There’s a moment many women in perimenopause and menopause describe that I’ve heard over and over again. I felt it myself. And it sounds something like this: I thought I was doing everything right. And I still felt terrible.
Maybe that’s you right now. Maybe it was you, six months or two years ago. Maybe it’s your closest friend, who hasn’t quite named it yet.
I’m here to tell you that this feeling of doing your best but still feeling like your body has become a stranger is not a personal failure. It is a signal.
And two of the most powerful responses to that signal are ones we really don’t talk about enough: finding your community, and finding the right medical support–in the form of a menopause specialist.
Better Medical Support + Menopause Specialist = Success
I’ve observed some things over years of working with women in perimenopause and menopause: the women who feel best in their bodies are almost likely always the ones who have found a provider who actually specializes in this transition.
That’s not a knock on OB/GYNs — many women have deeply trusted, decades-long relationships with their OB/GYN, and those relationships matter. But a 2013 study of OB/GYN graduates at Johns Hopkins found that only 20% felt they had received a formal menopause curriculum in medical school. Perimenopause and menopause involve the intersection of gynecology, endocrinology, neurology, cardiology, psychiatry, and more. It is a complex, whole-body transition. And we all know so well that it deserves specialized whole-body care.
A menopause specialist brings something that can genuinely change the trajectory of this stage of your life. They’re not just asking about lab results and general feelings. They ask specific questions: How are you sleeping? Has your libido changed? Do your joints ache in ways they didn’t before? Do you feel like “yourself”?
And they’re trained to connect those dots. For many women, getting to the right menopause specialist is the key to not only enjoying, but thriving, through their next decade.
What Happens When You Put Community and Proper Care Together
I’ve built my practice — and my community — around the belief that wellness in midlife is not a solo sport. The women I work with don’t just get stronger in the gym. They find each other. They share what’s working. They stop pretending everything is fine and start actually addressing what isn’t. They bring their questions to the table and get real answers. We spend a lot of time together discussing all of our shared successes and challenges.issues.
That community, combined with the right medical and lifestyle support, is what I’ve seen transform how women experience this stage of life. Again, not just manage it, but really, genuinely transform it.
Join Us: Open House on April 18
So, that’s what inspired our upcoming community open house. On Saturday, April 18 from 10am–12pm, I’m welcoming Adrian Thompson, PA-C, MSCP, founder of Vida Women’s Health and a nationally certified Menopause Society Certified Practitioner to my studio in Alexandria for a relaxed, open morning of conversation.
Adrian brings over 20 years of clinical experience in perimenopause, menopause, sexual health, weight management, and hormonal care. Her approach is evidence-based, individualized, and refreshingly direct. She is the kind of menopause specialist I wish every woman in my community had access to, and now, for one morning, you do.
This is not a lecture or a place to be talked to. It’s a morning to stop by, say hi, meet Adrian, ask your questions, and connect with the other women in our community who are navigating exactly what you’re navigating.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, April 18
Time: 10am–12pm
Location: Adrien Cotton’s Studio, Alexandria, VA
Who: Everyone!
If the timing isn’t right for you, or if you’d prefer to start 1:1, I’d be so happy to schedule trial consultations or private sessions. Contact me and we’ll find what’s best for you.
