Christine Hart Kress DNP, PLLC

08/22/2026

I’d argue that you have to interview your providers before you work with them. Not every clinician who treats women was trained in women’s health, which is kind of a problem.

Here’s 5 questions I’d definitely ask a provider before I booked my appointment:
• Have you taken care of adult women across the full lifespan, including complex hormonal, gynecologic, and menopausal transitions?
• Is women’s health your primary clinical background?
• What training do you have in midlife women’s endocrinology and hormone therapy?
• If I experience side effects or unexpected symptoms—like abnormal bleeding—do you manage that workup?
• What training programs have you done in the last 3 years? And with what expert? (I am biased but The Academy for Advanced Women’s Health Medicine is a standout leader in the field—and has a website to check for trained clinicians in every state).

The Academy for Advanced Women’s Health Medicine is run by and where I was trained—she changed the trajectory of my career and set me straight on how to care for women in midlife!

What question do you wish you had asked before you started working with a provider?


perimenopause specialist in my area, HRT, womens health, care team, midlife healthcare, questions to ask your GYN

08/22/2026

I’d argue that you have to interview your providers before you work with them. Not every clinician who treats women was trained in women’s health, which is kind of a problem.

Here’s 5 questions I’d definitely ask a provider before I booked my appointment:
• Have you taken care of adult women across the full lifespan, including complex hormonal, gynecologic, and menopausal transitions?
• Is women’s health your primary clinical background?
• What training do you have in midlife women’s endocrinology and hormone therapy?
• If I experience side effects or unexpected symptoms—like abnormal bleeding—do you manage that workup?
• What training programs have you done in the last 3 years? And with what expert? (I am biased but The Academy for Advanced Women’s Health Medicine is a standout leader in the field—and has a website to check for trained clinicians in every state).

The Academy for Advanced Women’s Health Medicine is run by Heather Hirsch MD | Perimenopause & Middle-Life Expert and where I was trained—she changed the trajectory of my career and set me straight on how to care for women in midlife!

What question do you wish you had asked before you started working with a provider?


perimenopause specialist in my area, HRT, womens health, care team, midlife healthcare, questions to ask your GYN

08/20/2026

Suffering is not a badge of honor, so do something about it. Would you rather be uncomfortable and do nothing about it? Or uncomfortable, but doing something so you’re not?

You’re never too young or too old to take care of yourself in the way you need to.

What’s your metaphorical tree?


midlife healthcare, womens health specialist, hormone therapy, HRT, strength training, self love, self advocacy, metabolic health, breath work, hormones

08/20/2026

LINK in BIO
CALL TO ACTION: SIGN & AMPLIFY THE PETITION TO FORCE TO DECLARE A NATIONAL ESTROGEN PATCH SHORTAGE!

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

Synthroid (synthetic T4 hormone) is practically a useless medication without knowing your T3 values. If you’ve ever taken Synthroid or other synthetic T4 medications like levoxyl, tirosint or levothyroxine but still feeling hypothyroid symptoms, it’s probably your conversion.

More T4 when you don’t actually need it = more conversion into Reverse T3.

T4 is an inactive hormone and must be activated. It needs to be converted to active T3 (where energy and metabolism power comes from.) When conversion is bad, your body converts T4 into Reverse T3 which is the inactive form of T3 that slows your metabolism and conserves energy. Hence, the continued hypo symptoms while being on Synthroid.

So why does testing for Free and Reverse T3 matter? If Free T3 is low, but Reverse is high, there’s your conversion problem. Conversion depends on a lot of things going right — your liver, gut, ferritin, selenium, cortisol — so working with someone who also checks these labs and actually knows what to do with them is the key. Some people also carry a genetic variant in the DIO2 enzyme that makes conversion harder regardless of everything else.

For women with a conversion issue, adding a T3 med, fixing your minerals & vitamins, and lowering your T4 med is usually the missing link. Synthroid wasn’t necessarily the wrong choice, but without checking T3, we’re missing important information. Ask for Free and Reverse T3 at your next appointment.

We have telehealth appointments available if it’s time for a second opinion! Link in bio or comment “TSH” if you’re ready to fix your sluggish thyroid.
Serving: VA, CO, IA, MN, MD, ME, NE, ND, FL, and WV


Menopause expert, thyroid dysfunction, diet and exercise, insulin resistance, bloating, healthy lifestyle, wellness, telehealth provider

08/19/2026

Synthroid (synthetic T4 hormone) is practically a useless medication without knowing your T3 values. If you’ve ever taken Synthroid or other synthetic T4 medications like levoxyl, tirosint or levothyroxine but still feeling hypothyroid symptoms, it’s probably your conversion.

More T4 when you don’t actually need it = more conversion into Reverse T3.

T4 is an inactive hormone and must be activated. It needs to be converted to active T3 (where energy and metabolism power comes from.) When conversion is bad, your body converts T4 into Reverse T3 which is the inactive form of T3 that slows your metabolism and conserves energy. Hence, the continued hypo symptoms while being on Synthroid.

So why does testing for Free and Reverse T3 matter? If Free T3 is low, but Reverse is high, there’s your conversion problem. Conversion depends on a lot of things going right — your liver, gut, ferritin, selenium, cortisol — so working with someone who also checks these labs and actually knows what to do with them is the key. Some people also carry a genetic variant in the DIO2 enzyme that makes conversion harder regardless of everything else.

For women with a conversion issue, adding a T3 med, fixing your minerals & vitamins, and lowering your T4 med is usually the missing link. Synthroid wasn’t necessarily the wrong choice, but without checking T3, we’re missing important information. Ask for Free and Reverse T3 at your next appointment.

We have telehealth appointments available if it’s time for a second opinion! Link in bio or comment “TSH” if you’re ready to fix your sluggish thyroid.
Serving: VA, CO, IA, MN, MD, ME, NE, ND, FL, and WV


Menopause expert, thyroid dysfunction, diet and exercise, insulin resistance, bloating, healthy lifestyle, wellness, telehealth provider

08/17/2026

Just checking in to remind you that you’re smart, you’re beautiful, and you’re a badass!


midlife healthcare, womens health specialist, hormone therapy, HRT, strength training, self love, self advocacy, social connection, supplements, hormones, menoposse