Menopause is a Hot Topic!

Menopause has gone mainstream. From podcasts to wellness startups, everyone’s finally talking about it — but smart women are already doing something about it!

At AskGen, we believe women deserve choices that fit their lifestyle, body chemistry, and beliefs. Here’s a look at what we learned or relearned when working with Colleen, AskGen's Wellness Expert. NOTE: Colleen is not paying for our endorsement. I'm a paying client:)

Why did I listen to a celebrity or other influencer?!

It took me almost a year to finally get my bloodwork done with Colleen—mostly because, honestly, I just didn’t feel like driving to the lab because I was working a C-level job and the last thing I wanted to do was make an extra trip to the lab. It was so much easier to scroll Amazon, get on social media and convince myself I could figure it out with a few “expert” videos and celebrity-sponsored supplements - none of whom actually studied, got certified, and practiced hormone medicine unlike Colleen. Sorry, Col!

Big mistake. I wasted so much money self-supplementing based on half-baked interpretations of what I read online NOT based on my unique bloodwork results - real data.

What I should’ve done—what I eventually did—was reach out to Colleen, who’s been my go-to for nearly 30 years. She’s helped me through every other phase of life, so why I hesitated this time, was simply because I didn't really put my health before work. Period.

Once she ran real lab tests (far more comprehensive than the “normal” ones my doctor had done—bless him, he even suggested I see someone like her), everything changed

Natural doesn’t always mean harmless—but certain herbs and supplements can help. And this is where it gets real: based on my own research and then working with Colleen, I was taking the wrong supplements and buying from the wrong manufacturers. Colleen also made it clear that some of the supplements that don't work for me (based on the results of my bloodwork) could work for others. So I stand behind this notion: Always consult your provider before adding supplements, especially if you take prescriptions or have underlying conditions and work with somone who knows which manufacturers are legit.

Nutrition as Hormone Support

Your diet can do more for hormone balance than you think. Certain foods mimic or support natural estrogen activity and help stabilize mood, energy, and metabolism.

Again, Colleen has been preaching this to me for 30 years!!

Exercise & Strength Training

So the good news for me is that I love running. The bad news is that too much of it is bad for my body at my age. And the worst news is that my failure to strength train (because I don't like it), prevents me from not only losing calories more efficiently, but more importantly bad for my long-term health when falls can be detrimental. Colleen recognized my need for a personalized plan. And what started out as a once-a-week dreaded, strength training event has turned into a consistent program. But what also helps is going to a top notch gym like East Bank Club in Chicago. Another place, I've been going to for 30 years.

Mind-Body Therapies

Menopause often brings emotional and physical stress that magnifies symptoms like hot flashes and insomnia and anger - no joke. Mind-body therapies work on all.

Evidence-based options that worked for me:

• Acupuncture: may lessen hot flash frequency. I'll talk about my experience and love of acupuncture in an upcoming blog as it pertains to my battle with plantar fasciitis using acupuncture versus non-effective, and painful cortizone shots in my feet - one of the most sensitive areas of your body.

• Mindfulness meditation: supports sleep and emotional balance. I'll also talk about my experience and favorite app that helped me curb my anxiety and temper during menopause.

• Tai chi or breathwork: improves energy regulation. I've never done Tai Chi but one of my uncles who lived to be 90 did and swore by this method.

Functional Medicine & Personalized Care

Colleen specializes in data-driven, individualized wellness. Using lab testing and symptom tracking, she helps women understand how hormones, inflammation, and micronutrient levels interact—then crafts a targeted plan.

While this type of care isn’t typically covered by insurance, it empowers women to make informed, proactive choices.

The Takeaway

Menopause marks the start of a new, wiser phase—not an ending. Whether you choose HRT, natural therapies, or an integrative path, the goal is the same: to live in balance with your body, not against it. Stay curious. Ask questions. And know that science is evolving in your favor—one empowered woman at a time.