As we have alluded to earlier, menopause has been an established medical entity for which hormone balancing treatments have been available for many, many years. Our enhanced knowledge of this condition has led us to start using more and more natural estrogens and progesterones. We now favour those over the synthetic versions.

Andropause, the decline in male hormones as we age, is now an accepted medical, clinical, treatable entity, too.

Somapause, the decline in human growth hormone and some of the other non-sexing hormones as we age, is currently not considered to be an insurable service by any medical plan that we are aware of, whether a publically or privately funded system. From a philosophical perspective it is looked on much the same way as cosmetic surgery.

We do however feel that its day is coming as more and more information becomes available with regard to human growth hormone and other hormones. Studies such as the one by Dr. Eve Van Cauter published on August 16, 2000 in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" with regard to human growth hormone decline associated with poorer sleep pattern in males as they age, are felt to bring the concept of aging as a treatable condition more into the mainstream.

It is conceivable that insuring bodies at some point in the future may wish to help cover the cost of this kind of service as theoretically healthier people would have less cause to use medical assistance as those who are not as healthy as they age.

For the moment, though, readers who are interested in anti-aging treatments would be well-advised to seek out physicians interested in anti-aging medicine for further advice and recommendations.