How did I end up here?

You may be wondering how I got here.

When I was practicing as a primary care physician, I saw too many people dismissed or told their symptoms weren’t real or “just a part of getting old.” Honestly, I used to be one of those physicians who didn’t know any better.

Several years ago, my big sis asked for my thoughts on hormone therapy. While I thought this stuff was in a gynecologist’s lane, I figured I should at least know how to answer the question. As a PCP, your patients ask your opinion on EVERYTHING. Well, that sent me down a rabbit hole that led me to where I am today. The more I learned about perimenopause and menopause, the more I realized that I was seeing patients come to me with the symptoms EVERY DAY in practice. Talk about eye opening! That’s when I knew that this was really a primary care issue, and I needed to educate myself in order to serve my patients. I also realized that I love getting the word out and educating both clinicians and non-clinicians alike.

Well, it's not just about perimenopause and menopause.

Why? Well, I am a primary care doc at heart, so, by training, I just can’t leave well enough alone. I felt empowered after learning so much about perimenopause and menopause, and nothing felt better than explaining misunderstood symptoms to someone and ACTUALLY MAKING THEM FEEL BETTER! I wanted to understand more people that were coming to me with symptoms that had been brushed off by everyone else. So, I spend my “free time” soaking up as much information as I can and applying it in practice.

My husband can confirm — if I’m doing the dishes or folding the laundry, I am listening to a lecture trying to learn more and figure out how to make my patients’ lives better. Can't stop, won’t stop.

af4e71_09cfa4362261492ea05516c86d575b15~mv2

Pic with my sister - the reason I ended up here.

Does estrogen hormone therapy cause breast cancer? Here’s what the research actually shows.

Did she really say that estrogen doesn't cause breast cancer? Yes. I did. And I stand by it. I know that might feel shocking — maybe even alarming — given what most of us have been told for the past two decades. But the science tells a different story than the...

5 things you can do right now to protect your brain through menopause and beyond

The menopause transition is real, and the brain symptoms it brings - brain fog, forgetfulness, mood shifts, sleep disruption - are legitimate neurological events, not something you're imagining. But here's what I want you to hold onto: you have more control over your...

The hormonal heart: why cardiovascular risks look different for women after menopause

"When your heart says 'love' but your hormones say 'pause'!" Here's something that might surprise you: heart disease kills more women in the United States than anything else. According to the CDC, it claims the lives of 1 in 3 women every year. And yet, so many women...

Your brain on menopause: what’s actually happening (and why you’re not imagining it)

If you're a woman in midlife and you've ever walked into a room and immediately forgotten why you went there, struggled to find the right word mid-sentence, or felt like you were thinking through a fog, I promise you - you are not losing your mind! You're experiencing...

Fatigue got you down? Could it be sleep apnea?

Gonna get real personal here with this one. Over the past few months, I had several episodes where I woke up in the middle of the night in a panic, my heart racing, gasping for air. I felt like I was gagging on the back of my throat. These were what I presume to be...

What you should know about breast cancer screening

It’s October, which means you can’t get through this month without seeing a pink ribbon or hearing about breast cancer awareness. So, naturally, it’s time to address breast cancer screening. When to Start Most guidelines recommend starting mammograms at age 40, then...

What’s the story with bioidentical hormones?

Before we get into this…if you haven’t read my blog post Hormone therapy: how did we get here?, check that out first. TLDR – the hormones taken by women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative were predominantly oral (pills) synthetic hormones. The headlines that...

The skinny on GLP-1s

If you’ve turned on the TV, opened social media, or chatted with anyone about health lately, chances are you’ve heard about GLP-1 medications. Everyone talks about Ozempic, but these also include Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. All the influencers, personal trainers,...

Hormone therapy: how did we get here?

What's the backstory on hormone replacement therapy? When it comes to menopause and hormones, few topics have been as misunderstood—or as hotly debated—as hormone therapy. So how did we get from “everyone’s on it” to “hormones are dangerous” to where we are today?...

When constipation isn’t just IBS: Understanding pelvic floor dysfunction

Chronic constipation? Maybe it's not IBS. If you’ve been diagnosed with chronic constipation due to IBS or told to “just eat more fiber” but you’re still dealing with chronic constipation, straining, or that frustrating feeling of never quite finishing, there might be...

Want more like this?

Stay connected for honest, useful information about women's health - from a doctor who actually listens. New articles, clinical insights, and the occasional reminder that what you're feeling is real.