The Thrive Program

Hormone Repalcement Therapy (HRT) and Nutirtion Optimization

The Thrive Program consists of Hormone Replacement and Nutritional Optimization for both men and women - managed by our experienced medical providers. Hormone Replacement can be life changing for people struggling with the Menopause/Andropause transition – or for anyone seeking increased energy, improved mood, enhanced physical and mental performance, improved libido and overall vitality.  

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What to Expect

Bloodwork

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About The Thrive Program

FDA Approved

  Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has been FDA approved since 1942 – with millions of people treated worldwide.

  
Professional Support

Our experienced medical professionals are with you every step of the way - monitoring your labs and dosing - with 24/7 support throughout the program.

Convenience

Medications are shipped directly to your home, with check-in appointments available in person and virtually. 

Nutritional Support

  As a part of your Thrive Program, we will assess your nutritional needs and build a comprehensive plan to optimize your supplements and vitamins

 

Enjoy Increased Vitality

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can improve energy, sleep, strength and endurance, well-being and libido.

Improved Health

Hormone Replacement Therapy will help you lose fat and gain muscle. This leads to significant long term health benefits - including reductions in heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and dementia.

What is Hormone Optimization?

From the day we are born, our hormones act as our body’s natural “instruction manual” – and optimal hormone levels allow us to feel and function our best. Hormones are the messengers of our Endocrine system – but aging and disease can cause them to decline. When this happens, we begin an accelerated aging process. As we lose that “instruction manual” we experience fatigue, weight gain, decrease in mental sharpness, and decreased sexual desire and enjoyment. 

The quality of our sleep declines and our strength and endurance are not what they were. We may feel anxious, depressed, or irritable and “grouchy” all the time. When we are injured or sick it takes us longer to heal - and we begin to lose the ability to do the activities that we used to enjoy. (While these symptoms happen to everyone - women also experience the symptoms of menopause – such as hot flashes, loss of vaginal lubrication, irregular bleeding, and brain fog.)

Hormone replacement therapy allows you to feel and function your best by recreating the hormone levels your body produced when you were younger - which has been shown to not only prolong life but prolong the quality of one's life. Hormonal support is beneficial at any age, but the best long term protective benefits are achieved if hormones are replaced when you begin to lose them, usually in our 40's.

What Hormones do for Men?

Testosterone is the hormone that most people are referring to when they discuss optimization for men – but men often need thyroid hormone and DHEA as well. 

TESTOSTERONE FOR MEN. Men’s Testosterone production peaks in...
their 20s and then begins to gradually decline – a condition that is known as “Andropause”. As your testosterone levels drop you will notice weight gain, decreased sexual desire and performance, fatigue, weight gain and depressed or irritable mood. Supplementing Testosterone will help you lose weight and gain muscle mass. You will have the energy to exercise more, and you will heal and recover more quickly – as you did in your 20s and 30s. Optimal testosterone levels will also help you regain your youthful libido and sexual function, and improve your mood and well-being. Learn More
THYROID HORMONES. Thyroid hormone regulates our...
metabolism – including our body temperature, energy levels and brain function. You can think of it as a thermostat that tells our body how fast our metabolism should run. Like all our major hormones – we produce less and less of this vital hormone as we age. When thyroid hormone production is low people will typically feel cold, sluggish, fatigued and experience decreased mental sharpness, depressed mood and weight gain. When thyroid hormone is optimized, you will feel energic and mentally sharp, with an increased sense of well-being. Thyroid hormone also increases fat breakdown, resulting in weight loss and lower cholesterol – leading to decreased risk for heart disease, stroke, and dementia. Learn More
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone): DHEA is considered a...
“minor” hormone – but it is still very important. DHEA has two main effects – it helps shift your body into what is called an “anabolic” state – which means that it promotes the building of new muscles and connective tissue. As a result – it promotes weight loss, and will also slow down and prevent some forms of arthritis and joint pain. Its second main effect is that DHEA protects your brain and body from the corrosive effects of chronic stress – resulting in better immune function and reduced anxiety and better sleep.

Is taking Testosterone dangerous?

Similarly to HRT for women – there has been controversy about whether Testosterone optimization is safe for men. Ironically, the health risks of NOT taking Testosterone are arguably more life-threatening than TRT itself. Longitudinal data suggests that males with lower testosterone generally have a shorter lifespan (i.e., are at a higher risk of all-cause mortality) than those with testosterone levels in the healthy range. However – let us address these concerns:

There was a study done in the 90s – not a randomized controlled study but a review of an insurance database – that showed that men taking Testosterone has a slightly increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. The FDA responded by placing a black-box warning on Testosterone and its use in older men dropped precipitously. To further evaluate this claim – the TRAVERSE study was initiated  - and the results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in early 2023 (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2215025) showing that there was no increased risk of cardiovascular disease while taking Testosterone. As a result – 23 medical bodies have petitioned the FDA to remove this black-box warning as there is no longer good literature to support it.

There has also been concern that taking Testosterone would increase the risk of Prostate cancer. This has been definitively disproven by the exceptional work of Dr. Morgantaler et al. at Harvard (https://grandroundsinurology.com/testosterone-prostate-cancer-link). While Testosterone does not cause Prostate cancer (PCA) – it will stimulate an existing cancer to grow more quickly. Therefore – before you can start Testosterone Replacement Therapy we will do blood levels of PSA (a screening test to rule out PCA) to make sure you are a good candidate. Additionally - we will be monitoring your PSA levels on a regular basis to evaluate for the possible development of PCA. 

FAQs

FAQ with Plus Sign
What age should I start Testosterone?
Can Hormone Replacement treat fatigue?
Will Testosterone improve my sex drive?
Can Hormone Replacement help me lose weight?
How long should I stay on hormones?
Can Testosterone improve my sleep?
Can I use my FSA or HSA?
What can HRT do for me?
But Isnt Aging Normal?
FAQ with Plus Sign
What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is the main drive of male sex drive, motivation, strength and endurance. Think of testosterone as the fuel that powers your masculinity. It plays a major role in both your physical and mental health, sexual performance, energy levels, weight, cholesterol levels and more. Testosterone is normally produced in your testicles, but production levels in men typically peak in their 20s and then begin a gradual decline that continues for the rest of your life. Testosterone levels can also drop due to injury, drug use, and other medical conditions.
What are some symptoms of low Testosterone levels?

Blood testing is notoriously fickle when it comes to evaluating a man for symptoms of low testosterone. While we will be testing your blood levels - we are more concerned with how your body is feeling and functioning. Many of the things that people assume are just a part of getting older are actually low testosterone symptoms and totally treatable. Some of the most common low-T symptoms are:

- Low energy levels

- Erectile dysfunction (ED)

- loss of morning and/or nocturnal erections

- Low sex drive or subpar sexual stamina

- Gaining weight, especially in your middle

- “Brain fog,” or issues with focus/concentration

- Irritability, anxiety, and/or depression

How soon will I feel the effects of Hormone Optimization?
Many men will notice changes to their libido and sexual response within days to weeks. Changes in strength and endurance will typically take longer - slowly growing over 3-6 months. The longer term benefits to your cholesterol, weight, and cardiovascular health will typically not be present until you have been on Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) for about a year. We tell our patients that they will begin to feel better in 3 months, will definitely feel effects by 6 months – and should be fully optimized in a year. Remember – we are not applying a band-aid. We are allowing the body to rebuild itself – and like all profound changes – this one will take time.
Why doesn't my doctor prescribe bio-identical hormones?
Molecules that our bodies make naturally – such as hormones - are protected by federal regulation and may not be patented. Major pharmaceutical manufacturers are interested only in patentable drugs that are exclusive and profitable. In Medical school physicians are primarily taught only about synthetic products. Physicians must seek out education about BHRT on their own – which can be difficult, expensive and time consuming. Additionally – most insurance plans will not cover BHRT – so many physicians do the thing that is easy and simple for them and their patients and prescribe synthetic hormones instead.
How does testosterone replacement therapy work?
Just like its name suggests, TRT works by replacing the testosterone that your body is “missing.” We will start slowly, and then gradually increase your dosing until your symptoms have resolved. This process will take between 3 and 6 months to complete - and after we have found your optimal levels we will check in regularly to maintain you there.
What are the Benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)?

The biggest benefit of TRT is that it rebalances your testosterone levels – which lets your body feel and function your best. This means improvement in the following areas:

- A noticeable increase in energy

- Stronger sex drive and stamina

- Better sexual performance (no more issues erectile dysfunction)

- Easier weight loss, especially fat loss

- More muscle mass

- Better moods, focus, and concentration

TRT has also been shown to improve all-cause mortality in men by 30% - mainly due to weight loss and muscle gain leading to lower rates of heart disease and diabetes.

How will I take my Testosterone?

There are several ways to do TRT, and each one has pros and cons. We will work with you to chose the delivery method that is right for you. The main TRT delivery methods are:

Topical/transdermal creams: The benefits of topical application is that it is fast, painless, and simple. Also - this is one of the fastest and most effective ways to raise your blood levels. However - some people find creams messy - and for four hours after application the Testosterone can transfer by touch to other people - so care must be taken - especially around small children and pregnant women.

Injection: Testosterone can also be injected. the benefits are less frequent applications (once or twice a day as opposed to daily), less messy than creams, and injections cannot effect other people around you. However - some people do not like needles.

Pellets: Small pellets can placed under the skin on your hip/buttock, where they dissolve over 3-6 months. At RESTOR we generally do not use pellets for the following reasons. (1) you cannot adjust dosing once they are placed - which means that if the dosing is not ideal the patient is locked in until that batch of pellets dissolves over 3-6 months and (2) Placing pellets requires a skin incision which can lead to complications like infection, scarring, and extrusion (pellets falling out after insertion).

What To Expect

Thrive Program Medical Evaluation 

At your Thrive Program Medical Evaluation, one of our experienced providers will review your medical history, labs, and goals for your health. We will use a sophisticated scoring system to determine which hormones and nutrients you may be deficient in. We will pair this information with you laboratory studies to build a comprehensive care plan designed to acheive your goals.

Bloodwork

Before we build your personalized care plan, we will do extensive screening bloodwork to assess your currently health status, risk factors, and any existing nutritional deficits.

 

We will assess your labs frequently during our program - to ensure that your overall health status is being fully optimized. 

*If you do not have labs, you can come in for a consultation, however you will not be able to begin the Thrive Program until your labs have been reviewed. Eligibility is not guaranteed.

Pre Screening Questions

Read the Scientific Literature supporting Hormone Replacement Therapy

We are building a library of the best and most up to date medical literature on HRT, TRT, and Hormone Optimization to help our patients mke the best choices for their health. Please check back soon for updates

Interested?

After you complete the pre-screening questions to see if you are eligible above, you can set up your initial Thrive Program consultation to learn more about what this exciting and groundbreaking form of medicine can do for you!

*If you do not have completed labs, we can do the initial Thrive Program consultation but cannot start the program until the necessary lab are complete.

Not A Member?

If you  want to hear about our Medical Weight Loss and Aesthetic treatments in addition to our Thrive Program (Hormone Replacement Therapy and nutritional optimization) - please book a consultation below.!

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