When testosterone decides to take a vacation from a man's body, it's like a sitcom plot gone wrong. Picture this: one day, Mr. Testosterone wakes up and says, "You know what? I need a break!" So he grabs his little suitcase and heads out the door, leaving behind chaos in his wake.

First, the guy starts losing interest in things he used to love, like playing pickup basketball or arguing about the best pizza toppings. His energy levels drop faster than a lead balloon, and suddenly, he's nodding off during action movies. His muscles seem to be on a disappearing act, too, making him wonder if his biceps went on strike.

But wait, there's more! His mood swings become legendary—crying during dog food commercials and getting irrationally angry at the printer for running out of paper. Even his trusty ol' libido decides to go AWOL, leaving him scratching his head and wondering where his mojo went.

Meanwhile, poor Mr. Testosterone is sipping margaritas on a beach somewhere, completely oblivious to the havoc he's caused. As for the guy back home, he's left trying every trick in the book to coax his hormone buddy back—eating oysters, hitting the gym, and maybe even contemplating a wardrobe overhaul to feel more like his old, testosterone-charged self.

So, fellas, when testosterone decides to ghost you, it's not just a dip—it's a full-blown sitcom with laugh tracks and all. Give us a call if you need help.
@dr.elenarodriguez

Peptides have long been the unsung heroes of biochemistry, quietly orchestrating crucial functions within our bodies. These short chains of amino acids may not grab headlines like their larger protein counterparts, but their significance in biological processes is immense.

From signaling molecules that regulate various physiological functions to antimicrobial agents that fend off pathogens, peptides play diverse roles in our bodies. Moreover, their potential applications in medicine, such as peptide-based drugs and therapies, have garnered increasing attention from researchers and pharmaceutical companies alike.

Peptides have been around since the 1920s with the discovery of insulin.  There has been a recent spotlight with the introduction of the now widely used glucagon like peptide (GLP-1) semaglutide (Ozempic & Wegovy) as well as the dual glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist (Mounjaro and Zepbound). 

However, the journey of peptides from lab bench to medicine cabinet isn't without its challenges. Regulatory hurdles, like the FDA ban, can sometimes impede progress. While such actions are often taken with the intention of ensuring safety and efficacy, they can also stifle innovation and limit access to potentially life-changing treatments.

Despite these obstacles, the field of peptide research continues to evolve rapidly. Advances in peptide synthesis, modification, and delivery methods are expanding the scope of their therapeutic applications. Additionally, growing interest in peptide engineering and design holds promise for developing novel peptide-based solutions to address unmet medical needs.

In essence, peptides may be small in size, but their impact on science and medicine looms large. As we navigate the complexities of regulation and innovation, it's crucial to recognize the invaluable contributions peptides make to our understanding of biology and our quest for improved healthcare.

To donate and help Dr. Edwin Lee fight for peptides to be taken off the FDA ban please follow this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-peptides-from-the-fda?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist that got FDA approval for weight loss in 2014.  It is normally a peptide that is released by our intestine every time we eat to help regulate gastric emptying, insulin secretion and satiety.  

It was first discovered in the venom of the Gila Monster Lizard which can go months without eating and ten years later it has completely revolutionized the weight loss world.  Find out how it works, risks, benefits, contraindications and costs.  

We offer an incredibly affordable weight loss program if your insurance does not cover this medication.  Feel free to reach out to us at 310-325-9400 to find out how you can join.  

Many women struggle with infertility and the demand for infertility services has grown substantially as the baby boom generation enters its reproductive age.  The definition of infertility is the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotective sex.  Most pregnancies will occur in the first 6 menstrual cycles of attempted conception.  The rates of infertility in the United States range from 12 to 18 percent.  Primary infertility occurs in about 9% of nulliparous women ages 15-34, 25% of ages 35-39 and 30% in women ages 40-44.  As you can see, the rates of infertility increase as you age.

Female factor infertility accounts for 37% of infertile couples while male factor infertility accounts for 8%.  5% of couples have unknown causes.  This episode will explain some of the causes and the testing you need to get the answers you need.

How much we to pay for libido?  if you are female you're screwed, literally and figuratively.  Insurance companies will cover male sexual health at 100%.  If you are female, you will likely get stuck footing the bill for the cost of your libido.  There is a serious discrepancy and gender inequity when it comes to sexual health for women.  There are great products on the market however  most are unobtainable because of cost.  This episode is a short commentary on the various treatments are available for both men and women when it comes to boosting your libido.  We can lobby for better coverage.

11% of US women are diagnosed with a bladder infection .  Of these women 50% will have a recurrent infection that same year.  It costs us 2.4-3.2 billion dollars a year to take care of bladder infections.  This podcast summarizes a recent study on the use of D-mannose to prevent recurrent bladder infections.  Subscribe and share knowledge.  You can learn more via my:
YouTube: Dr. Elena Rodriguez
Instagram: @dr.elenarodriguez
Website: www.drelenarodriguez.com

Reference: D-mannose vs other agents for recurrent urinary tract infection prevention in adult women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Stacy M. Lenger etal June 1, 2020.  AJOG.

Permanent sterilization using a hysteroscopic technique was unique to the Essure and Adiana systems.  Both seemed like a dream come true for many providers because it allowed patients to be offered a minimally invasive approach to contraception that was both non-hormonal and permanent. 

I remember when it was first introduced, it was marketed as a revolutionary treatment for permanent sterilization.  The reason why this procedure gained popularity so fast was because it could be done in the office, transvaginal with minimal to no downtime.  

Previously permanent sterilization could only be offered either immediately after a vaginal delivery, c-section or via a laparoscopy or abdominal approach.  All of these modalities could only access the fallopian tubes by entering the abdominal cavity, meaning higher risk and greater downtime.  

So it is no wonder that many physicians jumped on the band wagon and trusted that the manufacturer, Bayer, had done their due diligence by evaluating the efficacy and safety of this permanent contraceptive device.  

The truth is that no one understands how FDA approval was granted with such low quality data that overly relied on retrospective claims-based database analysis. There was a complete absence of adequate perspective, comparative, post market data collection and analysis.  Unfortunately, this is a trend that we see over and over again in many implantable devices.  How do we know which ones we can trust?

Share this podcast with someone you know is having issues with their implantable device.  You can reach me online:
Website: www.drelenarodriguez.com
Instagram: @dr.elenarodriguez
YouTube: Dr. Elena Rodriguez

Every 73 seconds someone is being sexually assaulted.  Every nine minutes that victim is a child. Only 5 out of every 1000 perpetrators will end up in prison.  3% of American men or 1 in 33 men have experienced an attempted or completed a rape in their lifetime.  Child protective services agencies have found strong evidence to indicate that 63,000 children a year were victims of sexual abuse. 9 out of every 10 victims of rape are female.  These statistics are from RAINN (Rape, abuse & Incest National Network).  They are the largest anti-sexual violence organization and have helped over 3.5 million survivors and their loved ones.

April is sexual assault awareness month and I felt compelled to speak about this because I see it more often in my office than you can possibly imagine.  I don’t care how much you have had to drink or how short you wore your skirt or whether or not you were lying naked and then you changed your mind….NO always means NO… it does not mean Maybe and dressing provocatively or walking home alone never gives anyone the right to assault another person.  

I have begged so many of my patients to report because their silence means that this could happen to another woman.  If only 5 out of 1000 perpetrators end up in prison that means that there are 995 vultures out there waiting for their next prey.  

I wanted you to hear from a trial lawyer who deals with these cases every day.  The information that she has for you is invaluable.  I hope that if you were ever a victim of of this crime or if you know someone that might have been please share this information.  Reporting is never easy but your silence enables perpetrators to think that their crime will go unpunished and there is no doubt that they will keep doing this to other women.

Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-540-4000
National Sexual Assault Hotline (24/7): 1-800-656-4673

Have you ever had multi-organ issues like asthma, allergies, bloating, muscle aches and pains, food sensitivities, and memory issues.  I know it sounds like a very vague and obscure diagnosis but that is the point....exposure to environmental toxins like mold, yeast and bacteria can cause long lasting issues in patients with a genetic predisposition.  Our bodies are constantly being bombarded with environmental toxins.  Most of us can clear these toxins very easily but 24% of the population cannot.  This will leave your doctors scratching their heads and not being able to come up with the right treatment or diagnosis.  If you are that one patient whose doctor cannot figure out what the hell is wrong with you, start thinking a toxic environmental exposure.  Testing is available, you just have to find the right doctor who thinks outside the box.  

The Covid Vaccine is finally here but so many people are not jumping for joy.  I tried to wrap my head around why we were so anxious to finally get back to normal but when I ask people why they would or would not get the vaccine,  I realized that there was so much misinformation out there.  This episode will talk about some of the myths surrounding COVID 19 and why the vaccine is so important.  Please feel free to comment, share and subscribe it is through your interaction with this podcast that more people will become aware of the scientific data they need to have to learn more about their health.  Thank you so much for listening.