Managing Postmenopause Naturally

Postmenopause is the stage of life that begins after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels drop permanently during this phase, and those changes affect far more than hot flashes. Bone density declines. Cardiovascular risk increases. Cognitive function shifts. These aren't temporary inconveniences. They're long-term health risks that require ongoing, informed care.

Dr. Kelly Simms is a board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist (FABNE) in Chicago who specializes in natural postmenopause treatment. She provides comprehensive hormone testing, targeted naturopathic therapies, and evidence-based nutritional protocols designed to protect bone, heart, and brain health after menopause. Dr. Simms also works with women who are already on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), optimizing the rest of their health alongside conventional treatment.

Whether you're experiencing persistent symptoms, concerned about long-term health risks, or looking for a postmenopause doctor who takes time to understand your full picture, Dr. Simms can help.

Schedule a postmenopause consultation →

What Happens to Your Body After Menopause

Postmenopause changes the hormonal landscape permanently. The ovaries cease to produce estrogen and progesterone. These two hormones regulate your menstrual cycle, protect your bones, support cardiovascular function, and influence brain chemistry for decades.

Estrogen doesn't just affect reproductive health. It maintains bone density by regulating calcium absorption. It keeps blood vessels flexible and supports healthy cholesterol ratios. It influences neurotransmitter activity in the brain, including serotonin and dopamine. When estrogen levels drop and stay low after menopause, these protective effects diminish.

Progesterone, which balances estrogen's effects and supports mood stability, also declines to minimal levels. Testosterone, often overlooked in women's health, decreases as well, contributing to reduced muscle mass, lower energy, and changes in libido. DHEA, a precursor hormone that supports immune function, skin health, and overall vitality, follows the same downward trend.

These hormonal shifts don't mean your health has to decline. They mean your health needs a different kind of attention, one focused on prevention, monitoring, and targeted support. That's where a naturopathic endocrinologist provides value that a standard annual physical doesn't.

Long-Term Health Risks After Menopause

The most significant health risks after menopause aren't the symptoms women typically associate with this stage. They're the slow-developing conditions that build over years without obvious warning signs.

Bone loss and osteoporosis. Women can lose up to 20% of their bone density in the five to seven years following menopause. Estrogen plays a direct role in bone remodeling. It slows the rate at which bone breaks down. Without adequate estrogen, calcium leaves the bones faster than the body replaces it. Osteoporosis develops silently, often going undetected until a fracture occurs. A DEXA scan measures bone mineral density and identifies osteopenia or osteoporosis before fractures happen.

Cardiovascular disease. Estrogen helps keep arteries flexible and supports healthy cholesterol levels. After menopause, LDL cholesterol tends to rise while HDL cholesterol may drop. Blood pressure often increases. Nearly one in two women over 50 will develop heart disease, making it the leading cause of death among postmenopausal women. These cardiovascular changes don't happen overnight, which means early screening and preventive strategies make a measurable difference.

Cognitive decline. Estrogen influences neurotransmitter production and blood flow to the brain. Many women experience brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and memory lapses during the perimenopausal transition, and some of these changes persist into postmenopause. Emerging research connects prolonged estrogen deprivation to increased risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative conditions later in life.

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). Up to 84% of postmenopausal women experience chronic vaginal dryness, urinary urgency, recurrent UTIs, or discomfort during sex - a cluster of symptoms collectively called Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. GSM rarely resolves on its own and tends to worsen over time without treatment. Many women don't realize these symptoms are hormone-related, which means they go years without addressing the root cause.

Common Postmenopause Symptoms

Postmenopausal symptoms vary widely from woman to woman. Some women find that hot flashes and night sweats diminish after menopause, while others experience them for years. The most common postmenopause symptoms include:

• Hot flashes and night sweats that persist beyond the menopausal transition, sometimes for a decade or longer
• Vaginal dryness and discomfort that affects sexual health and daily comfort
• Recurrent urinary tract infections linked to thinning vaginal and urethral tissue
• Sleep disruption and insomnia often interconnected with night sweats, anxiety, or shifting cortisol patterns
• Mood changes including increased anxiety, irritability, or depressive episodes driven by neurotransmitter shifts
• Weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, as metabolism slows and body composition changes
• Fatigue and low energy related to declining testosterone, DHEA, and disrupted sleep
• Hair thinning and skin changes as collagen production decreases without estrogen stimulation
• Changes in libido that can result from hormonal, physical, and emotional factors combined

These symptoms respond to targeted treatment. The key is identifying which hormonal shifts and underlying factors are driving them, which requires testing, not guesswork.

How Dr. Simms Treats Postmenopause Naturally

Dr. Simms takes a root-cause approach to postmenopause treatment. Rather than prescribing the same protocol for every patient, she builds individualized treatment plans based on comprehensive testing, health history, and each woman's specific concerns and goals. As a naturopathic doctor with board certification in naturopathic endocrinology (FABNE) and clinical nutrition credentials (CNS), Dr. Simms brings specialized training in the hormonal and metabolic shifts that define postmenopause.

Her approach focuses on three priorities: relieving symptoms that affect quality of life, protecting against the long-term health risks that accompany estrogen decline, and empowering women with clear information about what's happening in their bodies and what they can do about it.

Comprehensive Hormone Testing

Effective postmenopause treatment starts with accurate data. Hormones can be tested in blood, saliva, or urine. Each method has its merit, and there are some specific circumstances where you might choose one over another. Dr. Simms takes the time to discuss the pros and cons of each testing method with her patients. 

One advanced testing method that is commonly used is the DUTCH test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones). Not only does this test look at certain hormone levels, but it also shows how your body metabolizes and processes those hormones.

The DUTCH, other urinary or salivary advanced testing methods can reveal patterns that standard blood panels miss. They can show estrogen metabolite ratios, cortisol patterns throughout the day, melatonin production, and organic acid markers related to nutrient status. For postmenopausal women, this level of detail matters because it identifies which specific pathways need support, not just whether hormone levels are "low."

Dr. Simms also orders targeted blood panels to assess thyroid function, inflammatory markers, lipid profiles, blood sugar regulation, and nutrient levels including vitamin D, B12, iron, and magnesium. Together, these results create a clear picture of where your body stands and what it needs.

Naturopathic Therapies for Postmenopause

Dr. Simms designs treatment plans using evidence-based natural therapies tailored to each patient's test results and health priorities. These therapies commonly include:

Targeted nutritional protocols. Postmenopausal women have specific nutrient needs that differ from earlier stages of life. Calcium, vitamin D3, and vitamin K2 support bone density and calcium metabolism. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and support cardiovascular health. B vitamins support energy production, mood, and cognitive function. Dr. Simms builds dietary and supplementation plans based on lab results, rather than generic recommendations.

Botanical medicine. Specific plant compounds address postmenopausal symptoms at the hormonal level. Phytoestrogens from food and targeted botanical formulas support estrogen receptor activity. Adaptogenic herbs help regulate cortisol and support stress resilience. Dr. Simms selects and doses botanicals based on each patient's symptom profile, lab results, and health history.

Lifestyle modifications. Weight-bearing exercise protects bone density and supports metabolic health. Targeted movement protocols improve cardiovascular markers and body composition. Sleep optimization strategies address insomnia and night sweats. Stress management reduces cortisol's impact on hormone balance and immune function.

Naturopathic Support Alongside HRT

Dr. Simms doesn't require patients to choose between naturopathic care and conventional hormone replacement therapy. Many of her patients use HRT, including bioidentical hormones, and benefit from naturopathic support alongside it.

HRT addresses estrogen and progesterone replacement directly. Naturopathic care addresses everything else: optimizing nutrient status, supporting gut health and hormone metabolism, managing stress and sleep, reducing inflammation, and monitoring cardiovascular and metabolic markers. These approaches complement each other.

For women who prefer not to use HRT, whether due to personal preference, contraindications, or a history of hormone-sensitive conditions, Dr. Simms provides natural alternatives that address symptoms and long-term health risks through nutrition, botanical medicine, and lifestyle strategies.

Either way, the treatment plan is built around what works best for your body and your goals. No judgment. No one-size-fits-all protocol.

The Gut-Hormone Connection After Menopause

Most women don't associate gut health with postmenopausal symptoms, but the connection is direct and clinically significant.

Your gut microbiome contains a specific collection of bacteria called the estrobolome. These bacteria produce an enzyme (beta-glucuronidase) that influences how your body recycles and eliminates estrogen. When the estrobolome is healthy and balanced, estrogen metabolism functions efficiently. When gut health is compromised, through dysbiosis, inflammation, poor diet, or antibiotic use, estrogen metabolism is disrupted.

For postmenopausal women, this matters because the body produces only small amounts of estrogen after menopause. How efficiently your body processes and recirculates that remaining estrogen affects everything from bone density to cardiovascular health to mood. A compromised gut microbiome can impair estrogen metabolism at exactly the stage of life when every bit of estrogen counts.

Dr. Simms' expertise in both gut health and naturopathic endocrinology allows her to evaluate and treat both systems together, an approach most providers don't offer because they specialize in one or the other, not both.

Protecting Your Bones, Heart, and Brain After Menopause

Postmenopause isn't a short-term transition. It's a stage of life that lasts for decades, and the health decisions you make in the first five to ten years after menopause have an outsized impact on your quality of life at 70, 75, and beyond.

Bone health protection starts with baseline DEXA screening to measure bone mineral density, followed by targeted nutrition (calcium, D3, K2, magnesium), weight-bearing exercise, and monitoring over time. Dr. Simms tracks bone health as an ongoing metric, not a one-time test.

Heart health support includes monitoring lipid panels, blood pressure, inflammatory markers, and metabolic indicators. Nutritional strategies, including anti-inflammatory dietary patterns, omega-3 supplementation, and blood sugar regulation, reduce cardiovascular risk factors that accelerate after menopause.

Cognitive health strategies encompass nutrient support for neurotransmitter production, anti-inflammatory protocols, sleep optimization, stress management, and gut health — since the gut-brain axis influences cognitive function directly.

This is the long game. Postmenopause requires a healthcare partner who monitors, adjusts, and advocates for your health over years, not a single appointment and a list of supplements. Dr. Simms provides that kind of ongoing, informed partnership.

Schedule Your Postmenopause Consultation

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.