Menopause Care Built Around Your Biology
Functional Medicine for Menopause: Personalized Care After the Transition
Post-menopause is not just low estrogen. Testosterone, thyroid, adrenal, and metabolic function all shift at once. Functional medicine for menopause evaluates the full hormonal picture and builds a protocol specific to your biology. In-person in Marquette, MI and virtual in Michigan through the 12-Week Reset. The 12 Week Reset is our foundational program, and where every patient begins. Comprehensive bloodwork (including hormones) and genetic testing give us a clear picture of what’s driving how you feel — so we can build your specific plan across Nutrition, Sleep, Stress, Supplements, and Mindfulness, the foundation functional medicine builds on.
Trusted & loved by our patients.
Years of clinical experience
Beyond Standard Hormone Replacement
Menopause Affects More Than Estrogen. Your Protocol Should Reflect That.
Post-menopausal hormonal changes extend beyond estrogen decline: testosterone drops, cortisol becomes more reactive, and thyroid function may shift. Functional medicine for menopause evaluates all of these systems together and adds genetic testing to understand how you metabolize the hormones you do have. In-person in Marquette, Michigan and virtually in Michigan. See also: hormone treatment overview.
- Full post-menopausal hormone panel: estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, cortisol and Organic Acid testing
- Genetic testing to assess estrogen and testosterone metabolism pathways
- Bone health and cardiovascular risk markers specific to post-menopausal physiology
- InBody 570 body composition tracking to address post-menopausal muscle and fat shifts
Is This Right for You
Functional Medicine for Menopause Is for Women Who Want Answers, Not Just Prescriptions
Hot Flashes and Night Sweats That Persist
Persistent vasomotor symptoms after confirmed menopause often reflect specific estrogen deficiency patterns that standard hormone therapy doses do not fully address. Genetic testing can reveal why standard doses are not working.
Post-Menopausal Weight Gain
Estrogen loss reduces insulin sensitivity and shifts fat storage to the abdomen. Without addressing the hormonal root cause, caloric approaches alone fail to produce lasting results.
Cognitive Fog and Memory Issues
Estrogen and testosterone both play roles in brain function. Post-menopausal cognitive changes are real, physiological, and addressable with proper hormonal and nutritional support.
Fatigue That Does Not Improve With Sleep
Post-menopausal fatigue is often multifactorial: low estrogen, suboptimal testosterone, adrenal changes, and thyroid shifts that compound each other. Identifying the combination is essential.
You Are on HRT but Still Not Feeling Right
Standard HRT doses work well for many women. For others, genetic variants in estrogen metabolism mean standard approaches are either insufficient or poorly tolerated. Functional testing reveals why.
Remote Patients Who Need a Functional Medicine Specialist
Functional medicine menopause specialists are rare. Monarch FM offers complete virtual care for patients across Michigan who cannot access this level of expertise locally.
Over 22 years of medical experience ★★★★★
The Monarch FM Process
How We Approach Functional Medicine for Menopause at Monarch FM
Post-menopausal physiology is more complex than a single hormone deficiency. Our evaluation maps the full hormonal landscape, identifies genetic variants affecting how your body handles post-menopausal hormone levels, and builds a protocol that addresses the real drivers of your symptoms, not a standardized dose based on your age alone.
- 22 Years of Clinical Experience
- MMS | PA-C | FMACP Certified Provider
- In-Person in Marquette, MI | Virtual in Michigan
Comprehensive Post-Menopausal Lab Evaluation
Your evaluation covers estradiol, free and total testosterone, DHEA-S, cortisol at multiple time points, complete thyroid panel, fasting insulin, bone turnover markers, and genetic testing for hormone metabolism variants. This is significantly more comprehensive than what most menopause specialists order.
Identifying What Standard HRT Is Missing
For women already on HRT who are still symptomatic, functional testing often reveals specific gaps. Julie reviews your current protocol alongside your labs, identifies what is not being addressed, and builds a complementary plan that fills the gaps without duplicating existing care.
Personalized Menopause Protocol
Your protocol is specific to your hormone pattern, genetic profile, metabolic markers, and symptoms. It may include targeted supplements for estrogen metabolism support, bone health, cardiovascular protection, and cognitive function, along with nutritional guidance specific to post-menopausal physiology.
Long-Term Monitoring and Support
Post-menopausal care is ongoing. We track your results through repeat labs and InBody 570 body composition analysis, adjusting your protocol as your physiology evolves. Virtual patients receive the same level of ongoing clinical support as in-person patients.
A Different Standard of Menopause Care
Menopause Is Not the End of Optimal Health. It Requires a More Precise Approach to It.
Functional medicine for menopause is built on the understanding that post-menopausal physiology is a dynamic system requiring precision protocols based on your individual biology. Related: perimenopause, estrogen dominance, hormone treatment overview. In-person in Marquette, MI. Virtual care in Michigan.
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is functional medicine for menopause?
Functional medicine for menopause evaluates the full hormonal and metabolic landscape of post-menopausal physiology rather than applying a standard hormone replacement template. It starts with comprehensive lab testing covering not just estrogen and progesterone, but also testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, thyroid function, insulin, and bone health markers. It also includes genetic testing that reveals how you specifically metabolize the hormones you are taking or producing. The goal is a protocol that addresses your actual physiology, not a guideline designed for the average post-menopausal woman. Available in-person in Marquette, Michigan and through virtual care in Michigan.
Is HRT safe for menopause? What does functional medicine say?
The most current evidence suggests that for most healthy women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause, hormone therapy carries manageable risks and meaningful benefits for quality of life, cardiovascular health, and bone density. Functional medicine’s position is that HRT can be appropriate when prescribed based on actual lab values, genetic metabolism data, and individual risk assessment, rather than symptom questionnaires alone. At Monarch FM, we work with what your biology requires. See our hormone treatment overview for more detail.
Can I manage menopause without HRT using functional medicine?
For some women, yes. The severity of menopausal symptoms, the underlying hormonal pattern, and individual risk factors all influence whether HRT is necessary. Functional medicine for menopause can support the transition through targeted supplementation, nutritional protocols, adrenal support, thyroid optimization, and metabolic management. For women with mild to moderate symptoms or those who prefer not to use exogenous hormones, functional protocols can provide significant relief. For women with severe vasomotor symptoms or significant bone density loss, HRT combined with a functional protocol often produces better outcomes. Julie evaluates each case individually.
Does menopause affect weight and metabolism?
Yes, significantly. Estrogen loss after menopause reduces insulin sensitivity, meaning your body handles carbohydrates less efficiently than before. Testosterone decline reduces muscle mass and resting metabolic rate. The net result is a shift toward fat storage, particularly abdominal fat, that does not respond well to calorie restriction alone. At Monarch FM, we address post-menopausal metabolic changes through InBody 570 body composition analysis, targeted nutritional protocols, and hormone support. See our hormone treatment page for more on hormonal weight changes.
Is virtual menopause care available at Monarch FM?
Yes. Monarch FM offers complete virtual menopause care for patients throughout the United States. Lab work is coordinated through a draw site near you, and all consultations and follow-ups are conducted via telehealth. The clinical program follows the structure of our 12-Week Energy, Hormone and Metabolism Reset (The 12 Week Reset is our foundational program, and where every patient begins. Comprehensive bloodwork (including hormones) and genetic testing give us a clear picture of what’s driving how you feel — so we can build your specific plan across Nutrition, Sleep, Stress, Supplements, and Mindfulness, the foundation functional medicine builds on) and is fully deliverable remotely. In-person visits are only required for our on-site tools (InBody 570, infrared sauna, vibration plate).
How is perimenopause different from menopause?
Menopause is defined as 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. Perimenopause is the transition phase that precedes it, which can last 4 to 10 years. During perimenopause, hormones fluctuate significantly, often producing more volatile symptoms than menopause itself. After menopause, hormone levels stabilize at consistently lower levels, and the challenge shifts from managing volatility to managing deficiency. For perimenopause treatment, see our dedicated page on functional medicine for perimenopause. Both types of care are available in-person and virtually.
Can menopause cause anxiety and mood changes?
Yes. Estrogen and progesterone both have direct effects on neurotransmitter systems. Estrogen modulates serotonin and dopamine, while progesterone has a GABA-agonist effect that promotes calm. When both hormones decline significantly after menopause, mood stability, anxiety resilience, and sleep quality can all deteriorate. Functional medicine for menopause treats mood symptoms as a hormone issue and addresses them at the hormone level. See our page on hormonal mood swings for more.
How do I start menopause treatment at Monarch FM?
Start with a free 15-minute strategy call. No commitment or referral required. You can also review the 12-Week Energy, Hormone and Metabolism Reset (The 12 Week Reset is our foundational program, and where every patient begins. Comprehensive bloodwork (including hormones) and genetic testing give us a clear picture of what’s driving how you feel — so we can build your specific plan across Nutrition, Sleep, Stress, Supplements, and Mindfulness, the foundation functional medicine builds on), before calling. Monarch FM is available in-person in Marquette, Michigan and virtually for patients anywhere in Michigan. If you are still in the transition phase, our perimenopause page may be the more relevant starting point.
Patient Results
Hear from patients directly
Real stories from real patients.
Get immediate access to the full program.
More Than HRT
Post-Menopausal Health Requires More Than a Standard Dose.
At Monarch FM, menopause evaluation covers estradiol, testosterone, DHEA, thyroid, cortisol, and genetic metabolism variants before any protocol is designed. Julie McDonald has 22 years of clinical experience and brings a functional medicine framework that most menopause specialists do not use. In-person in Marquette, MI and virtually in Michigan.
Ready to Start
Menopause Is a Transition. How You Move Through It Is Within Your Control.
Functional medicine for menopause at Monarch FM is built on comprehensive testing, genetic analysis, and a protocol designed specifically for your post-menopausal physiology. See us in person in Marquette, MI or work with us virtually from anywhere in Michigan.
Join hundreds of patients who have reclaimed their energy, hormones, and health.
