Reach your optimal health & well-beingWomen’s Health and Hormone Optimization Clinic
Over 40? Low energy? Fatigue? Joint pains? Sleep problems, hot flashes, bone loss? Depression? Increased abdominal fat? Low libido? Vaginal dryness? An evidenced based, personalized assessment can safely and effectively address many of these symptoms. A personalized treatment plan can help improve your energy, performance, vitality, mood and sleep. For more information please request an appointment. |
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Hormones
Thyroid
Thyroid hormones affect all cells in the body, regulate temperature, metabolism and brain function. Thyroid repletion improves dry, think skin, weak nails, hair loss, hair thickness, improves cholesterol and helps protect against cardiovascular and cognitive declines. T3 is the active thyroid hormone, and T3 optimization can be part of a personalized hormone optimization plan for wellbeing.
Estrogen
Estrogen replacement after menopause improves quality of life, health and energy. Estrogen repletion supports stronger bones, halves incidence of heart disease and stroke, and helps protect against age related demential. Estrogen improves hair and skin, vaginal dryness, age related urogenital symptoms. Estrogen can help prevent many age related symptoms and disease states. Estrogen lowers total cholesterol and improves HDL levels. Bio identical or natural estrogen / estradiol use is associated with many beneficial health effects. In contrast, synthetic estrogens and progestin use is associated with increased breast cancers and cardiovascular disease and these synthetic estrogens and progestins are not recommended because of these risks.
Progesterone
As women age, progesterone levels fall, and progesterone is a naturally occurring hormone noted to be protective against uterine cancer, breast cancer, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Progesterone is different from progestin. Natural progesterone works synergistically with estrogen repletion and helps with a number of symptoms including anxiety, sleep and mood. Progestin/medroxyprogesterone/Provera is a synthetic, and molecularly different type of molecule. Progestin uses responsible for increased breast cancer incidence in the famous WHI (Women’s Health Initiative) trial — and a lesser known fact related to this trial is that the estrogen only segment had decreased incidence of breast cancer, in contrast to the estrogen and progestin portion. Progesterone replacement also helps with osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diminished libido and quality of life aging related issues.
Testosterone
Testosterone levels fall in both men and women with aging. Testosterone is a ‘feel good’ hormone and improves well-being, energy, mood, strength, lipid risk profiles, lean muscle to fatty tissue ratios. Supplementing lowered testosterone levels judiciously with aging results in significant improvements with age related complaints and can be part of a thoughtful personalized preventative health program. Transdermal therapy is the safest method for testosterone replacement, and is commonly prescribed to effectively and safely treat age related complaints.
DHEA
DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone is a hormone derived from cholesterol that is produced in the adrenal glands. DHEA is a building block for other hormones. DHEA levels also fall with aging, and DHEA repletion is associated with improved health, immune function, insulin sensitivity, brain function and cancer prevention
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland, which regulates sleep. Melatonin has a role in circadian rhythms, sleep, mood, fertility, and is an antioxidant. In addition, melatonin can be beneficial for blood pressure and help decrease incidence of migraines.
Thyroid
Thyroid hormones affect all cells in the body, regulate temperature, metabolism and brain function. Thyroid repletion improves dry, think skin, weak nails, hair loss, hair thickness, improves cholesterol and helps protect against cardiovascular and cognitive declines. T3 is the active thyroid hormone, and T3 optimization can be part of a personalized hormone optimization plan for wellbeing.
Estrogen
Estrogen replacement after menopause improves quality of life, health and energy. Estrogen repletion supports stronger bones, halves incidence of heart disease and stroke, and helps protect against age related demential. Estrogen improves hair and skin, vaginal dryness, age related urogenital symptoms. Estrogen can help prevent many age related symptoms and disease states. Estrogen lowers total cholesterol and improves HDL levels. Bio identical or natural estrogen / estradiol use is associated with many beneficial health effects. In contrast, synthetic estrogens and progestin use is associated with increased breast cancers and cardiovascular disease and these synthetic estrogens and progestins are not recommended because of these risks.
Progesterone
As women age, progesterone levels fall, and progesterone is a naturally occurring hormone noted to be protective against uterine cancer, breast cancer, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Progesterone is different from progestin. Natural progesterone works synergistically with estrogen repletion and helps with a number of symptoms including anxiety, sleep and mood. Progestin/medroxyprogesterone/Provera is a synthetic, and molecularly different type of molecule. Progestin uses responsible for increased breast cancer incidence in the famous WHI (Women’s Health Initiative) trial — and a lesser known fact related to this trial is that the estrogen only segment had decreased incidence of breast cancer, in contrast to the estrogen and progestin portion. Progesterone replacement also helps with osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diminished libido and quality of life aging related issues.
Testosterone
Testosterone levels fall in both men and women with aging. Testosterone is a ‘feel good’ hormone and improves well-being, energy, mood, strength, lipid risk profiles, lean muscle to fatty tissue ratios. Supplementing lowered testosterone levels judiciously with aging results in significant improvements with age related complaints and can be part of a thoughtful personalized preventative health program. Transdermal therapy is the safest method for testosterone replacement, and is commonly prescribed to effectively and safely treat age related complaints.
DHEA
DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone is a hormone derived from cholesterol that is produced in the adrenal glands. DHEA is a building block for other hormones. DHEA levels also fall with aging, and DHEA repletion is associated with improved health, immune function, insulin sensitivity, brain function and cancer prevention
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland, which regulates sleep. Melatonin has a role in circadian rhythms, sleep, mood, fertility, and is an antioxidant. In addition, melatonin can be beneficial for blood pressure and help decrease incidence of migraines.
Low Dose Naltrexone
Low dose naltrexone (LDN) is indicated for treatment for a number of conditions including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, auto-immune disorders, fibromyalgia, Chron’s, and sleep. LDN is a relatively safe, well tolerated and inexpensive therapy. LDN can be beneficial for both inflammatory pain conditions as well as pain conditions with no associated inflammatory component.
Standard naltrexone is a treatment for alcohol and narcotic use disorders. Low dose therapy involves dosing that is typically 1/10 of the amounts used for alcohol and narcotic use disorders.
In a controlled trial LDN was better tolerated than the placebo arm of the trial. The most common side effect is vivid dreams.
Weight Optimization
Weight Loss Medications
Melissa Young NP has additional education in offering medical options to help with weight management. She prescribes weight loss medications and supplements including semaglutide (Ozempic), Contrave, MIC injections and other weight loss treatments to assist with weight loss for eligible clients. Patients who are concerned about a possible binge eating disorder can opt for assessment and qualified clients can be prescribed medication to treat this specific disordered eating problem.
Ozempic is a weekly injectable medication to help adults with type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar. Although not officially a weight loss drug, research suggests that people who take Ozempic may lose modest amounts of weight while on the medication. Ozempic improves insulin resistance. 50% of patients report that ozempic is beneficial in assisting with weight loss, with many individuals remarking a greater ability to stick with a diet regime due to decreased cravings and longer sense of fullness after eating. Insurance may only cover the costs of ozempic under certain circumstances.
MIC and Lipotropic Plus injections
(“Skinny shots”)
MIC
Methionine, inositol, choline)
Methionine is an essential amino acid which helps to break down fats within the liver. Foods which are high in methionine include cheese, fish, potatoes, Brazil nuts and certain seeds.
Inositol is a sugar alcohol, and the human kidney produces about 2 grams of inositol daily. Inositol is found naturally in cantaloup and oranges, but is not bioavailable through diet. Inositol helps with breakdown of fats and insulin sensitivity.
Choline is a nutrient naturally found in peanuts, wheat, meats, and eggs. Choline supplementation assists with the metabolism of cholesterol.
Lipotropic Plus
(Methionine, Inositol, Choline, Chromium, Methylcobalamin and Pyridoxine (methyl B12 and B6)
Patients are shown how to inject these supplements either weekly or biweekly. These combination supplements can decrease severity of food cravings and help with fat metabolism and energy. Individual results vary. Individuals may opt for these injections for a 3 month intervals, and require a 3 month break before restarting, if desired. MIC and Lipotropic Plus injections can be helpful in conjunction with an appropriate diet and exercise regime.
Low dose naltrexone (LDN) is indicated for treatment for a number of conditions including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, auto-immune disorders, fibromyalgia, Chron’s, and sleep. LDN is a relatively safe, well tolerated and inexpensive therapy. LDN can be beneficial for both inflammatory pain conditions as well as pain conditions with no associated inflammatory component.
Standard naltrexone is a treatment for alcohol and narcotic use disorders. Low dose therapy involves dosing that is typically 1/10 of the amounts used for alcohol and narcotic use disorders.
In a controlled trial LDN was better tolerated than the placebo arm of the trial. The most common side effect is vivid dreams.
Weight Optimization
Weight Loss Medications
Melissa Young NP has additional education in offering medical options to help with weight management. She prescribes weight loss medications and supplements including semaglutide (Ozempic), Contrave, MIC injections and other weight loss treatments to assist with weight loss for eligible clients. Patients who are concerned about a possible binge eating disorder can opt for assessment and qualified clients can be prescribed medication to treat this specific disordered eating problem.
Ozempic is a weekly injectable medication to help adults with type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar. Although not officially a weight loss drug, research suggests that people who take Ozempic may lose modest amounts of weight while on the medication. Ozempic improves insulin resistance. 50% of patients report that ozempic is beneficial in assisting with weight loss, with many individuals remarking a greater ability to stick with a diet regime due to decreased cravings and longer sense of fullness after eating. Insurance may only cover the costs of ozempic under certain circumstances.
MIC and Lipotropic Plus injections
(“Skinny shots”)
MIC
Methionine, inositol, choline)
Methionine is an essential amino acid which helps to break down fats within the liver. Foods which are high in methionine include cheese, fish, potatoes, Brazil nuts and certain seeds.
Inositol is a sugar alcohol, and the human kidney produces about 2 grams of inositol daily. Inositol is found naturally in cantaloup and oranges, but is not bioavailable through diet. Inositol helps with breakdown of fats and insulin sensitivity.
Choline is a nutrient naturally found in peanuts, wheat, meats, and eggs. Choline supplementation assists with the metabolism of cholesterol.
Lipotropic Plus
(Methionine, Inositol, Choline, Chromium, Methylcobalamin and Pyridoxine (methyl B12 and B6)
Patients are shown how to inject these supplements either weekly or biweekly. These combination supplements can decrease severity of food cravings and help with fat metabolism and energy. Individual results vary. Individuals may opt for these injections for a 3 month intervals, and require a 3 month break before restarting, if desired. MIC and Lipotropic Plus injections can be helpful in conjunction with an appropriate diet and exercise regime.
