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At Dragonfly Menopause Care , I see a wide range of women—from those in their late 30s beginning to notice subtle perimenopausal changes, to women in their 60s and beyond who wonder if they’ve “missed the boat” on hormone therapy but still want to feel better. Wherever you are in your menopause journey, you are not too early, too late, or too complex for care.  You are welcome here. Some of the women I care for include Women preparing for perimenopause Those who feel well but

If you’ve ever felt “off” even when your labs look normal, you’re not imagining it. As part of my personalized functional medicine coursework through one of the top five medical schools in the country, I’ve been diving deep into how neurotransmitters and amino acids impact mood, sleep, energy, cognition, and overall well-being — and it has been eye-opening.

L-theanine is an amino acid found almost exclusively in green tea leaves. It’s what gives green tea its smooth, slightly sweet taste — and much of its calming effect. When taken as a supplement, L-theanine can cross the blood–brain barrier and directly support neurotransmitters involved in relaxation, mood, attention, and sleep.

One year ago, I opened the doors to Dragonfly Menopause Care and saw my very first three patients. At that time, I truly had no idea what this practice would become. I remember telling my emergency medicine group that this was “just a side gig”—and I meant it!

What Is Pregnenolone? Pregnenolone is made primarily in the adrenal glands and brain from cholesterol. It’s often called the “mother hormone” because it’s the building block for nearly every other hormone your body produces.

After three painstaking days of learning what feels like every study in the world about hormones— and how they work, how to test them, and how to replace them— (thank you, Dr. Pam Smith at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine!), I am ready to up my hormone game for my patients in ways I could not have previously imagined.

The thyroid is a small but mighty gland at the base of your neck, and it produces three hormones: T4, T3, and calcitonin. These hormones affect nearly every cell in your body — influencing metabolism, energy, weight, brain function, mood, and even cholesterol levels.

You’re not imagining it. Our bodies truly handle alcohol differently in our 40s, 50s, and beyond. It’s not that you suddenly “can’t drink anymore” — it’s that your hormones, metabolism, and stress response have changed. And alcohol doesn’t play as nicely with that mix as it once did.

Every so often, I meet a woman who has a history of stroke and wonders whether hormone therapy could ever be safe for her. This isn’t a common question, but it’s an important one—and it deserves careful discussion. For these women, the decision often feels especially complex and deeply personal.

One of the best lessons I’ve learned recently: your adrenals need recovery time. You can’t spend more cortisol than you make.

The “Get Up and Go” Hormone (and What Happens When It Goes Wrong)

I’ll be honest. For most of my 16 years in practice, whenever I heard the term “adrenal fatigue,” I nearly rolled my eyes. My training taught me to look for Addison’s disease or Cushing’s syndrome — but anything in between? I dismissed it. Then I started digging into functional and personalized medicine. Suddenly, I realized how much I was missing. Looking at the adrenal glands with fresh eyes has changed how I care for women in perimenopause and beyond.

f you’ve been struggling with stress, anxiety, or poor sleep, you’re not alone. These are some of the most common concerns I hear from women in midlife. Hormone changes, busy lives, and daily pressures can make it feel impossible to find balance.

When we talk about hormone replacement therapy (HRT), estrogen usually gets all the credit. It’s often thought of as the “worker bee” hormone—the one doing all the heavy lifting. But there’s another hormone quietly working in the background that deserves just as much respect: progesterone.

Losing weight in your 40s, 50s, and beyond can feel frustrating. Hormones change, inflammation rises, and it can seem like your metabolism has “shut off.” The truth is, weight loss in menopause isn’t about eating less or exercising harder — it’s about balance, consistency, and working with your body instead of against it.

One of the most common (and often frustrating) changes after menopause is what happens to our skin. Wrinkles seem to appear overnight, skin feels drier, and elasticity fades. These shifts aren’t just about “getting older” — they’re directly linked to our hormones, especially estrogen.

The drop in estrogen during perimenopause and menopause affects your brain—and the impact is profound. If you’ve ever wondered why your sleep fell apart, your memory started to feel fuzzy, or your moods began swinging like never before, there’s a very real reason: estrogen plays a major role in brain health.

When we talk about menopause, hot flashes and mood swings usually steal the spotlight. But two of the most frustrating and life-altering symptoms women experience during the menopause transition are often overlooked: joint pain and bone loss. If your knees ache when you get out of bed…If your hips or shoulders feel stiff or inflamed…If your body just doesn't feel like it used to… You're not alone. And you're not imagining it.

When we talk about menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), estrogen and progesterone tend to get all the attention. But there’s another hormone—one that’s often overlooked, misunderstood, or even stigmatized—despite its critical role in how we feel as women.

For many women in midlife, a good night’s sleep can feel out of reach. Hormonal changes, stress, and busy lives often lead to trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early. If you’re struggling with sleep right now, you have my full empathy and attention.