Anti Aging Frequently Asked Questions

You are probably already using some hormones. Birth Control Pills, Hydrocortisone (used for rashes), and Vitamin D in milk are all forms of hormones.
Over the last 100 years as humans doubled our life expectancy, the soft tissue glands which create our hormones are being forced to produce them longer than ever. As well, our increasingly stressful lives, poor nutrition and lack of proper fitness results in declining levels of hormones in our bodies.

Men and women have successfully used bio-identical hormones for decades.

Men suffering from the symptoms of andropause or women suffering from menopause or perimenopause, can turn to bio-identical hormones to replace the natural hormones that have declined as their bodies have aged.

In well known medical journals, researchers have reported that the bio-identical hormones, estrogen and testosterone, are not only safe but also have a positive impact on diseases like osteoporosis and prostate cancer.

Women suffering from menopause symptoms that are looking to put an end to hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, memory loss, mood swings, weight gain, and low libido are turning to MGR physicians to replace their natural hormones. These certified anti-aging physicians design individualized programs specifically for each woman suffering from symptoms of menopause, perimenopause, and severe PMS.

Men experiencing andropause (male menopause) who want to get a grip on weight gain, lost libido, fatigue, stress, energy, muscle mass, and body fat are also finding solutions through MGR’s natural hormone therapy programs. For men, andropause happens gradually and when diagnosed, the symptoms are successfully treated using bio-identical hormone therapy.

No matter what your age, if your female hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone) are unbalanced, you may suffer ill effects such as hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, mood swings, depression, anxiety, memory loss, vaginal dryness, fatigue, loss of your sex drive and even weight gain. Women with balanced hormones integrated with proper nutrition and fitness can have a better quality of life as they age.

In general, your body’s natural hormones begin to decline after your mid-20s and hormone imbalance symptoms are frequently present by your mid-30s. Men and women often start replacing hormones between the age of 35 and 40. If you are experiencing symptoms of hormone imbalance, it is best not to wait.

As men age, production of the hormone testosterone begins to decline and they experience symptoms of low testosterone. Testosterone is the hormone that is responsible for maintaining mental focus, energy, metabolism, muscle mass, fat levels, and sex drive. By balancing a man’s hormones with bio-identical hormone therapy, men can restore their vitality and reduce the symptoms of andropause.

While it varies with each person, and depends on which hormone therapy you are using, you can expect to see results within three to six months. This amount of time is needed to allow for the proper balancing of your hormones.

We believe that most people should have their hormones checked by the age of 40 or earlier if they are experiencing symptoms of menopause or andropause. The way to prevent illness and to optimize one’s health is to take an active role in addressing health care risks before they become a problem. Getting tested when you still feel good gives you a benchmark for later comparison when the inevitable happens and your hormones begin to decline.

High stress levels occur very commonly in individuals with unbalanced hormones. Regulating hormones with bio-identical hormone therapy will certainly help to decrease stress levels and increase general feelings of well-being.

Yes. A deficiency of testosterone, estrogen, or other types of hormonal imbalance can cause a low libido.

If your doctor finds that your overall health and hormonal balance needs improvement through vitamins and supplements, they will prescribe them to you. Furthermore we recommend only pharmaceutical grade vitamins and supplements.

Hormones are like stop-lights. When balanced the light is green and you receive the optimum results from your nutrition and fitness programs. When imbalanced the light turns red making it, in many cases, difficult to lose and easy to gain weight.

Hormones are chemical messengers that cause the body to make changes affecting weight gain or weight loss. Changes in hormone levels are also dependant on the lifestyle we lead and can affect our mood, metabolism, and energy levels.

For example, when males become less active there is often a gradual decline in testosterone. This hormone is known to boost metabolism and has the benefit of helping lower fat levels. Thus, when testosterone remains balanced a man’s ideal weight is easier to achieve.

Not necessarily, it depends on how well your body responds to bio-identical hormone therapy. Also important, it’s how well you manage your diet, sleep patterns, exercise, and stress levels that will assist you in regaining hormonal balance.

Some patients can wean off various hormones once they become balanced and have fewer symptoms of menopause or andropause. There are also patients who can wean off adrenal and thyroid support once their adrenals or thyroid glands have healed. There is no single answer for everyone, it depends on your individual hormone stability and how well your diet and lifestyle will support everything else. In the worst-case scenario, if you decided to stop bio-identical hormone therapy, your body would return to the state it was in before initiating your program.

Yes, birth control pills are a type of hormone therapy but are different from bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. Birth control pill hormones are synthetic. Synthetic hormones have differences in their chemical structure that are not a replica of the body’s natural hormones.

Yes. Bio-identical hormones are compounded prescription drugs that are produced in a specialized pharmacy. Since we only provide the highest level of care, prescriptions come hand made from the highest quality ingredients and made by pharmacists that specialize in formulating drugs. Since every patient’s situation comes unique, the strength or the dosage form needs to specially fit the individual.

A compounding pharmacy specializes in individualized bio-identical hormone prescriptions.

Because bio-identical hormones have the same molecular structure of the hormones made naturally by your body, there are relatively few side effects. Side effects occur mainly when the dosage of hormone is too high for the individual. Most of all our physicians monitor and evaluate each patient consistently to assure balanced and proper dosing.

No, that is not true. Not all estrogens are created equal. Fears of increased risks of heart disease and breast cancer with estrogen therapy have mainly come from the WHI study that was stopped prematurely in the summer of 1992 because of an increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease that was seen in women taking Prempro. This study actually highlights the risks of estrogen therapy with non-bio-identical (synthetic) hormones. NOT the type used by MGR.

Hormones that are non-bio-identical use a one-size-fits-all approach to hormone therapy with hormones that are foreign to a woman’s body. Conversely, bio-identical hormones, structurally and chemically resemble those in your body naturally. Our physicians use bio-identical hormones and the two main estrogens that they replace are E2 – Estradiol and E3 – Estriol. As far as heart disease, bio-identical hormone therapy studies have never shown to increase the risk. Conversely hormone replacement with bio-identical hormones has shown to decrease the risk of heart disease.

In summary, we cannot use results of studies done on synthetic, non-bio-identical hormones to assess risks of bio-identical hormones. When an educated provider prescribes bio-identical hormones in the proper manner, no increased risks of the occurrence of breast cancer or heart disease occur.

The ingredients in bio-identical hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone come approved by the FDA. However, state and local pharmacy boards have jurisdiction over them, not the FDA. It is important to know you are using the highest quality compounding pharmacy and that they follow the most stringent guidelines and have excellent quality assurance.

Generally no. Consequently needs for some medicines may actually reduce or cease to exist..

You may bring along any lab work, bone density, mammograms, PAP smears, or other diagnostic tests you have had done in the past year. Your MGR physician will not need the actual x-rays or ultrasounds, only the report. However, you will need to do a complete female or male hormone panel, which includes both blood and saliva tests. This comprehensive diagnostic panel helps your physician determine exactly where your hormone levels stand today, so that they customize a wellness regimen tailored to meet your individual needs.

While possible, ultimate determination rests in your insurance company.We recommend you to check with us and also with your insurance plan about coverage since all plans differ. We will submit all the insurance paperwork in case if your plan offers that benefit.