Body Science Medical Group Magazine

A Patient’s Guide to Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Learn How To Turn Back the Clock

Body Science Medical Group | 1033 West Bay Dr., Largo, FL 33770 | (727) 386-4114 2560 N. McMullen Booth Rd, Suite B | Clearwater, FL 33761 | (727) 726-1606 BodyScienceMed.com

Is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Right For Me? Aging and Declining Hormones

A

s we age men and women alike will experience, the classic symptoms of aging.

Low libido, weight gain, muscle loss, mood swings, and fatigue are just a few examples of the common symptoms of aging that most of us

just accept as a fact of life. What most people don’t know is that many of these uncomfortable changes can be linked to menopause in women and andropause in men.

A woman’s body stops producing estrogen (the primary female sex hormone) during menopause and a man’s testosterone levels decline on average 1-2% every year after they turn thirty (andropause).

If you are experiencing one or any combinations of the symptoms below it could be due to an imbalance of hormones.

SYMPTOMS OF AGING • Loss of Interest in Sex • Limited Energy • Hair Loss • Weight Gain • Mood Swings • Fatigue • Memory Loss • Poor Concentration • Depression • Sleeplessness

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

T

he good news for you is that hormone imbalance and loss is a treatable condition.

At Body Science Medical Group we specialize in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) which is the process of creating a hormone regimen that is tailor made for you, with hormones that are identical to the ones generated by your body. There have been countless studies showing that synthetic (traditional) hormone replacement therapy can increase the likelihood of heart disease and cancer. With natural bioidentical hormones, you can find relief from your hormonal imbalance without the risks traditionally associated with synthetic hormones and in fact will reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, neuroconginative diseases, like dementia and Alzheimers, and reduce insulin resistance; which leads to Type Two Diabetes They will also lead to decrease in body fat and cholesterol.

Bioidentical Hormones are identical to the hormones that our bodies produce naturally which allows us to metabolize them properly.

Traditional synthetic hormone replacement therapies are more of a one-size-fits-all therapy to provide symptom relief. Hormone deficiencies occur at different rates in different people which is why Body Science Medical Group treats patients on an individualized basis.

Here are some of the benefits of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy BENEFITS OF BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY • Improves Energy Levels • Improves fat loss and adds to lean muscle mass • Improves Memory and Concentration • Improves Sex Drive • Protects Bones From Osteoporosis and reverses bone loss • Improves Muscle Mass and Strength • Eliminates night sweats and hot flashes • Improves Mood • Protects against Heart Disease • Protects against Neurocognative diseases like Dementia and Alzheimers • Improves immune system response

Why Body Science Medical Group?

A

t Body Science Medical Group our team of clinicians encompasses a wide skill set of various professional and personal accreditations and experiences. Our vision is to enhance the quality of life for our patients. We individually tailor the treatment plans of the patients that we see. By looking at each and every patient as an individual with unique needs and concerns and investing in state of the art diagnostic equipment; we are able to provide a higher level of care than other practices that are focused solely on the number of patients that they see.

Are All BHRT Practices The Same and How Do I Select the right BHRT Group For Me? BHRT and Age Management Medicine is a relatively new discipline in medicine. It is not designed to be a simple weight loss application although most people will recognize significant improvements in body composition… the loss of body fat , the addition of lean muscle mass and the improvement of bone density. When selecting a medical practice to manage your BHRT, have a good knowledge of what is being monitored, what the benefits vs. risks are, and how is your progress being monitored.

What Can I Expect When I come in?

• Personalized treatment designed specifically for you • State of the art diagnostic testing and laboratory analysis • A comprehensive review of symptoms and medical history • Fitness Programs • Nutritional Planning • Quality compounded pharmaceutical Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy • Ongoing evaluations • To start feeling and living better

Many practices only focus on a limited approach to hormone replacement such as simply prescribing Testosterone. This approach is limited and is not taking all the factors into account. All hormone levels for both men and women should be monitored and addressed such as progesterone, testosterone, estrogen, DHEA, and thyroid; along with monitoring cholesterol, complete blood counts and chemistries.

A thorough physical exam should be performed and specific goals with a sensible approach should be discussed. Furthermore, a baseline DEXA scan (to determine bone density) and a complete body scan (to determine accurate body composition of lean muscle mass vs adipose tissue and its location) should be performed prior to initiating treatment.

Many practices rely solely on body weight and lab values to determine successful treatment. While improvements in lab values over time are useful, they do not offer a complete picture of your overall progress. Significant benefits from BHRT are bone density improvement as well as addition of lean muscle mass and loss of adipose (fat) tissue.

Some practices may utilize calipers to measure the amount of adipose tissue but it is inaccurate and user dependant and offers no information on bone density. Body Science Medical Group utilizes the in-office IDexa scanner to measure bone density as well as a complete body scan for an accurate body composition. Scans will be done at baseline and at strategic points throughout treatment.

Healthy Bone

Bone With Osteoporosis

Hormone Replacement Therapy & Osteoporosis O

steoporosis is a major public health threat for 44 million Americans 68% of whom are women. 10 million people already have osteoporosis today in the United States.

Another 34 million have low bone mass and are at increased risk for fractures and osteoporosis.

Half of women and more than a quarter of men over 50 years old will have an osteoporosisrelated fracture in their lifetime.

Bone is mostly made of collagen, which is a protein. Even though it is mostly made of protein and minerals, bone is living growing tissue. Old bone is constantly being broken down (resorption) and new bone is being added to the skeleton (formation). When more bone is broken down than is deposited bone loss is occurring.

Bone growth occurs fastest during our childhood and teenage years. As a result, bones become stronger (denser), larger, and heavier. Bones continue to form until the peak bone mass (maximum solidness and strength) is reached, which occurs in most people around the age of 30. After reaching the age of 30 your bone resorption slowly begins to exceed bone formation. This leads to bone loss. Bone loss in women occurs fastest immediately after menopause, but continues into old age.

A woman’s body stops producing estrogen during menopause, which is why bone loss occurs fastest during and after menopause.

Estrogen is important for bone growth and strength because it works with osteoblasts (the cells responsible for forming bone).

Hormone replacement therapy was initially indicated for the treatment of the symptoms of menopause, but is now approved for both the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The reason for this is because

declining estrogen and progesterone levels do not just affect a woman’s reproductive capabilities; they also cause bone density to decrease and the risk of fractures to increase.

At Body Science Medical Group we work with you to determine a prevention and treatment plan for osteoporosis. We are one of the few practices that have invested into a state of the art iDXA scanner that will not only assess your body composition; but also your bone mineral density. By using the iDXA scanner we can assess exactly what your needs are and create a comprehensive plan for your treatment.

The Importance of a Full Comprehensive Evaluation Before and During BHRT There are many reasons patients choose to receive Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. Whether you want to lose weight, gain lean muscle mass, or prevent or reverse symptoms from osteoporosis; it is important that you truly understand exactly where your body composition is, that the information you are receiving from your physician is accurate, and what benefits you can expect to receive from the therapy.

Traditional Hormone Replacement Therapy clinics rely on simple lab work and archaic body composition testing.

The most common body fat test uses the skinfold caliper, a device that pinches your skin, pulling your fat away from your muscles and bones. You feel moderate discomfort, like when someone pinches your cheek. Typically the tester pinches three or four different sites on your body, such as your abdomen, arm, and back. The thickness of each pinch is plugged into a formula to determine your subcutaneous body fat level.

Many things can go wrong with a caliper test.

The tester may not pinch exactly the right spot, he may not pull all the fat away from the muscle

or he may pinch too hard and accidentally yank some of your muscle. The calipers must exert a standard pressure and measure thickness to very small levels. Tests can vary greatly from tester to tester. Also, research shows that certain formulas are more accurate for certain ethnic groups, age ranges, and fitness levels.

Experts give this test a margin of error of four points, meaning your actual body fat percentage could be four points higher or lower than it actually is. Also tests show this test is accurate for about 90% of the population, when using the appropriate formulas. In laymen’s terms, if you are one of the lucky 9 out of 10, and your body fat measures 12% - it could really be anywhere from 8% to 16%. If you are the one in 10 (for example you are very lean or your body fat exceeds 30%) then all bets are off. We have seen errors run as high as 10%.

In addition, skinfold calipers can only measure your subcutaneous fat.

Problems With Traditional Skinfold Caliper Testing • In 90% of population, +/- 4% error rate (total margin 8%) • In 10% of population, error rates are off the scale • Overestimate leanness • Underestimate obesity • Inconsistent readings • Significant deviations in readings by the same clinician Because of the inconsistency in results, the high percentage of people that this test is not successful for, and the high margin of error, we have invested in a state of the art IDEXA scanner that will give you an exact reading on your bone density, body composition, and body mass index (BMI).

We consider iDEXA to be the best body composition technique available because it is easy and comfortable for the client. You lie down on an open “table” for approximately 8 minutes while your body is scanned, it’s extremely accurate, and it measures regional (arms, trunk, and legs) as well as total body %fat, fat mass, bone mass, and lean mass as

well as the distribution of fat. This regional, three compartment analysis is superior not only for an initial assessment, but also for tracking change. For example, with a weight training program the total increase in muscle mass and the increase in muscle mass in the arms, trunk, and legs can be determined.

Every patient that comes to Body Science Medical Group will be scanned by the IDEXA scanner to find out what their exact body composition is during their initial consultation.

You will also be scanned at regular intervals during your therapy to assess your improvement.

There are very few anti-aging or hormone replacement therapy clinics in the entire country that have made the substantial investment of purchasing a IDEXA scanner. At Body Science Medical Group we pride ourselves on providing the highest level of personalized care for every patient that walks through our doors; which is why we have spared no expense establishing ourselves as the premiere center for Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy in the Tampa Bay area. After all, when investing in yourself, don’t you want to be assured that you are receiving the best possible treatment?

2560 N. McMullen Booth Rd, Suite B, Clearwater, FL 33761 | (727) 726-1606

1033 West Bay Dr., Largo, FL 33770 | (727) 386-4114

Body Science Medical Group is owned and operated in association with Statmed urgent Care.