – ‘You’ve fixed me up – please won’t you now do
the same for my wife”.
Women Too has been made
possible by the decision of Dr Adrian Zentner to move to Perth and join the Well
Men Program full time.
Dr Zentner has been the
Well Men Program’s senior medical practitioner since its inception.
He was the supervising Australian Doctor of the original STAG Study
started in 1997 which compared the symptoms, pathology and response to treatment
of Australian men with those achieved by Dr Malcolm Carruthers, the world
pioneer of Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men.
Dr Zentner trained directly
with Dr Carruthers and became responsible for passing on this training to all
participating doctors. Following
the successful outcome of the Study with over 90% of men on treatment
experiencing relief of symptoms, Dr Zentner supervised the establishment and
ongoing development of the Well Men Program.
Dr Zentner’s full time
availability in the Well Men Program means that its unique approach can at last
be extended to women too!
Over the years in addition
to his role with the Well Men Program he has taken a keen interest in women’s
hormonal needs and has been prescribing testosterone for women where appropriate
for some time.
Latest research carried out
by the Jean Hailes Foundation here in Australia and overseas supports Dr
Zentner’s view that hormonal balance is required and that this includes the
investigation and maintenance of testosterone levels in women as well as in men.
In her report on Androgens
in Women, noted Australian researcher Professor Susan Davis says “Beneficial
effects of testosterone treatment in post menopausal women with lowered androgen
levels have been well documented and preliminary evidence suggests a role for
treatment in pre-menopausal women with symptoms and lowered testosterone
levels.”
In particular the
alleviation of depression and the restoration of libido and sexual enjoyment
have been attributed to testosterone therapy in women.
Both Professor Davis and
the Well Men Program have said that over the years many men and women have been
given antidepressants inappropriately when what they really needed was a
thorough investigation of their hormonal balance and functioning.
Overseas research carried
out by the National Institute of Health in Maryland USA also indicates that
there may be a role for testosterone therapy in women in lowering the risks of
breast cancer and that it may in future be used to offset any increased risk of
breast cancer for women on traditional HRT.
”The increased breast cancer risk associated with estrogen treatment
could be reduced by testosterone supplementation” the report says.
Recent findings indicating
significant risks associated with conventional HRT for women have been widely
publicised, resulting in confusion and uncertainty amongst women who are
reluctant to accept the risks but equally unhappy to abandon the improved
quality of life associated with good hormonal balance, Dr Zentner says.
The plethora of recent publicity has highlighted the value of informed
and comprehensive assessment of overall health and hormonal needs.
Dorothy Clark , a 49 year
old teacher from Willetton was the first woman to be admitted to the Well Men
Program.
Due to a high risk of
breast cancer in her family Dorothy could not take estrogen based therapy to
offset her menopausal symptoms. Since
being put on testosterone therapy by Dr Zentner using a bioidentical cream three
months ago her overall health has improved dramatically.
Her husband John has been
on the Well Men Program for some time and he too is delighted with the results
both for himself and now for his wife also.
It has long been a feature
of the Program that many men have chosen to bring their wives with them to
consultations and the reverse is now occurring with Women Too patients.
What this means says Dr
Zentner is that we are able to include some relationship counselling into the
health care process. Something that
is often sorely needed after hormonal imbalance in one or both partners has been
wreaking hormonal havoc for several years.
Dorothy was attending today
for a follow up appointment with Dr Zentner.
Whilst experiencing a great improvement in her overall wellbeing, he is
now fine tuning the improvement by turning his attention to dealing with
Dorothy’s occasional severe migraine headaches.
There is a third important
hormone that needs to be considered that has also been neglected and that is
natural progesterone.
Hormonal balance in men and
women means just that – balance of all relevant hormones, Dr Zentner says.
We have vastly improved Dorothy’s quality of life already but to get
the perfect result we may need to add another gentle natural cream to her
therapy.
Progestagens used in
traditional HRT are synthetic but the progesterone cream made locally by Lawley
Pharmaceuticals is truly natural in that it is bioidentical and delivers
molecules structurally identical to those produced by the human body.
It is a Pharmacuetical product available only on prescription and subject
to required standards of quality control in production.
“This is not the same as
over the counter products described as natural but with the meaning of ‘from
nature’. These are not
necessarily compatible or effective and as the recent Pan recall has shown, may
not be consistent in quality or safe to use.”
“A natural and safe
hormone balance can usually be restored without the need for potent, artificial
hormone preparations”, Dr Zentner says.
-
ends –
Further information: Dr Zentner or Linda Byart (08) 9474 4262
Note:
Previously based in
Melbourne, Dr Zentner was until recently also Medical Director of the Heritage
Group of General Practice clinics. Formerly
a Medical Director within the aviation industry, Dr Zentner has long been a
leader in moves toward a more deeply investigative, holistic and preventative
approach to health care. He has
frequently been featured on TV, radio and in print and is acknowledged in the
book “Testosterone Revolution”.
Now located in Perth, Dr
Zentner is available full time for consultations at the Well Men Centre in South
Perth for three out of every four weeks. The
fourth week he spends back in the Eastern states presenting Well Men Program Day
Clinics in Melbourne and Sydney with Brisbane to be added soon.
Experienced doctors, Dr Nathan Francis and Dr Nevin Watson continue to be
available in Perth also.
With a unique approach that is based on the best of international expertise complemented by first hand experience gained here in Australia over the last six years, the Program has restored meaningful quality of life to thousands of men and thus to their partners and families.
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