Metro Area Advanced Practice Healthcare

05/01/2026

Perimenopause: the years-long transition *before* menopause, where your hormones swing instead of declining. It can start in your late 30s. And the symptoms get dismissed all the time.

You can't sleep past 3 a.m. Your brain fogs. You're newly anxious or mood-crashing. Your periods went weird. The last provider you saw said it's stress, said you're too young, said your labs were "normal." They would be — FSH and estradiol fluctuate so much in perimenopause that a single draw doesn't catch it.

We schedule extra time for perimenopause consultations because you can't sort this out in 10 minutes. Hormone therapy is one option among several — what makes sense depends on what you actually want.

In Kensington, MD or via telehealth in 12+ states.

👇 metroarea.org/blog/is-this-perimenopause-symptoms-that-get-dismissed

04/28/2026

We've been quietly rolling this out, and now it's official: nitrous oxide is available at MAAPH for IUD insertions, endometrial biopsies, and other in-office procedures.

"Just take ibuprofen" isn't real medical advice. The fear of these procedures isn't irrational. We built something better: nitrous oxide, TENS therapy, heating pads, cervical blocks — real comfort measures, set up during your consultation.

Nitrous oxide medication and supplies are $50 — in addition to your usual procedure cost (insurance co-pay or otherwise). TENS, heating pads, and cervical blocks add nothing on top.

Comfort should be the baseline, not a luxury.

👇 metroarea.org/blog/nitrous-oxide-for-iud-insertion

09/15/2025

Ready to make a difference in the lives of people in your community? Join our board and help us ensure access to reproductive healthcare for ALL. Reach out to us here or through our email.

09/15/2025

The justices declined to immediately overrule a lower court’s block on South Carolina’s bathroom ban law.

10/24/2024

Metro Area is starting our own Little Free Library in our waiting room!
Please contact us if you have any books to contribute. Prefer themes such as reproductive justice, q***r health/history/novels, feminism, health. Please no dieting books.

05/07/2023

04/16/2023

no words

01/22/2023

HELLO, MY NAME IS ____________.
Help name our new office mascot and win a Metro Area swag bag!

01/18/2023

The rumors are true! Liletta AND Mirena are both effective for up to EIGHT years.

Considering birth control options?
Liletta is a hormone-releasing system placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. The FDA has now approved Liletta for use up to 8 years. The extended duration of use for Liletta continues to provide women access to a reliable, long-term birth control option that offers greater flexibility and expands your choice of reproductive health decisions.
To discuss your options, call our clinic at 815-484-6300

01/13/2023

Proud to offer cervical blocks and use TENS units for our IUD insertions, along with Va**um and additional for those who need it. It sometimes does not take away all the pain but it helps many.

Every time someone asks me if I recommend IUDs after getting one myself I say one hundred percent yes, and also insertion is going to hurt really bad. I love my IUD, but I definitely wish someone had told me how painful insertion could be and that I had options for mitigating that pain. So, now I'm....

01/13/2023

Happy New Year! Coming soon, we have major changes to announce!

Metro Area Advanced Practice Healthcare will be splitting and some of our services will be handled by our newest member of the Metro Area family, Metro Area Modern Reproductive Care (which will handle abortion services and quick, uncomplicated birth control refills). It's still the same Metro Area you know and love, but this allows us to focus our offerings for your well-being. If you have any questions about the upcoming changes, please direct them our way and we are happy to answer.

We are launching VERY soon!
The newest branch of the Metro Area family, focused on getting your reproductive care the modern way with online consults, new instructional videos, and more!

12/26/2022

Happy Holidays! We are closed today to give our staff time with their families. Prescriptions are being processed and sent, and messages in the portal will be responded to.

We are also going to be closed on Monday, January 2.

From all of us, have a wonderful holiday season.