A New Year, A New Decision: Why It’s Time to Advocate for Your Health
The start of a new year has a way of stirring something in us.
A quiet nudge.
A realization that this might be the season to stop putting ourselves last.
For me, this new year came with a big decision.
I met my new General Practitioner (GP) this week after choosing to leave my previous doctor — a choice I had been sitting with quietly for almost a year. It wasn’t made lightly. But it came down to something very simple: I needed a doctor who was truly in my corner. Someone willing to listen, collaborate, and support my bone-building journey — not minimize it or rush past it.
I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis in March of 2024. Since then, I’ve been learning, researching, asking questions, and advocating for myself in ways I never imagined I would have to.
And what I’ve discovered along the way has been both eye-opening and deeply frustrating.
Women’s health — especially during perimenopause and post-menopause — remains one of the most under-educated and under-supported areas in medicine. That feels almost unbelievable when women make up half of the population. Yet many physicians receive very little training in menopause, hormones, or long-term bone health.
Here’s one example that still stops me in my tracks.
In the United States, estrogen is FDA-approved for the prevention of bone loss. Yet that same guidance does not exist here in Canada. Same science. Very different recommendations.
The past two years have felt like a health rollercoaster. If there’s one lesson this journey has taught me, it’s this: we have to be our own advocates. We have to ask questions. We have to learn. We have to speak up — especially within a healthcare system that often relies on outdated guidelines and doesn’t always address root causes.
While sitting in my new doctor’s office, I came across a pamphlet that said:
“Women who enter early menopause should have a conversation with their doctor about using hormones to protect bone health, as the greatest bone loss occurs during perimenopause.”
I asked how long that pamphlet had been around.
“Years,” she said.
Then she added something that hit me hard: most doctors aren’t trained in menopause medicine — so they often don’t even know this.
That moment landed deeply for me. Because not once did a doctor ever sit me down to talk about protecting my bones. I learned the hard way — through two traumatic fractures.
Over the last two years, I’ve learned more about the female body than I ever expected to. Especially when it comes to perimenopause and post-menopause. Lifestyle shifts. Proper supplementation. Movement. Nervous system support. And yes — hormone replacement therapy, when it’s appropriate.
This is why I’ve partnered with an incredible nutritional counselor, and working toward collaboration with a menopause-trained physician, and currently completing my Menopause Coaching Certification. Because women deserve better information, better conversations, and better support.
You deserve a practitioner who listens.
Who understands menopause.
Who offers evidence-based options — and respects that you get to decide what’s right for your body.
Because this isn’t just about managing symptoms.
It’s about protecting your brain, your heart, and your bones for the long term.
To support you, I’ve created a FREE Resource that shows you how to find a menopause-trained practitioner in your area — no matter where you live — so you don’t have to navigate this season alone.
Ladies, this new year, let’s stop waiting for permission to care for ourselves
Let’s advocate.
Together. 💛
CLICK HERE to find a Menopause Trained Practitioner in your area
CLICK HERE for my 44 page guide to help you prepare for your Menopause appointment! What questions to ask and what labs to request!
What to ask your Doctor in Peri Menopause - Labs, Questions and Clarity!
44+ Pages of Practical Help to feel empowered to find a Menopause Practitioner who listens, believes, and helps you manage menopause in a way that honors your unique story and needs!
GET IT HERE!
