Elevate MD

Elevate MD 🩺 Physician-Led Hormone Optimization
👩🏻‍💻 Telehealth BHRT across the U.S.
👇🏻 Want to work with us? https://www.elevatemd.co/fb-link-in-bio
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06/02/2026

I’m FINALLY addressing the age old question: “Does estrogen therapy cause weight gain?” 👀

The short answer is yes & no… but let me explain what’s actually happening!

Estrogen therapy may cause some initial “weight gain,” but this isn’t fat gain! Estrogen is an incredibly hydrating hormone, which will commonly cause water retention, and that’s actually what gives it a bad rap. 🫠

But that same hydrating effect is exactly why estrogen is so protective for your joints, your heart, your brain, your skin, and your overall health. So the initial water retention you experience when starting estrogen therapy? That’s actually a really good sign that your body is responding. 🤌🏻

Some degree of water retention is pretty much inevitable, but it is absolutely manageable! And this is exactly why getting your progesterone dose dialed in is so important (regardless of whether or not you have a uterus). Progesterone helps offset any unwanted side effects you may be experiencing from estrogen, including fluid retention.

The weight fluctuation can feel uncomfortable, and that’s completely valid. But try to remember what that hydration is actually doing for your body behind the scenes. 🫶🏻

📲🩺 If you are in the US and you’re curious about starting hormone therapy for perimenopause or menopause, go to the 🔗 in my bio to book a free 30 min call with my team to get started! 🤗

06/01/2026

Here’s everything you need to know about what to expect from your first month on estrogen therapy… the good, the bad, & the weird! 🙃

The first month definitely should have its fair share of swings including:
☑️ Vasomotor symptoms should start to calm down (hot flashes, cold flashes, night sweats, & heat intolerance)
☑️ Brain fog begins to lift (your brain genuinely thrives on estrogen)
☑️ Less rage, irritability, & emotional volatility (although mood changes are also normal during your first month on estrogen)
☑️ Joint pain should begin to ease up a bit

BUTTT, Since our bodies are very sensitive to estrogen, it’s not uncommon for some women to experience spotting, bloating, fluid retention, histamine flares, breast tenderness, or a little hormonal acne in the first few weeks of estrogen therapy. 😅

It’s important to remember that this is completely normal, It doesn’t happen to everyone, and it is temporary. These side effects aren’t a sign that something is wrong. They’re your body’s way of telling us exactly what it needs more or less of. A few simple dose adjustments can usually resolve all of it. 🤌🏻

If you are experiencing any of these side effects, please make sure you’re communicating with your provider so they can fine-tune your protocol accordingly. You don’t have to just white-knuckle through it! 🫶🏻

📲🩺 If you are in the US, and you’re curious about starting hormone therapy, go to the 🔗 in my bio to book a free 30 min call with my team to get started! 🤗

05/31/2026

📢PSA: TĒSTOSTĒRONĒ IS FOR THE GIRLS! 👏🏻

Did you know that your body produces more T on a daily basis than it does estrogen? 👀

And did you know that T is one of the first hormones that starts to decline during ? 🫠

Low T during perimenopause can be responsible for some of your most debilitating symptoms…

☑️ Chronic fatigue
☑️ Loss of motivation & drive
☑️ Anxiety & emotional fragility
☑️ Poor sleep quality
☑️ Decreased muscle mass
☑️ Metabolic dysfunction
☑️ Low libido & difficulty climaxing
☑️ Feeling like you’ve lost yourself

SO WHY ARE WOMEN STILL BEING TOLD THAT THEY DON’T NEED TĒSTOSTĒRONĒ?! 😩🤬

Many providers refuse to even run the correct T labs for women, or they are told that their levels look ‘normal’ even when they are severely deficient. (And for a little context, we find that our patients feel their best when their free T is at least 3 or higher. 🤌🏻)

Please share or repost this to help raise awareness about the very real benefits of tēstostēronē therapy for women! ❤️

📲🩺 If you’re in the US and you’re interested in working with us via Telehealth, go to the 🔗 in my bio to book a free call with my team to get started.

05/29/2026

If you’re in or menopause & you’re curious about what test osterone therapy actually feels like… THIS VIDEO IS FOR YOU! 🙃🫵🏻

Test is so freaking beneficial for women in perimenopause, & unfortunately no one really talks about how good you can actually feel once your test levels are restored. Like shockingly good. 👀

So here’s a little more context on what’s happening behind the scenes…

💃🏻 Libido & spontaneous arousal make a comeback because Test is the primary driver of $exuaI desire in women. When levels are restored, your body starts responding the way it used to… sometimes faster than you’d expect. 😏

🔥 Attraction & physical connection improve because low T is a major contributor to that “don’t touch me” feeling so many women in perimenopause experience. It’s not your relationship. It’s probably just your hormones.

🧘🏻‍♀️ Stress resilience improves because Test plays a critical role in regulating your fear response & impulse control. When levels are low, even minor inconveniences can feel completely overwhelming. Restoring T levels helps your nervous system stop treating everything like a crisis.

😴 Sleep quality improves because Test supports deep, restorative sleep cycles. Better sleep = better brain function, even on the nights you don’t get enough sleep.

💪🏻 Physical recovery improves because T is essential for muscle repair & reducing systemic inflammation. If you’ve been getting sore from basic daily tasks, low T is likely a big contributor.

This is just month ONE on testosterone. It only gets better from here. 👏🏻🤗

📲🩺 If you’re in the US & you’re curious about test osterone therapy, go to the 🔗 in my bio to book a free 30-minute call with my team to learn how to get started.

05/28/2026

If you’re in or menopause & it feels like your brain has completely stopped working… THIS VIDEO IS FOR YOU! 😶‍🌫️🧠

Brain fog isn’t just “being tired” or “getting older”… it’s one of the most universal & devastating symptoms we hear from our patients every single day. And it makes sense, because your hormones directly impact nearly every aspect of how your brain functions.

Hormone therapy is absolutely the best long-term solution for perimenopause induced cognitive decline. But whether you’re on HRT or not, your brain could benefit from additional support… and that’s exactly why we created Focus+.

🧠 Focus+ Full Ingredient Breakdown:

☑️ Vitamin B6 – 10mg | Essential for producing serotonin, dopamine & GABA. Your brain literally cannot fire at full strength without it.
☑️ Cat’s Claw Extract 10:1 – 350mg | Supports healthy inflammation pathways in the brain for sharper, cleaner mental clarity.
☑️ L-Tyrosine – 200mg | Drives alertness, motivation & memory — especially powerful on high-stress days.
☑️ L-Theanine – 150mg | Promotes calm, focused alpha brain wave states without sedation or grogginess.
☑️ Oat Straw Extract 10:1 – 100mg | Increases blood flow to the brain to improve attention & mental processing speed.
☑️ Alpha GPC – 100mg | Boosts acetylcholine — your neurotransmitter for learning, memory & recall.
☑️ Bacopa Monnieri – 100mg | One of the most researched memory-enhancing botanicals. Supports long-term memory & cognitive speed.
☑️ Phosphatidylserine 50% – 100mg | Essential for healthy brain cell communication, memory & concentration.
☑️ L-Leucine – 60mg | Supports neurotransmitter signaling & helps maintain brain energy during mental tasks.
☑️ Huperzine A – 40mcg | Prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine to keep your brain in high-performance mode.

Comment FOCUS and I will send you the 🔗 for our FOCUS+ supplement. Your brain deserves support, but more importantly… you deserve to feel like a normal, functioning human. ❤️

05/27/2026

If you’re in or menopause & you just started hormone therapy & you have no idea what to expect… THIS VIDEO IS FOR YOU! 🙃🫵🏻

Starting hormone therapy can feel like a lot… and honestly, no one prepares you for the weird, wonderful, and slightly unhinged things your body does when it finally starts getting what it needs.

So here’s a little more context on what’s happening behind the scenes…

🍒 Breast changes are incredibly common when starting estrogen therapy. Tenderness, itching, and even some growth are all signs that your body is responding to estrogen. This typically settles down within the first few months.

🔥 Testosterone & libido: If you’ve been prescribed testosterone, don’t be surprised if things start waking back up down there. Low T is one of the most under-addressed contributors to low libido in women, and when levels start to restore… your body will let you know. 😏

🩸 Spotting or discharge changes in the first month are usually nothing to worry about, but if spotting persists, it may be a sign that your protocol needs a small adjustment. Always loop in your provider!

🙌🏻 Pain reduction is one of the most underrated benefits of HRT. Estrogen & testosterone are powerful anti-inflammatories, & most women don’t realize how much inflammation & pain they’ve been living with until it starts to lift.

😴 Sleep is usually one of the first wins. Progesterone has a direct impact on GABA production (your brain’s calming neurotransmitter), so better sleep is often one of the earliest signs that your hormones are starting to stabilize.

This is just month ONE. It only gets better from here. 👏🏻🤗

📲🩺 If you’re in the US & you’re curious about starting hormone therapy, go to the 🔗 in my bio to book a free 30-minute call with my team to learn how to get started.

05/26/2026

Where are my girlies with itchy ears? 👀🤣

Obviously this is a joke, and I do not recommend putting sharp objects in your ears. LOL 😝

But if your ears have been driving you nuts lately, it might be a sign that it’s time to get your hormone levels checked. 😅👂🏻

05/25/2026

Replying to: .0 This one is for all my girlies with itchy skin! 🤣

Itching during perimenopause is incredibly common, and it’s not just isolated to “the girls”. It can happen literally anywhere on your body, and it is 100% hormonal. 🫠

Declining estrogen causes our skin to become thinner, drier, and less hydrated. But it also increases nerve sensitivity, which can cause sensations that feel like there are bugs crawling all over you. (This is called Formication…& yes, it’s a real thing. 🐜)

The other major culprit? Histamine. And in this context, it’s entirely hormonal. (See my previous posts on perimenopause & histamine intolerance if you want the full breakdown 👀)

Here’s what you can actually do about it:

1️⃣ Hormone therapy: especially progesterone if histamine is driving your symptoms
2️⃣ Antihistamines: Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra Pepcid, or natural options like stinging nettle & quercetin
3️⃣ Anti-Itch cocktail: Sarna Sensitive anti-itch lotion + Extra Strength Benadryl cream + 1-2 pumps of low dose topical estrogen (Available in my bio) . I know it sounds unhinged, but I promise it works. 🤪

📲🩺 We are directly accepting new Telehealth patients in the US. If you are interested in working with us for perimenopause & menopause symptom management, go to the 🔗 in my bio to book a free 30 min call with my team to get started! 🤗

05/22/2026

This one is for all of my & menopause girlies that are ultra sensitive to progesterone therapy! 😅

So many women are told to just “push through” progesterone side effects… or worse, they’re taken off of it completely and left with zero support. And that is such a disservice, because progesterone therapy is genuinely life-changing when it’s done right.

Progesterone intolerance (aka paradoxical progesterone reactions) is real, and it’s more common than most providers realize. Since oral progesterone is metabolized in the liver, some women may be sensitive/intolerant to progesterone metabolites. This sensitivity can lead to depression, anxiety , bloating, or leave you feeling like an absolute zombie. 🧟

If this sounds like you, don’t worry! There are ways to work around this. 🙏🏼

☑️ Suppositories bypass the liver entirely & still provide systemic support
☑️ Troches are another liver-bypass option with systemic benefits
☑️ Pregnenolone can help improve overall progesterone tolerance & supports natural progesterone production (available in bio 🔗)
☑️ Split dosing (oral + suppository) is a great middle ground for women who need both sleep support AND systemic relief without the side effects

Progesterone is too important to just give up on. If your provider only offered you one option and it didn’t work for you, that doesn’t mean you are out of options. It just means you need a provider who actually knows how to work around it. 😌

Drop your progesterone questions in the comments, I read every single one! ❤️

📲🩺 If you’re in the US and you’re ready to explore hormone therapy that’s actually tailored to you, go to the 🔗 in my bio to book a free 30 minute call with my team to get started!

05/21/2026

Replying to: 👉🏻 If you’re in or menopause and your progesterone therapy has ever made you feel a little *too* relaxed… THIS VIDEO IS FOR YOU! 🙃

Progesterone therapy is one of the most commonly prescribed hormones for perimenopause & menopause symptom management, and for good reason. One of the primary benefits of progesterone is that it increases GABA (your brain’s natural calming neurotransmitter) which is essentially how medications like Xanąx work… just without the prescription. 🤌🏻

Most nights it’s smooth sailing. But every once in a while? Progesterone roulette hits and you are DOWN for the count (in a good way 😴)

This is exactly why we always tell patients to take their progesterone before bed, so you’re already horizontal if the progesterone hits just right. 😂👏🏻

But if you’ve been struggling with any of these symptoms, progesterone therapy might be exactly what you’ve been missing…

🌙 Insomnia & restlessness
🌙 Waking up at 3am in a panic
🌙 Late night heart palpitations
🌙 Nighttime anxiety & racing thoughts
🌙 Feeling wired but exhausted

Drop a 👽 in the comments if progesterone has ever sent you to another dimension!

📲🩺 If you’re in the US & curious about hormone therapy, go to the 🔗 in my bio to book a free 30 minute call with my team to get started! 🤗

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7265 Kenwood Road, Suite 230
Cincinnati, OH
45236

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