Natural Perimenopause Treatment in Chicago
Something has changed, and you cannot quite pin it down. Your periods are irregular. Your sleep is unreliable. Anxiety shows up out of nowhere, and your body feels different in ways no one warned you about.
If you are in your late 30s or 40s, these are not random symptoms. They are signs that your hormones are shifting, and perimenopause may have already started.
Dr. Kelly Simms is a naturopathic doctor and board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist in Chicago who specializes in perimenopause treatment. She helps women understand what is happening in their bodies, identify the hormonal changes driving their symptoms, and build a treatment plan that addresses root causes rather than masking what they feel.
Whether you are just starting to notice changes or have been struggling with symptoms for years, Dr. Simms provides the kind of thorough, personalized perimenopause care that is hard to find. Schedule your appointment to get started.
Why Choose Dr. Kelly Simms for Perimenopause Care
Perimenopause is fundamentally an endocrine transition. Your ovaries produce less progesterone and estrogen, and those changes ripple through nearly every system in your body. The practitioner you choose should understand those connections deeply, not just prescribe a one-size-fits-all solution.
Board-Certified Naturopathic Endocrinology Expertise
Dr. Simms holds the Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Endocrinology (FABNE) credential, a board certification requiring advanced training in hormonal disorders. This matters because perimenopause symptoms frequently overlap with thyroid dysfunction, adrenal issues, and metabolic changes.
A practitioner trained in endocrinology can distinguish between these conditions and create a treatment plan that addresses what is actually happening, not just what appears on the surface. When your anxiety turns out to be driven by progesterone decline rather than a mental health condition, or your fatigue stems from thyroid changes compounding your hormone shift, the treatment path looks very different.
Learn more about Dr. Simms’ background and credentials.
The Gut-Hormone Connection Most Perimenopause Doctors Miss
Your gut health directly affects how your body processes and eliminates hormones. Your gut contains a collection of bacteria called the estrobolome that plays a critical role in estrogen metabolism. When gut health is compromised, estrogen can be reabsorbed rather than eliminated, worsening symptoms like mood swings, weight gain, and irregular bleeding.
Many women develop new food sensitivities during perimenopause as hormonal shifts affect gut permeability. Chronic inflammation originating in the gut can amplify hot flashes, anxiety, and brain fog. Addressing digestive health often unlocks symptom relief that hormone-focused treatments alone cannot achieve.
Certified Nutrition Specialist for Perimenopause Metabolism
Weight gain during perimenopause is common, and generic advice rarely helps. Hormonal shifts affect insulin sensitivity, metabolism, and where your body stores fat.
Dr. Simms holds credentials as a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), a board certification requiring advanced training in clinical nutrition. She designs nutrition protocols specific to the metabolic changes of perimenopause rather than recycled diet plans. This targeted approach addresses the insulin resistance, inflammation, and nutrient depletions that drive perimenopausal weight gain and fatigue.
Perimenopause Can Start Earlier Than You Think
Most women expect perimenopause to begin in their late 40s. The reality is different. Research shows that more than half of women ages 30 to 35 already experience moderate to severe symptoms associated with hormonal transition. Despite this, most do not seek treatment until their mid-50s.
The disconnect happens because many women, and their doctors, assume they are too young. Symptoms get attributed to stress, anxiety, or lifestyle rather than the hormonal shifts that are actually driving them.
Early perimenopause often looks different from later-stage perimenopause. Progesterone is usually the first hormone to decline, even while estrogen levels remain normal or fluctuate. This can cause:
- Shorter menstrual cycles (dropping from 28-32 days to 24-28 days)
- New or worsening anxiety and irritability
- Sleep disruption, particularly waking between 2-4 AM
- Heavier periods (estrogen unopposed by adequate progesterone)
- PMS symptoms that worsen or appear for the first time
- Unexplained weight gain, especially around the midsection
Dr. Simms takes perimenopause symptoms seriously, regardless of your age. If you are in your 30s or early 40s and notice these changes, you deserve answers, not dismissal. She also evaluates whether conditions like PCOS or thyroid dysfunction may be contributing to or overlapping with early perimenopause symptoms.
Think your symptoms might be perimenopause? Schedule an appointment and find out what is actually going on.
What Perimenopause Does to Your Body
Perimenopause is the transitional phase before menopause, typically lasting four to ten years. During this time, your ovaries gradually reduce production of estrogen and progesterone, causing symptoms that can range from mild to significantly disruptive.
Common perimenopause symptoms include:
- Irregular periods: Cycles may become shorter, longer, heavier, lighter, or skip entirely
- Hot flashes and night sweats: Sudden waves of heat and disrupted sleep
- Anxiety and mood changes: Often the earliest symptoms, driven by progesterone decline
- Brain fog and memory issues: Difficulty concentrating and word-finding problems
- Weight gain: Particularly around the abdomen, linked to insulin sensitivity changes
- Fatigue and insomnia: Both difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
- Hair thinning and skin changes: Related to shifting androgen-to-estrogen ratios
- Digestive changes: Bloating, constipation, and new food reactions
- Changes in libido: Decreased interest or physical response
Every woman experiences perimenopause differently. Some have mild symptoms that barely register. Others find their daily life significantly affected. The severity often depends on how quickly hormones decline, the health of your adrenal system, your gut function, and how well your body manages stress.
How Dr. Simms Treats Perimenopause
Effective perimenopause treatment starts with understanding what is actually happening in your body. Dr. Simms does not guess or rely on a standard protocol. She assesses your individual hormone levels, metabolic health, gut function, and nutrient status before recommending treatment.
Advanced Hormone Testing
Standard blood tests provide a snapshot of single hormones. Since hormones fluctuate significantly in perimenopause, and because hormones are interconnected, other testing methods can be used to gather more complete and in depth information. One option is the DUTCH test t (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) to get a complete picture of your hormone levels, including how your body metabolizes and eliminates hormones throughout the day. The DUTCH test measures estrogen metabolites, progesterone metabolites, cortisol patterns, and androgen levels — information a single blood draw cannot capture. Other testing options include salivary hormone panels. This data allows Dr. Simms to identify exactly where your hormone imbalances are and tailor treatment accordingly. She also evaluates thyroid function, nutrient levels, and inflammatory markers to build the full picture.
Natural Therapies That Address Root Causes
Dr. Simms uses evidence-based natural therapies to support your body through perimenopause. Her treatment plans are individualized and may include:
- Botanical medicine: Targeted herbal formulas for specific symptoms like hot flashes, anxiety, and sleep disruption
- Clinical nutrition: Dietary protocols designed for the metabolic shifts of perimenopause, including blood sugar stabilization and anti-inflammatory approaches
- Nutraceutical support: Targeted supplementation based on testing results to address specific depletions
- Gut restoration: Protocols to support the estrobolome and reduce inflammation affecting hormone metabolism
- Adrenal support: Addressing cortisol imbalances that worsen perimenopause symptoms
- Lifestyle modifications: Sleep optimization, stress reduction techniques, and movement strategies that support hormone balance
Naturopathic Support Alongside HRT When Appropriate
Dr. Simms does not take a “natural only” stance. If hormone replacement therapy is appropriate for your situation, she supports that decision and works alongside your prescribing provider to ensure your overall treatment plan is coordinated. Many women benefit from combining HRT with naturopathic support — addressing the areas that hormone replacement alone does not cover, like gut health, nutrition, thyroid and adrenal function, and long-term metabolic health. This both-and approach gives you more options, not fewer. You get the symptom relief of appropriate hormone therapy combined with the root-cause support that optimizes how your body responds to treatment. This is the same integrative approach Dr. Simms takes with her menopause patients.
Perimenopause vs. Menopause: Understanding the Difference
Perimenopause and menopause are related but distinct phases. Understanding the difference helps you know where you are in the transition and what to expect.
Perimenopause is the transitional phase before menopause. Your ovaries are still functioning, but producing less consistent levels of hormones. You are still having periods (even if irregular), and pregnancy is still possible. Perimenopause can last four to ten years and typically begins in a woman’s 40s, though it can start in the mid-30s.
Menopause is a specific point in time: 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. After that point, you are postmenopausal. The average age of menopause in the United States is 51.
The distinction matters for treatment. During perimenopause, hormone levels fluctuate unpredictably rather than simply declining. This is why many women feel worse during perimenopause than after menopause — the swings themselves cause symptoms, not just the lower levels. Dr. Simms tailors her approach to where you are in the transition, adjusting treatment as your hormonal landscape changes.
Perimenopause Appointments: Chicago and Nationwide Telehealth
Dr. Simms sees patients in person at her Chicago and North Shore offices, and remotely through secure telehealth appointments.
Chicago Office: 2559 N. Southport Ave. Chicago, IL 60614
North Shore Office: 1150 Wilmette Ave., Suite C, Wilmette, IL 60091
North Shore Location: Serving Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, and surrounding communities.
Nationwide Telehealth: Cannot make it to Chicago? Dr. Simms sees menopause patients across the country through secure video consultations. Lab work can be completed locally, and treatment plans work just as effectively remotely. If you are seeking a holistic menopause doctor and cannot find one in your area, distance does not have to be a barrier.
View the current fee schedule for appointment costs and what to expect.
Ready to Address Your Perimenopause Symptoms? Book Your Appointment
You do not have to accept “you’re too young for that” as an answer. You do not have to wait until symptoms become unbearable before getting help. And you do not have to choose between suffering through it and treatments you are uncertain about.
Dr. Kelly Simms is a naturopathic perimenopause specialist with board-certified expertise in endocrinology and clinical nutrition. Her approach identifies what is driving your symptoms, gives you real treatment options, and supports your health through the entire transition. Women come to her from across Chicago and nationwide because she provides thorough, personalized perimenopause care that takes their concerns seriously.
Your next step is simple: schedule an appointment and start getting answers.
Questions before booking? Contact us. We are happy to help you determine if Dr. Simms is the right fit for your perimenopause concerns.
