Perimenopause & Menopause Care in Fargo, ND
Perimenopause can sneak up on you. One month you're fine. The next you're waking at 3 a.m. drenched in sweat, snapping at your family, forgetting words mid-sentence, and wondering why your jeans don't fit even though nothing has changed. Many women are told it's “just part of getting older” and sent home to push through.
At Fargo Naturopathic, we believe this stage of life deserves real attention. Menopause is a natural transition, not a disease, but the symptoms that come with it can affect your sleep, mood, work, relationships, and long-term health. We take the time to understand what you're experiencing and help you find a plan that makes you feel like yourself again.
Symptoms We See
Perimenopause, the years leading up to your final period, often starts in the 40s and can last several years. Menopause is confirmed after 12 months in a row without a period. Along the way, women commonly experience:
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Irregular, heavier, or lighter periods
• Mood swings, irritability, anxiety, or low mood
• Brain fog and forgetfulness
• Fatigue and low energy
• Weight gain, especially around the middle
• Vaginal dryness or discomfort, and lower libido
• Joint aches, dry skin, or thinning hair
• More frequent urination or urinary urgency
Our Root-Cause Approach
Hormone changes are the main driver, but they don't happen in isolation. Stress, sleep, blood sugar, thyroid function, and nutrition can all make symptoms better or worse. Hormone replacement is not our primary choice. We lead with root-cause care: nutrition, lifestyle, sleep and stress support, and non-hormone options. Hormone therapy, including bioidentical hormones when appropriate, is one tool available for women who are good candidates, not the default.
Our approach looks at:
• Your hormone picture. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol all shift during this transition. See hormone imbalance.
• Thyroid health. Thyroid problems become more common in midlife and share many symptoms with menopause. See thyroid care.
• Sleep and stress. Better sleep often improves mood, energy, and cravings.
• Metabolic health. Shifting hormones affect how your body handles blood sugar and where it stores fat. See weight loss & metabolic health.
• Long-term health. Menopause is a good time to look at bone and heart health, too.
Your plan may include nutrition and lifestyle changes, herbal medicine, targeted supplements, and other non-hormone therapies first. Hormone replacement does not work for everyone, and there are great alternatives. When hormone therapy is a good fit, Dr. Threasa Andrys, ND can prescribe, including bioidentical hormones when appropriate. We'll walk through the benefits, risks, and alternatives based on your personal and family history, so you can make an informed decision. Many women do best with a combination of approaches that doesn't center on hormones alone.
Dr. Andrys has a long-standing focus on hormone imbalances, and our team works with women's health concerns at every stage. Learn more about our providers.
Testing We May Use
Perimenopause is usually identified by your age, symptoms, and cycle changes rather than a single lab value, because hormones can swing widely from day to day. Testing can still help guide your care and rule out other causes:
• Hormone testing, such as estradiol, progesterone, FSH, testosterone, DHEA-S, and cortisol patterns
• Thyroid panel, including antibodies
• Metabolic and heart health labs: glucose, A1c, insulin, and lipids
• Nutrient markers such as vitamin D, B12, and iron
• InBody 580 body composition scan ($65), to track muscle mass, which matters more than ever in midlife
Labs are ordered through Fullscript. See our lab testing page for more.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your 60–75 minute New Patient Visit is a chance to tell your whole story: your cycle history, symptoms, sleep, mood, health history, family history, and what you most want to change. We'll do a physical assessment, review any labs you bring, and decide together what testing makes sense.
You'll leave with first steps you can start right away. At follow-up visits, we'll review results, discuss treatment options in detail (including non-hormone options and, when relevant, hormone therapy), and adjust your plan as your body continues to change.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I'm in perimenopause?
Changes in your cycle along with symptoms like hot flashes, sleep problems, or mood shifts, usually in your 40s, are the most common signs. Because other conditions (like thyroid problems) can look similar, an evaluation is worthwhile.
Do you offer hormone therapy?
Yes, when it's appropriate, and it is not our primary approach. We start with root-cause, nutrition, lifestyle, and non-hormone options. Hormone replacement does not work for everyone, and there are excellent alternatives. When hormone therapy (including bioidentical hormones) is a good fit, Dr. Threasa Andrys, ND can prescribe. We'll review your health history so you can make an informed choice.
Are there natural options for hot flashes?
Yes. Lifestyle changes, nutrition, and certain herbs or supplements may help some women. Results vary, and some supplements interact with medications, so it's worth choosing them with guidance. These are often where we start.
I'm already on hormones from another provider. Can you still help?
Yes. We can work alongside your current provider to support sleep, energy, mood, and metabolic health, and to explore non-hormone strategies that may help.
Do you take insurance?
We don't bill insurance directly but can provide paperwork for you to submit for possible reimbursement. See our FAQs.
You Don't Have to Just Push Through
Let's make this next chapter feel better.
or call (701) 314-4008
Fargo Naturopathic · 4133 30th Ave S, Suite 104 · Fargo, ND 58104
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Bleeding after menopause, very heavy bleeding, or new severe symptoms should be evaluated promptly by a healthcare provider.