Cortisol becomes the dominant hormone
Without the buffering effect of cycling estrogen, stress hits harder. Sleep, mood, and weight all show this.
Functional Medicine Treatment
Menopause Treatment
Hot flashes that wake you at 3 AM. A body that doesn’t burn calories the way it used to. Sleep that fragments no matter what you do. Anxiety or low mood that feels chemical. Cognitive lapses that worry you. Joint pain. Vaginal dryness. A drop in libido that’s hard to talk about.
You’ve been told this is just what menopause is. Tough it out. It’ll pass.
It deserves more than that, and so do you.
The Women’s Health Initiative scared a generation away from hormone therapy. The data has since been re-analyzed. Hormone therapy, started at the right time, in the right form, in the right dose, is one of the most effective interventions we have for menopausal symptoms and long-term health (bone, cardiovascular, cognitive). Functional medicine adds the layer that conventional menopause care often misses. Gut. Adrenals. Thyroid. Inflammation. Metabolic shifts. Lifestyle inputs that determine how this transition actually feels.
What's Actually Changing
Estrogen and progesterone fall to low, stable levels. That part is straightforward. The harder, less-talked-about shifts include:
What's Included
Comprehensive testing tailored to your case. Long initial review. Quarterly follow-ups in our Restoration program. Year-long access in our Concierge program. Coordinated hormone therapy with prescribing partners when appropriate. A nutrition and movement plan built for this stage of life. Ongoing adjustments, because what works at 52 may need to shift at 56.
You'll find this approach effective if:
You're 1 to 10 years past your final period and symptoms are still affecting your life
You're considering hormone therapy and want a careful, individualized approach
You're already on hormone therapy and not feeling great
You don't want to do hormone therapy and want a serious non-hormonal plan
You're focused on long-term protection (bone, brain, cardiovascular) as much as symptom relief
How We Approach It
Our approach is data-driven, root-cause focused, and honors the long view. Menopause is a transition, not a 90-day project.
Step 1
Comprehensive testing
DUTCH or serum hormones to confirm where you are. Comprehensive blood panel including full thyroid, insulin, HbA1c, lipids with particle size, inflammatory markers, vitamin D, B12, and ferritin. GI-MAP if symptoms call for it. DEXA scan recommendation if not done recently.
Step 2
Foundational support
Sleep, blood sugar stabilization, strength training, protein intake, stress patterns, and gut. These determine how well any hormonal therapy will work.
Step 3
Hormone therapy decision
We evaluate fit for bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, and where appropriate testosterone. We don't push it. We don't oppose it. We map it to your goals, your history, your risk profile, and your preferences. If you'd like to navigate menopause without hormones, we have a full toolkit.
Step 4
Coordinated care
Where bioidentical hormones are the right call, we coordinate with prescribing partners (or your existing OB/GYN if they're already prescribing). We don't work in isolation.
Step 5
Long-term plan
A plan that protects your bones, brain, and heart for the next 30 years.
Most menopause cases work cleanly inside our two longer programs. We choose with you on the discovery call.
Restoration
The most common starting point. 6-month support, expanded testing, coordinated hormone therapy if applicable.
Concierge
Year-long support with direct access. Best for women with complex pictures or those who want continuity through the full transition.
Foundation
Appropriate for early post-menopausal women with focused symptoms and no major medical complexity.
Please note specialty laboratory testing, insurance-related copays, and supplements are not included and vary based on individual needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most healthy women starting it within 10 years of their final period, yes, and increasingly the data shows it's protective. We work through your individual risk profile carefully.
Bioidentical estradiol (transdermal) and bioidentical progesterone (oral, micronized) are what we typically work with. Both are FDA approved and well studied.
We don't recommend pellets in most cases. The dosing is hard to control and the literature doesn't support them.
Yes. Treatment differs slightly depending on whether ovaries were removed.
We work cautiously and in coordination with your oncologist. Hormone therapy may not be appropriate, but functional medicine still has a lot to offer.
Why Well Empowered?
25 years of devotion to people thriving
IFM Certified Practitioner
Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine
Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)
Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN)
Masters of Science in Nutrition & Functional Medicine
Personalized, root-cause approach
Virtual consultations available
Start the Conversation
Free 15-minute call to outline what your case calls for and what your next step looks like.
