Testosterone is known for its role in sexual development, fertility,  and its effects on sexual performance.  However, it is not this issue that brings men in for treatment.   

1. It contributes to bone density, promoting overall skeletal health and preventing osteoporosis 

2. It play a role in regulating red blood cell production and muscle contraction and relaxation and post exercise recovery

3. Testosterone levels impact mood and cognitive function .This is one of the most common reasons men come in. They state symptoms of depression, lack of concentration and inability to make decisions

4. Lack of energy, and poor sleep.

An imbalance in the level of testosterone may be caused by a number of factors. Lifestyle, diet, exercise, and medications, to name a few.    

While there is a range in testosterone levels, which varies between labs, we have found clinically each individual has an optimal number.

What do you want your level to be?

Testosterone is a controlled substance, a schedule 2 drug,  It must be prescribed by a healthcare provider with qualifying DEA license.

At the Preventative Medicine Clinic we focus on optimizing a patient’s health and wellness and disease prevention.

Call 541-383-3424 today to schedule an appointment

1. Symptomatic relief of hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, dry eyes, dry skin, mood disorders,  disturbed sleep

2. Preventatively:  loss of bone density and a diagnosis of osteoporosis

3. Preventatively: minimize risk of heart disease

4. Preventatively: decreased risk of cognitive decline

Recently a number of women have commented that their Gynecologists do not test hormone blood levels because Estrogen, for example,  varies, not only day to day but throughout the day.  Whilst this is true, it does not reflect the whole picture.  For example, Blood pressures vary through the day and day to day and yet we measure and monitor blood pressures to rule out hypertension.  Blood sugars vary throughout the day and day to day, and we still measure blood sugars to rule out diabetes.  Estradiol and other estrogen, progesterone and testosterone  levels in women give information about an individual.  This is important in HRT.

I feel that most physicians don’t run labs they cannot interpret, understand, or know how to treat.

In this clinic, we run lab tests to monitor and optimize health and wellness, and minimize disease and pathology.

I have been prescribing hormone replacement since I was in medical school  as an intern.  When I went into private practice here in Bend, it was frowned upon and many of the gynecologists told my patients estrogen causes cancer and they want them to go off bHRT. (Bio-identical hormones). I was in family practice. I treated menopause , perimenopause, infertility, thyroid disorders including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. We had no endocrinologist or fertility specialist in Bend. I worked with OHSU on fertility patients.  I travelled for years across the country and took continuing education in hormone replacement and metabolic optimization from doctors and experts in the field.  The experts included Jonathan Wright MD, founder of bio-identical hormones, Mark Bartiss MD, and Neal Rouzier MD. I worked closely with Lloyd Central pharmacy in Portland to find delivery methods that would optimize delivery and absorption. To date it is the only Oregon compounding pharmacy I use for  my practice . 

I was fortunate to meet and speak with Suzanne Somers who was the only public voice nationally speaking about menopause and perimenopause in women and the treatments with bio-identical hormones at that time.

The WHO women’s study results were published and concluded an increase in thrombolytic  events, increases in heart disease and death in women given hormones. There was no differentiation of conjugated estrogen and progestins, all synthetic hormones, and estradiol and micronized progesterone, bio-identical hormones.  The difference is like saying I’m drinking orange juice daily (Tang, crystal light etc) vs. freshly squeezed organic orange juice. Physicians took their patients off hormones and women suffered.

In my own practice here in Bend I continued on. I tested hormone levels and prescribed.  The national press and local condemnation of HRT continued. I have developed very thick skin when Natural Medicine is put down and we as ND,s and acupuncturists are insulted.  As my practice grew and I continued to run hormone levels on patients. I was shocked when I had 6 men aged 35-40 all test under 300 for testosterone.  I needed answers and to find a way to treat them.  None of the men wanted to do injections, and transdermal testosterone was completely contraindicated as all men were fathers with children and pets at home. I continued my education with experts in hormones with an additional focus on men’s hormones.  

I was able to go to the East coast and train and study testosterone replacement in men with pellets.  I was excited to offer this additional procedure to my patients. Since then I have inserted thousands of pellets in both men and women.

Now, hormone replacement therapy in men and women has become a buzzword and fad in medicine.  Everybody is doing it, nurses, nurse practitioners, the same gynecologist who vehemently opposed  HRT.  Menopausal and  mens clinics focusing on hormones only have opened up everywhere. 

Hormone replacement therapy is not without risks.  I have seen so much clinical incompetence in my years of practice, and  never more  in this area of medicine, hormone replacement therapy.

If you are  looking for a healthcare provider with years of experience and training in this area call  541-383-3424 for an appointment.

At Preventative Medicine Clinic our focus is each individual”s wellness, prevention and optimization of health.

I recently saw a great Netflix documentary titled “Live to 100″ Life in the Blue Zones”. I feel the way those people live, totally embodies the Principles of Naturopathic and Preventative Medicine. The 6 zones or geographical regions in the world the author and researcher investigates, have a number of common threads.

Some are: Active lifestyle, healthy, daily, social, and personal engaging relationships, diet and nutrition based mostly of plant-based foods, a reason for living or “lkigai” (Japanese), and work, whether it be volunteer or otherwise. There was very little incidence of: heart disease, high blood pressure, dementia, cancer, and diabetes. A 90 plus year old physician was interviewed. Now, I’m not sure I will practice into my 90’s but it truly gave.me some thought about when I will “retire”. I encourage all to view this multi part series.

“Functional medicine”. What is it? When I was in medical school, everything we Naturopathic physicians were taught about treatment of disease was Functional medicine.

We, Naturopathic (and Chiropractic) physicians were the experts in functional medicine. Do no harm the motto. We look at the whole body. It is how we treat the cause of a disease once a diagnosis is made. How does it rebalance, harmonize, strengthen the body physically, mentally, emotionally, physiologically. How is digestion, the immune, the endocrine, the musculoskeletal, and the nervous system affected by our treatment plans. Now, it seems everywhere there is “functional medicine.” I don’t believe the principles of functional medicine today are practiced the same way we were taught by our mentors.

Stem cells and exosomes are exciting topics in medicine. The use of these and other biologics are being studied in regenerative, anti-aging, disease prevention and treatment. We here at Preventative Medicine Clinic are using biologics in degenerative joint disease primarily. Patients are reporting decrease in pain and increase in joint mobility.

Another Netflix documentary worth a look is “Haute Route”. As a prescriber of controlled substances, including testosterone (also known as a performance enhancing drug or PED) I found this film to be incredibly captivating. It follows an athlete’s journey through a non-doping and then doping protocol in preparation and execution of a world stage professional cycling race.

As I write this, it is raining out. The moisture is welcome from the dry and smoky summer months. The leaves are turning beautiful reds, yellows, and a hue of other colors. Some of us may feel a loss as summer ends, and fall, and then winter comes. There is a time for every season. Some of you may have had the loss of a loved one. My sister passed away this summer following years of care for post traumatic brain injury. Let us not forget no matter the season:

“Life is not merely living, but living in Health.”

Warmest regards,
Dr. Evelyn Brust