I was fighting back tears…
… But my doctor obviously didn’t care. He wanted me out of his office. I was another 40-something woman, overreacting to “natural aging.”
Daily hot flashes. Weight gain that was out of control. Brain fog that was making my job so hard. Almost no interest in sex, especially since it had become so painful.
And the icing on the cake?
A sinking depression that was stealing my joy and making it more and more difficult to get out of bed every morning.
I Suffered With Hot Flashes, Brain Fog, and Weight Gain For YEARS… Until THIS Changed Everything
I felt like I was losing myself…
My doctor’s response?
“Get used to it. This is aging.”
He outright refused to discuss hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which I’d bravely brought up.
I’d read lots of articles, listened to podcasts with menopause health experts. I knew HRT was helping hundreds of thousands of women like me.
“We don’t recommend that,” he flatly stated, leaving no room for discussion.
“Who is we???” I thought to myself.
But I didn’t have the emotional energy to argue with him.
I never asked anyone for help. I never complained. It was a big deal that I’d made the appointment, come to his office, and confided my struggles.
His dismissive attitude was outright insulting. “Eat healthier. Exercise more.” Like I hadn’t already tried that.
My doctor might have an archaic view of menopause.
But I didn’t need to stay stuck in the dark ages with him.
Swinging the door open to leave his clinic, I thought:“I’m not giving up on myself. Not yet. I’m barely 48.”
Why So Many Women Over 40 Are Turning To Telehealth Companies.
Returning home, I settled onto my couch with my laptop.
At 48, I’m old enough to remember life before the Internet and smartphones. When your doctor’s word was final.
But times have changed – for the better, I think.
We have a world of medical knowledge at our fingertips, thanks to the Internet, and the ability to crowdsource advice and referrals from global communities of women via social platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
I had tried the old-school approach to addressing my health concerns; I visited my doctor and struck out.
It was time to take my concerns online…
… And try a telehealth solution.
Doctors Who Specialize In Menopause Helping Tens Of Thousands Of Women Nationwide… Using The Internet.
A couple of months ago, I was confiding my symptoms to a small group of friends in our private Messanger chat, complaining about how stupid and old I was feeling lately.
After my friend told me about Winona, I started doing my homework.
I began with researching menopause (and perimenopause).
Yup, there was no doubt in my mind, I was in the middle of this life transition. The symptom list was a lot more extensive than I realized….
Anxiety
Body Odor
Brain Fog
Cramps
Depression
Dry Skin
Fatigue
Frequent UTIs
Hair Loss
Painful Breasts
Painful Sex
Poor Memory
Skin Dryness
Hot Flashes
Incontinence
Joint Pain
Low Libido
Mood Swings
Muscle Loss
Nausea
Night Sweats
Osteoporosis
Hormonal Acne
Sleep Issues
Vaginal Dryness
Weight Gain
… And I found myself feeling angry for all the times I’d visited my doctor over the last decade, complaining about SO MANY of these symptoms, only to be turned away.
Or offered anti-depressants and anxiety medications!
What if it wasn’t “depression” or “life after kids” at all? What if I’d been in perimenopause all this time?
Why So Many Doctors Are “Stuck” In 2002 – Giving BAD Advice To Menopausal Women
My friend swore that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) had turned her life around…
… Getting her menopause symptoms under control.
But she warned me: “Old school doctors won’t recommend this.”
“Why not?” I wondered.
My research quickly uncovered the problem: First, menopause education is still shamefully lacking in medical schools.
A 2019 Mayo Clinic survey found that 58% of medical residents had received only ONE lecture on menopause, and 20% had received no menopause training at all.
Terrible, right?
Well, what’s even worse, an embarrassing number of doctors are biased AGAINST hormone replacement therapy due to a single flawed 2002 study…
… A study that has been disproven and debunked by DOZENS of studies since then, clearly showing the overwhelmingly positive health benefits women can experience on HRT.
So, unfortunately, my friend was right.
When I tried to broach the subject of HRT with my doctor, he brushed me off. And flatly refused to discuss it.
The Rise Of Telehealth: Why So Many Women Are Turning To Online Doctors.
It’s well known that gender bias in medicine affects every aspect of women’s healthcare.
Men’s outcomes are favored. Women’s outcomes are overlooked. And as a society, we have a high tolerance for women’s suffering.
So it can be extremely challenging to find a local doctor who specializes in women’s healthcare and menopause.
Especially for women who struggle to speak up and self-advocate.
(Doctors are intimidating.)
That’s why when my friend recommended Winona…
… I got curious.
A US-based telehealth company with board-certified doctors who specialize in menopause?
Having REAL conversations with women about their symptoms?And prescribing hormone replacement therapy customized to each woman’s specific needs?
It sounded amazing. But was it a scam?
Helping Women Over 40 Feel Heard And Get The Relief They Deserve (Finally!)
After my last appointment with my regular doctor, I had no reservations about contacting Winona…
I had already lurked their website for a few weeks.
I’d read hundreds of their client success stories.
They clearly had a fan base with a 4.8 Star TrustPilot rating.
And their website was dedicated to empowering women to make informed healthcare decisions – with hundreds of pages of articles, doctor videos, client stories, and more.
If my doctor wasn’t going to help me, maybe they would.
Board-Certified Doctors Get In Touch… Usually The Same Day!
Once your intake form has been submitted (via their secure, on-site quiz), you wait for a doctor to reach out.
I was shocked by how quickly they contacted me.
I heard back from Dr. Cathleen Brown within 90 minutes of finishing my quiz!
And apparently, my experience is pretty typical.
They usually respond SAME DAY.
(Daytime hours, weekdays, of course.)
How are they doing this? My research uncovered that they currently have NINE board-certified doctors on staff who specialize in women’s health and menopause.
Nine doctors? A streamlined intake process? And a specialized area of care (i.e. menopause)?
It’s clear, as a telehealth clinic, Winona is not constrained by the same issues as your typical brick-and-mortar clinic.
Deciding If Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Right For You.
My conversation with Dr. Cathleen Brown moved swiftly…
After reviewing my intake form, she asked me a few more questions about my specific symptoms and confirmed what I already suspected:
I was likely experiencing perimenopause.
When I asked her if I would need bloodwork done to check my hormone levels, her answer initially surprised me:“No, we don’t bother with blood tests – they’re not helpful for prescribing treatment.”
But her explanation made so much sense:
“As women, our hormone levels fluctuate constantly… daily, even hourly. So blood test results are just a snapshot in time. It’s more useful for us to understand ALL your symptoms when prescribing treatment.”
This resonated with me.
As women, we FEEL our hormones constantly shifting.
“But what about cancer?” I asked. “Does HRT increase my cancer risk?”
I appreciated how patient Dr. Brown was being, taking the time to address my concerns.“Unfortunately, this is a common fear, and it prevents a lot of women from pursuing HRT. It comes from an inaccurate study done by the Women’s Health Initiative over 30 years ago when they used hormones derived from pregnant horse urine.”
“While some doctors DO still prescribe this hormone (Premarin), Winona does NOT! We prescribe bioidentical hormone replacement therapy that is plant-based.”
“And as far as HRT causing cancer, studies have shown that women receiving bioidentical HRT can actually have decreased risk of some cancers, stroke, heart disease, bone loss, and diabetes.”
Honestly, I’d already done enough research to know what Dr. Brown was saying was true.
But it was reassuring to hear it from her.
An HRT Treatment Plan For YOUR Symptoms.
Choosing a treatment plan was easy.
Dr. Brown explained my options and made recommendations based on my symptoms.
It was clear that Winona is committed to ensuring that every woman gets a treatment plan that’s customized to your unique health profile and symptoms.
A combination of estrogen, testosterone, and DHEA…
(You might need one, two, or all three.)
… In dosing appropriate for you, delivered via cream, oral pill, or patches.
The entire conversation took less than 15 minutes.
Yet, for the first time in years, I felt validated, supported, and BELIEVED by my doctor.
My symptoms WERE affecting my quality of life. And I didn’t need to accept the weight gain, brain fog, painful sex, or hot flashes as a “normal part of aging.”
There were treatment options available.
And I didn’t even need to leave my house to access them.
Shipped To Your Door (For FREE).
Once we’d settled on my treatment plan, Dr. Brown surprised me again:
There was no prescription to collect.
No pharmacy to visit.
Because once your Winona doctor has finalized your treatment plan, it’s passed to their compounding pharmacies – who formulate the prescription specifically for you.
And ship it directly to your door.
(Shipping is FREE, too!)
So there’s no pharmacy visit required!
I got mine within 7 days, but they say 3 to 10 days is typical.
And your next month’s prescription is sent automatically (so convenient), so you never run out.
Although you can adjust or even cancel your prescription renewal at any time.
You’re Never Alone, Tweak Your Plan Until You Feel Like Yourself Again.
Even once you’ve started treatment…
… Winona keeps in touch with you.
Offering free, unlimited follow-ups with your doctor.
So they can tweak and adjust your hormone replacement therapy until you’re really feeling better – like yourself again.
For me, 6 weeks into my treatment, I haven’t needed to make any adjustments yet.
My hot flashes subsided almost instantly, within the first week.
My anxiety has noticeably reduced, my libido has increased, and sex is finally FUN again! (No more painful intercourse.)
The brain fog is definitely lifting. I’m feeling smarter again, clearheaded, and I’m not embarrassing myself at work with so many “forgetful episodes.”
Plus, I am happy to report that I’ve stopped GAINING weight.
I’ve only lost 5 lbs so far, but after 3 years of relentless weight gain that I couldn’t seem to control, I’m feeling optimistic about my health again.
And more confident overall.
And my story isn’t unique…
Real Women, Real Results
With a 4.8 STAR Trustpilot Rating
Will It Help My Hot Flashes? Give Me Back My Sex Drive? Will I Lose Weight?
For 80% Of Women, Yes!
There’s no “cure” for menopause. It’s a natural life transition all women will go through.
However, the GREAT NEWS is that:
An encouraging 80% of women who commit to 90 days of hormone replacement therapy experience COMPLETE RELIEF from menopause symptoms!
Which can include:
Anxiety
Body Odor
Brain Fog
Cramps
Depression
Dry Skin
Fatigue
Frequent UTIs
Hair Loss
Painful Breasts
Painful Sex
Poor Memory
Skin Dryness
Hot Flashes
Incontinence
Joint Pain
Low Libido
Mood Swings
Muscle Loss
Nausea
Night Sweats
Osteoporosis
Hormonal Acne
Sleep Issues
Vaginal Dryness
Weight Gain
Just remember…
… To maintain the results, you will need to continue therapy.
While you can cancel and stop your hormone replacement therapy at any time, doctors note that discontinuing treatment puts you at risk of symptoms returning.
So just be sure to consult with your doctor before discontinuing treatment!
Getting Started Is Easy.
Is hormone replacement therapy right for you?
It won’t be the solution for every woman.
But here’s what I know, based on my experience and research:
If you’re a woman over the age of 35 who is struggling with symptoms of menopause, you owe yourself a conversation with a doctor who:
Takes your menopause symptoms seriously,
Doesn’t belittle you for wanting a solution, and
Is well-versed in CURRENT menopause treatment options.
If your primary care physician does NOT fit this profile, a call with a telehealth clinic like Winona may be a good choice.
My experience with Winona has been 5 STARS so far.
And their website features over a THOUSAND client success stories, with more being added every day, from women who have transformed their lives with hormone replacement therapy.
Talking to a Winona doctor is FREE.
And there’s no risk or commitment.
So you have nothing to lose.
And your entire life to regain!
Ready To Get Started?
And Find Out If Hormone Replacement
Therapy Is Right For You?
Start the free quiz Here at Winona, we put you in the driver's seat!
It's your wellness, on your schedule.
No appointments to make. No travel. No waiting rooms.
Just take the quiz and start the conversation.
Your body is changing - your self-care should, too.
Ready To Get Started?
And Find Out If Hormone Replacement
Therapy Is Right For You?
Start the free quiz Feeling great has never
been so easy.
Our doctors are excited to meet you, and they are standing by to help you feel your best.
Start My Free Visit
Rx Treatments prescribed by licensed doctors
Made custom for your body
Free shipping
Pause or cancel anytime
Free, unlimited follow-ups with a healthcare professional
Hot Topic Newsletter
Receive information on women's health topics and answers to your burning menopause questions.
Trusted by thousands of happy patients.
