Elizabethstorymd

04/14/2026

GLP-1 Medications Beyond Weight Loss:
The Heart-Protection Data Every Patient Asks About

For years, medications like semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy®) have been viewed primarily as weight-loss or diabetes drugs. But that’s no longer the full story.

Semaglutide has now been shown to reduce heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death—even in patients without diabetes.

In my practice I have seen incredible results first-hand. We know that obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiac disease and death from cardiovascular disease. Now we have a treatment option that addresses obesity, which is often the root cause of the problem.

GLP medications reach far beyond the number on the scale. They can have profound preventative effects throughout the body -- here is some evidence of what has been discovered so far.

Who Was Studied?
The SELECT trial enrolled over 17,000 adults with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease, but without diabetes.

What Was the Primary Endpoint?
Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE): cardiovascular death, nonfatal heart attack, and nonfatal stroke.

How Large Was the Benefit?
Semaglutide reduced major cardiovascular events by 20% relative risk, with absolute reduction from ~8.0% to 6.5%. Semaglutide reduces major cardiovascular events in diabetics by 40%.

Why This Matters
This is the first time a weight-management medication has demonstrated cardiovascular risk reduction in patients without diabetes.

Key Takeaways
- Semaglutide is not just for weight loss
- It reduces cardiovascular events
- Applicable to patients with obesity and cardiovascular disease
- This is a HUGE win that can’t be overstated

If you are interested in a consultation in my Fort Worth or South Lake locations, call my office at 817-346-4000 to make an appointment. Visit my website and blog (www.elizabethstorymd.com) for more information on health and wellness.

03/10/2026

Watch this!! It’s an amazing story. Such perseverance it’s unbelievable. The fight for gender equality in medicine is just beginning and this reflects an amazing milestone. Watch it and tell your friends!!

03/06/2026

Happy Friday!!

02/24/2026

We are excited to announce Dr. Elizabeth Story’s new role as Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU! 🐸 👩‍🏫

Dr. Story will be shaping the next generation of physicians while supervising clinical rotations in family medicine through her inspirational leadership and dedication to patient care and education. 💜👏

01/13/2026

BioTE® Pellet Therapy and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for Women and Men

As we age, hormone levels naturally decline. These changes can impact energy, mood, sleep, weight, and sexual health for both women and men. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is designed to restore hormones to physiologic levels and help improve overall quality of life.

What Is BioTE® Pellet Therapy?
BioTE® pellet therapy is a form of bioidentical hormone replacement that uses small, plant-derived hormone pellets placed just under the skin. The procedure is quick and performed in the office. Once inserted, the pellets release hormones steadily over several months, helping maintain consistent hormone levels without daily medications.

BioTE® for Women
Women experiencing perimenopause or menopause may notice symptoms such as hot flashes, fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, sleep disturbances, and low libido. BioTE® therapy—often including testosterone and sometimes estrogen—may help support energy, mood, mental clarity, and sexual health when appropriately prescribed and monitored.

BioTE® for Men
Men with age-related testosterone decline may experience low energy, decreased muscle mass, weight gain, reduced libido, and changes in mood or focus. BioTE® testosterone therapy aims to restore testosterone to a healthy range and support vitality, strength, and overall well-being.

Important Considerations
BioTE® pellet therapy is not appropriate for everyone. A thorough medical evaluation, lab testing, and ongoing monitoring are essential. Possible side effects may include acne, fluid retention, hair changes, and mood changes. Treatment should always be individualized.

Final Thoughts
Hormone health plays a key role in how we feel as we age. For some women and men, BioTE® pellet therapy offers a convenient and consistent HRT option when guided by a qualified medical provider. A personalized approach is the foundation of safe and effective hormone therapy.

12/17/2025

🌟 Exciting Announcement! 🌟

Starting in 2026, Dr. Elizabeth Story will be offering Biote® BHRT pellet therapy for both men and women!
I’m sharing this with so much excitement because I’ve personally been on hormones for perimenopause—and I wasn’t sure about pellets at first. But after trying them, my life has genuinely improved. Nothing else has given me the same consistent, steady relief.

Pellets aren’t the right choice for everyone, but they can be a game changer for:
✨ Women on HRT who still have symptoms or struggle with consistent testosterone levels
✨ Men who feel suboptimal on topical or IM testosterone and want steadier results
I can’t wait for our patients to have this option available. More details coming soon! 💛

Concierge/Membership Medicine | 2 Locations Fort Worth & Southlake | Personal. Affordable. Accessible | Women's Health, Chronic Disease Management, Weight Loss, Menopause Hormone Therapy, Peptide Therapy, Longevity, Executive Health

12/17/2025

DHEA for Women Part 2: What Your Options Are

Women are exploring DHEA for energy, mood, libido, skin/hair support, and genitourinary symptoms of menopause (GSM). Below is Part 2 of an explanation of DHEA treatment, specifically where prescription and non-prescription options fit, and safety notes to help you decide—with your clinician—whether it belongs in your plan.

OTC vs prescription status
* United States: DHEA is available over the counter (OTC) as a dietary supplement. Quality and dosing vary by brand.
* Other countries: DHEA is prescription-only, reflecting tighter regulation.
* Bottom line: Even in the U.S., treat DHEA like a hormone—use with caution and medical guidance.

Product Options
1) Julva® (DHEA cream for vulvar/vaginal use)
A topical DHEA cream applied locally, it is marketed for external vulvar application to support comfort, moisture, and tissue integrity. It’s not the same as prescription vaginal DHEA (see Intrarosa® below) and is considered a non-prescription option.

2) Well Products’ “Saw Palmetto for Women with DHEA + Biotin”
This supplement combines:
* DHEA (prohormone)
* Saw palmetto (helps prevent hair loss associated with DHT)
* Biotin (commonly included in hair/skin formulas).

Pairing DHEA and saw palmetto is a strategy some women consider when balancing hair/skin and androgen-related concerns. Results vary; supplements aren’t FDA-approved to treat disease, and quality control matters. Review ingredient amounts and interactions with your clinician—especially if you’re also on hormonal therapies.

3) Intrarosa® (prasterone) — Prescription vaginal DHEA
Intrarosa is a DHEA insert approved for postmenopausal women. Robust clinical trials show improved vaginal epithelial health and reduced pain with in*******se, with generally low systemic hormone levels.

Patients need individualized treatment plans with labs/history and symptom tracking. For dosage guidelines, side effects, and safety precautions, see my blog post (link in bio).

12/16/2025

DHEA for Women Part 1: What It Is & How It Works

If you’ve been hearing more about DHEA lately, you’re not alone. Women are exploring it for energy, mood, libido, skin/hair support, and genitourinary symptoms of menopause (GSM).

What is DHEA?
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone primarily made by your adrenal glands and, to a lesser extent, the ovaries. It’s a prohormone—your tissues can locally convert it into small amounts of estrogens and androgens (like testosterone) as needed. This “local conversion” is called intracrine metabolism. Circulating DHEA levels peak in early adulthood and gradually decline with age, which is one reason it’s discussed in midlife health.

How does DHEA work?
Inside target tissues (skin, vaginal epithelium, hair follicles, bone, brain), enzymes convert DHEA into estradiol/estrone and testosterone/dihydrotestosterone in tiny, localized amounts. Because much of this happens inside tissues, blood levels of estrogen/testosterone may not rise dramatically, yet symptoms in those tissues can improve.

Where DHEA may help
Evidence is evolving, but research and clinical experience suggest potential benefits for some women:

* GSM (vaginal dryness, discomfort, painful in*******se)
* Sexual function/libido
* Mood/energy/well-being
* Skin/hair

Important: DHEA is not a cure-all. Benefits, dosing, and risks should be reviewed with your doctor—especially if you have hormone-sensitive conditions.��

The bottom line
DHEA is a versatile prohormone that midlife women may leverage—either locally (vulvar/vaginal) or systemically—for select goals.

In the U.S. it’s over-the-counter, but in many countries it’s prescription-only, a reminder that medical oversight matters. Options like Julva® and Well Products’ Saw Palmetto for Women with DHEA + Biotin exist in the supplement space, while Intrarosa® offers an FDA-approved prescription path for GSM. The “right” approach is personal—guided by your history, goals, and careful monitoring.�

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11/18/2025

Creatine for Peri- and Postmenopausal Women: Why it Matters

If you’re in perimenopause or postmenopausal, preserving muscle is one of the most powerful things you can do for long-term health, mobility, and independence. Alongside protein and resistance training, creatine monohydrate is a well-studied supplement that can help—safely and inexpensively.

Falling estrogen is linked to accelerated losses of muscle strength and function. A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials in older females found that adding creatine to resistance training produced significant gains in strength versus training alone—especially in programs lasting ≥24 weeks.

Beyond muscle, large randomized trials in postmenopausal women are exploring bone outcomes. A recent 2-year RCT tested daily creatine with supervised exercise; while the trial’s primary focus was bone health, it reinforces long-term safety and the practicality of daily dosing in this population.

Proven muscle benefits you can expect include stronger lifts and everyday function (e.g., carrying groceries, stair climbing) when creatine is paired with progressive resistance training) and possible improvements in lean mass/appendicular muscle in older women in some trials—again, most reliably when combined with training.

How much to take (dosage you can trust): Creatine monohydrate is the form with the best evidence. Two evidence-based ways to dose:

*Loading + maintenance: 20 g/day split into 4 doses for 5–7 days, then 3–5 g/day thereafter.

*No-load option: 3–6 g/day consistently; you’ll reach the same muscle saturation in ~3–4 weeks.

When to take it: timing is flexible—consistency beats timing—but many people take it with a meal or near training to minimize GI upset and potentially aid uptake.

For safety tips when taking creatine and links to research studies and references, visit my website www.elizabethstorymd.com

10/21/2025

Microdosing GLP-1 Agonists: A New Frontier in Metabolic and Immune

GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide have revolutionized weight loss and diabetes care. But a growing number of patients and clinicians are exploring microdosing—taking a fraction of the standard dose—to unlock broader health benefits with fewer side effects. Microdosing typically involves using 10–25% of the full therapeutic dose—a gentler, more personalized approach.

🧠 Why Microdose?
Many patients discontinue GLP-1 medications due to cost or side effects like nausea and fatigue. Microdosing offers a solution by reducing these issues while still delivering meaningful benefits.

For those who have already achieved their desired weight or body composition, microdosing can help maintain results, support metabolic health, and promote long-term adherence.
It’s also a promising option for individuals who don’t need to lose weight but want to improve insulin sensitivity, stabilize energy levels, or reduce inflammation.

🔥 Anti-Inflammatory and Longevity Benefits
Emerging research shows that GLP-1 agonists may have anti-inflammatory effects independent of their metabolic actions. Microdosing these medications has been linked to reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which play roles in autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular risk, and aging-related decline.

GLP-1 receptors are found in immune cells and brain, suggesting that these drugs may help regulate systemic and neuroinflammation—key drivers of chronic disease and cognitive decline.

💪 Who Benefits Without Weight Loss?
Even individuals with a healthy BMI may benefit from microdosing GLP-1s. Studies suggest improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, sleep quality, mental clarity, and gut health, joint health and inflammation.

In a maintenance phase after weight loss, microdosing can help preserve metabolic gains without the appetite suppression of higher doses, prioritizing sustainability, tolerability, and resilience—important for long-term health optimization.

For a consultation, contact my office www.elizabethstorymd.

10/14/2025

Top 4 Types of Oral Magnesium Supplements

Magnesium is an essential mineral involved in over 300 enzymatic processes in the body, influencing energy production, nervous system health, muscle function, and digestion. While food sources such as leafy greens, nuts, and legumes provide magnesium, supplementation is often necessary for individuals with specific health concerns. The form of magnesium you choose can dramatically influence its effectiveness depending on your goal.

Here are the top four types of oral magnesium – you’ll find more details, dosages, safety guidelines, recommended brands and other important info on my blog at elizabethstorymd.com.

Always check with your provider before taking any supplements.

1. Magnesium Oxide – Best for Constipation and Gut Health
Magnesium oxide has relatively low bioavailability compared to other forms, but it is highly effective as an osmotic laxative. It works by drawing water into the intestines, softening stool, and promoting regular bowel movements, making it particularly useful for individuals with constipation.

2. Magnesium L-Threonate – For Brain Health and Cognition
Magnesium L-threonate is unique because it can cross the blood–brain barrier more effectively than other forms. Research suggests it may enhance synaptic plasticity, memory, and cognitive performance, making it particularly valuable for brain health and prevention of age-related cognitive decline.

3. Magnesium Glycinate – For Muscle Recovery and Relaxation
Magnesium glycinate is highly bioavailable and gentle on the stomach, making it ideal for individuals with sensitive digestion. It is frequently used for muscle cramps, tension, and general recovery, as well as for people prone to migraines or fibromyalgia. Because glycine itself is calming, this form also supports relaxation and stress reduction.��

4. Magnesium Citrate – For Sleep and Relaxation
Magnesium citrate combines good absorption with mild stool-softening effects, making it useful for people seeking relaxation while also supporting regularity. It is commonly used to ease anxiety, improve sleep quality, and relax the nervous system without the strong laxative effect of magnesium oxide.

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