Why Menopause Requires a Whole-Body, Whole-Hormone Approach
By: Dr. Fletcher Menopause is finally getting the attention it deserves, and that’s a very good thing. After more than 25 years as a board-certified OB/GYN, I’ve watched the conversation around hormone replacement therapy swing dramatically: from overuse to fear-driven avoidance and now toward a more nuanced, evidence-informed understanding. This moment presents an important opportunity, not just to talk about estrogen, but to reframe menopause as what it truly is: a complex, whole-body physiologic transition. For women navigating perimenopause and menopause, narrow treatment approaches often lead to frustration, incomplete relief, and a sense that something is being missed. That’s because menopause is never just about one hormone. Menopause Is a Neuro-Endocrine-Metabolic Transition Most people associate menopause with declining estrogen and symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and irregular cycles. But menopause...