FemGevity is a pathway dedicated to women’s health and longevity, designed to accompany women from perimenopause to postmenopause. In general, the program is aimed at women from age 45, that is, from that transition phase in which the first hormonal and metabolic changes begin that can affect, even significantly, quality of life. We discuss it with Alberto Cerasari, Medical Director and Longevity Doctor of SoLongevity.
Dr. Cerasari, what are the signs that lead a woman to turn to you in this phase?
“The problems can be very different. They range from changes in the menstrual cycle, which often cause concern, to symptoms such as hot flashes, digestive problems, mood changes, cognitive difficulties or persistent fatigue. Added to this there are often pre-existing factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, an unbalanced diet, smoking, high cholesterol or blood glucose, vitamin deficiencies. All elements that can make this transition more complex if they are not addressed in a structured way”.
Let’s get to the heart of the pathway. What does the FemGevity pathway consist of?
“The check-up is the heart of the FemGevity pathway. It is an extremely thorough and personalized assessment of the woman’s state of health, which starts from a detailed medical history and a clinical interview, and then integrates laboratory and instrumental tests. The goal is to build a complete profile that allows us to identify precisely the areas to work on”.
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Which specialists are involved in this phase and which tests are included?
“The pathway involves a multidisciplinary team made up of six professionals. The pillars are the gynecologist and the Longevity Doctor, who coordinates the overall program. They are joined by the dermatologist, the kinesiologist with expertise in physical training, the osteopath and the Longevity Therapist, a psychologist and psychotherapist who deals with the emotional and psychological sphere that can affect anxiety and sleep quality. In terms of tests, we use, among others, DEXA, electrocardiogram, spirometry, heart rate variability analysis for the study of stress, targeted ultrasounds and a blood test panel specific to women in menopause, which includes hormonal profile, inflammation, vitamins and minerals”.
What is DEXA?
“DEXA is a non-invasive instrumental test that uses a very low emission of X-rays to precisely analyze body composition and bone health. It makes it possible to assess three fundamental compartments:
- bone mass, to estimate density and the risk of osteoporosis
- muscle mass, useful for identifying loss or reduced muscle quality
- fat mass, also distinguishing visceral fat, the most metabolically dangerous. The advantage is that it is not affected by factors that can lead to incorrect results.
The test can be performed in two ways: total body DEXA, which in a few minutes provides a complete snapshot of body composition; MOC DEXA, focused on the spine and the femur, the areas most at risk of fracture in menopause. It is a particularly useful tool in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women because it makes it possible to detect early the changes linked to hormonal decline and to set up targeted interventions on prevention, lifestyle and metabolic health”.
What happens once the FemGevity version of the check-up is completed?
“Once the assessment phase is over, the team analyzes all the data collected in an integrated way and defines the intervention priorities. From here a personalized pathway is created, which may include further clinical investigations, support programs or prevention and enhancement strategies. Not all women arrive with a disease: many simply want to continue feeling well and prevent the changes linked to menopause”.
What is the ultimate goal of the FemGevity pathway?
“The goal is to preserve and enhance the so-called physiological reserve, that is, everything the woman has built in terms of health before menopause. By acting on lifestyle, hormonal balance, muscles, bones, metabolism and psychological well-being, we aim to extend healthy quality of life as much as possible from age 50 onward, with a truly personalized approach based on precision medicine”.
