Men's Hormonal Health
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Physician-led care for andropause and low testosterone in Surfside Beach — beginning with a two-hour initial consultation, state-of-the-art lab testing, and a bioidentical hormone program customized to your individual physiology. Men have hormone imbalances too; Dr. Smolenski treats the cause, not just the symptoms.
MEET YOUR PHYSICIAN
Allen Smolenski, M.D.
Dr. Smolenski founded Coastal Medical Clinic in 2009 after his own health transformation — losing nearly 60 pounds, then placing third in a national natural bodybuilding contest at age 44. His patients travel from as far as Virginia for help with hormone balance, nutritional deficiencies and age-related illness.
Emergency Medicine physician · Fellowship training in Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine (A4M) · Founder, Coastal Medical Clinic
Meet Dr. Smolenski →“Dr. Smolenski has helped me to feel better, to become leaner, and to become a more confident man through his thorough and individualized care. He is a brilliant doctor, and spends time talking about how I feel, not just concentrating on the lab results. We work together to optimize my health, and I am so blessed to have him in my corner.”
— Mike G., patient from Virginia Beach, VA
What is andropause?
At Coastal Medical Clinic we understand that men have hormone imbalances too. Unlike women — who notice their imbalances quickly because of monthly hormonal changes — men's build up slowly over years, and when they occur, men tend to assume the changes in their body are just “natural.” What is not natural are the hormones in our foods, the late hours we keep, the amount of stress we are under, and the amount of coffee, sugar and wheat we consume. All of these cause hormone imbalances.
In andropause — “male menopause” — men experience abnormal hormone levels, mainly testosterone. Using an integrative medicine approach, Dr. Smolenski understands that hormone imbalance and nutritional deficiencies are associated with many chronic diseases and health problems, including autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, dementia and Alzheimer's, hypertension, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), osteoporosis and many others. He uses bioidentical hormones, which are identical to what your body naturally produces, and provides a detailed, thorough treatment plan — not only to manage the symptoms of andropause and its related hormone deficiencies, but also to regenerate the body's own mechanisms of self-repair and growth.
Andropause is best diagnosed with a thorough history and medical exam, together with laboratory tests that are very sensitive and specific for evaluating your individual hormones.
Why low testosterone matters
From about the age of 30 on, men experience a decrease in their sex hormone levels of approximately 1.5 percent per year. That decline is responsible for decreased muscle mass and bone density, insulin resistance, and feelings of depression — and the changes are so gradual they usually go unnoticed for years, as energy, drive and sexual performance slowly drain away. Prescriptions that merely redirect blood flow for a short period do nothing to address these real issues.
The stakes are higher than most men realize. As reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and the University of Washington studied 858 men over the age of 40 and found that men with low testosterone had an 88 percent increased risk of death compared with men whose levels were normal — a result that persisted after adjusting for age, other illnesses and body mass index. In a follow-up analysis that also adjusted for acute illness, men with low testosterone were still 68 percent more likely to have died.
Testosterone is an anabolic hormone: it builds bone and muscle, and the heart is the largest muscle in the body. Testosterone helps keep cholesterol and blood pressure low, increases blood flow to the heart, and makes it possible to build and keep muscle mass when exercising. Treating each symptom with a separate drug — one for erections, an antidepressant, a statin — leaves the underlying hormonal decline untouched. Bioidentical testosterone replacement addresses the root cause.
Signs of low testosterone
Ask yourself the following questions. If you answered yes to any of them, you may be suffering from low testosterone or androgen deficiency — and Dr. Smolenski provides a natural treatment for the symptoms of andropause, helping men regain their health, confidence and vitality.
Low libido
Do you have low libido (sex drive)?
Low energy
Do you lack energy — or find yourself falling asleep after dinner?
Strength & endurance
Is your strength and endurance decreased, with a recent deterioration in your ability to play sports?
Mood
Are you sad or grumpy, with a decreased “enjoyment of life”?
Erections
Are your erections less strong?
Performance
Has there been a deterioration in your work performance — or have you lost height?
What your care includes
Dr. Smolenski's bioidentical hormone therapy program for men is a complete program, not a prescription:
A two-hour initial consultation
Two full hours with Dr. Smolenski — you will not feel rushed. We treat each patient the way we would want to be treated, in a family-friendly environment conducive to education, understanding and compassionate care.
State-of-the-art laboratory testing
Saliva, urine and blood specimens assess your hormone balance, cardiovascular risk factors and nutritional deficiencies — and, after you start therapy, monitor your hormone levels and progress.
A customized treatment program
A comprehensive bioidentical hormone therapy and anti-aging program built for you. You receive a copy of your labs and a written plan detailing your unique needs and the latest medical and scientific research behind your treatment goals.
Advanced metabolic & genomic testing
Offered to guide breast and prostate cancer prevention.
Fitness and nutrition programs
Fitness, nutrition and weight loss programs are offered as needed, alongside the hormone program.
Stress reduction strategies
Strategies essential to balance anabolic and catabolic hormones.
A local compounding pharmacy
The highest quality bioidentical hormones through a local compounding pharmacy. If you live outside the Surfside Beach area or prefer a more private delivery method, arrangements can be made for shipping to your home or office.
A customized vitamin program
Pharmaceutical-grade nutraceuticals, vitamins, minerals and herbs in convenient daily packets — no “shopping,” and for less than the products would cost purchased individually.
Ongoing evaluations
Follow-up focuses on balancing your hormones in accordance with your symptoms — critical for an effective bioidentical hormone program. Dr. Smolenski meets with you to discuss your progress and symptoms.
RELATED ARTICLES
Keep reading
Low Testosterone in Men
Dr. Smolenski's article on andropause and the research linking low testosterone to increased risk of death.
Read article →What Does a Low DHEA Mean?
DHEA's role in the hormone picture — and what a low result actually tells you.
Read article →Urinary Frequency, Urgency and Incontinence
Why urinary symptoms so often travel with hormonal decline — and what can be done about them.
Read article →Ready to discuss what's next?
Request a consultation with Dr. Smolenski to discuss your concerns, your evaluation, and the appropriate next steps for your care.