BY: Dr. GIAN CARLO NERCOLINI

What is Hormone Modulation?
Hormone modulation is a method that, through laboratory tests, draws the patient’s hormonal profile and identifies their needs. From this base point we can start hormone modulation so that the patient can achieve a hormonal standard compatible with this aim. The best hormonal curve is one that is compared to our peak youth condition, i.e. between 18 and 21 years old. Therefore, for greater performance, we look for hormonal levels compatible with youth. Remember that as we age our hormones reduce; previously we thought that the hormones fell and, therefore, we aged.

What is the difference between Hormone Modulation and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)?
HRT only aims at replacing the hormones of those that are at lower levels and bring them to a level compatible with the patient’s age. In hormone modulation supplements are given by hormones and other nutrients, such as amino acids, vitamins and antioxidants to achieve hormonal levels compatible with those of our late teens or early adult life.

Who benefits from Hormone Modulation?
Patients benefit who aspire to improve physical, intellectual and mental performance. Those who feel physical and mental tiredness, forgetfulness, depression, lack of sexual desire, or even those who want simply to improve their quality of life and to delay the effects of aging. Modulating the hormone levels associated with a balanced diet, physical activity helps to achieve an enhanced body and mind, therefore worth the axiom: “Mens Sana in Corpore Sano” (Sane mind and healthy body) which comes from Plato’s classical period of ancient Greek history.

Who can administer Hormone Modulation treatment?Only professional physicians specializing in Hormone Modulation can administer HMT. This is a revolutionary therapy that is recent in Brazil and has come to stay. Usually these professionals are gynaecologists, endocrinologists and geriatricians, because these areas have more proficiency in the treatment of biochemical and hormonal modulation.

What are the steps for treatment?
Treatment starts with a consultation, which takes around an hour, so that the doctor can assess the patient’s medical history, their complaints and desires. From this point blood tests are required for hormone and nutrient levels to achieve the patient’s standard profile and their deficiencies. Also required are image tests such as ultrasound, radiography, mammography, bone mineral density, and tests to check the patient’s health condition for the risks of heart disease, cancer and other diseases which can be an obstacle to taking hormones. For instance, there is a great risk for a man taking testosterone (male hormone) in the event of prostate cancer. The same is true for administering hormones to a woman if there is risk of breast or uterine cancer. Therefore, the tests set the parameters for a safe and healthy modulation.

What are the main substances prescribed for Hormone Modulation treatment?
Bioidentical hormones are used. As the name implies, these hormones have exactly the same chemical structure as biological hormones. Some time ago similar hormones were derived from animals. Today it is known that they are not suitable because they cause disturbance in the receptors and damage our health. The bioidentical hormones are possible to be synthesized because of the Human Genome Project (HGP), which identifies the genes in Human DNA. Nowadays, by genetic engineering, the nucleus of a bacterium can be modified to produce hormones the same as ours. The Human Genome Project has been a major scientific breakthrough and landmark in hormone modulation.
Also used are antioxidants that occur naturally in food which protect against cellular oxidation that is responsible for our aging process. Antioxidants are used as the precursors of hormone production and the stimulants of the nervous system, including those which improve the brain circulation, and consequently the memory and general well-being.

What are the benefits for health in general?
Since the beginning of civilization, human beings have been pursuing the perpetuation of youth. They looked for that in the alchemy, in the miraculous formulas, in the plants and herbs, and even in the Philosopher’s Stone. However, with modern medical advances, a new field of study has appeared in the United States, where scientists worked on a program called anti-aging, known all over the world as the future in medicine, the anti-aging medicine. The benefits are clear, like having a young body, to stay athletic and professional, maintain mental and sexual performance, matching youth, but with the experience of life, so the gain in quality of life is huge.

Is Hormone Modulation to be administered for the whole of life?
Usually, yes. Whoever experiences the benefits of this technique and achieves its desired results will not want to revert back to being old, or even feel a decline in their performance. Who does not like to keep themselves young with a healthy and fit body? Who does not want to have an attractive silhouette and a good relationship? We all want to be happy and we are within our rights.