Imagine a menopause practitioner who says hormone change can actually be fun. Meet Dr. Kara Dionisio, a naturopathic doctor who describes her work as "helping hormone change not suck."

In this candid and refreshing conversation, Dr. Kara unpacks what she calls "the art of clinical practice" – where medical guidelines meet real women's lives. With humor and depth, Dr. Kara explains why your perimenopause experience deserves personalized care rather than one-size-fits-all solutions, and offers practical strategies you can implement right away.

In This Episode: 

• Why most healthcare providers receive little to no training in menopause care
• The importance of finding a Menopause Society certified practitioner (MSCP)
• How to build your own "menopause support team" beyond just your doctor
• The art of clinical practice: merging evidence, clinical judgment, and patient values
• The truth about hormone therapy for mood and cardiovascular health
• Why consistency beats perfection when it comes to perimenopause health habits
• How to take agency over your health while navigating this transition

Whether you're just noticing the first signs of change or deep in the hormone hurricane, this episode reminds us that while perimenopause can be challenging, it's also an opportunity to reclaim your health and reimagine your future.

Because as Dr. Kara emphasizes, "Suffering is not an option."

• Email us and let us know what you think of the podcast and what topic you want us to cover next.
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Instagram
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Facebook

Dr. Kara Dionisio, ND, MSCP, is a Naturopathic Doctor and menopause nerd who brings evidence-based care, strategic education, and fierce advocacy to midlife health. Menopause is her magic—and she believes midlife is a time to rise.

As founder of Dr. Kara & Associates in Owen Sound, Ontario, Kara has supported thousands through the menopause transition with personalized, evidence-informed care—continually redefining the art of comprehensive support (no one-trick ponies here), where each woman gains the agency to be the author of her own menopause story.

A trailblazer in her field, Kara holds a BSc and MSc in Nutrition & Metabolism, and was among the first Naturopathic Doctors in North America to earn the Menopause Society Certified Practitioner designation, inspiring many to follow. She teaches clinical menopause education in academic and professional settings and leads the Confident Clinician Menopause Fellowship, now in its third year.

She lives in Owen Sound with her two feisty kids, a red-bearded Irish dude, and a beagle with main-character energy. Kara believes thriving midlife women can (and should) rule the world—and she’s here for it.

 Links for this episode

• Dr Kara Dionisio Practice
• Dr Kara’s Geeky Bio
• Follow Dr Kara on Instagram
• The Menopause Society - Find a Healthcare Practitioner