My journey into perimenopause was not what I expected — or what I felt prepared to handle.

For a long time, I didn’t even realize that what I was experiencing had anything to do with perimenopause. I only knew that something inside me felt deeply off. What began as middle-of-the-night anxiety — a racing heart and intrusive thoughts — slowly turned into a quiet depression during the day. I’d wake up exhausted, unmotivated, and feeling empty, yet tell myself I had no excuse. I had a great life. I should be able to push through.

So I did. I faked it through another day. And then another.

After nearly a year of silently struggling, I finally reached a point where I couldn’t carry it alone anymore. I confided in my husband, Alan. He listened, and as we talked, it became clear that what I was experiencing wasn’t a personal failure or something I needed to simply “tough out.” It was the less-talked-about side of perimenopause — how it can impact mental health.

As Alan began doing more research, he felt confident that antidepressants weren’t the answer for me. Instead, he believed hormone replacement therapy could make a meaningful difference. It took some trial and error to find the right dose and delivery method, but within a couple of weeks of starting estrogen, I felt like myself again.

When progesterone was added to protect my uterus, the benefits were immediate. I started sleeping deeply and stopped waking in the middle of the night with a racing heart and anxious thoughts. I woke up refreshed, motivated, and no longer hit that familiar afternoon crash.

Later, after testing revealed low testosterone, he added it to my regimen. That change took longer to notice. But after a few months, my energy returned in a way I hadn’t felt in years. I could push harder in workouts. I felt stronger. And yes, a renewed libido was a welcome bonus.

I never imagined that something so simple could reshape my life so profoundly. I had been naïve to the changes happening in my body and mind. But with the right care, I became myself again.

Through this process, Alan and I began to see how many other women were quietly struggling in the same way and were often dismissed. Alan, who had spent decades treating men with low testosterone, pursued additional education and certifications to confidently and responsibly care for women entering perimenopause and menopause. What he discovered was how restorative this work could be — not only for women, but for relationships and long-term quality of life.

Together, we created ICONA Health to support both women and men through the changes that occur in midlife and beyond.

We believe hormone health is both an art and a science. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. At ICONA, we take the time to understand your full story — your symptoms, goals, lifestyle, and health history — and create a personalized plan designed to help you feel like yourself again (maybe even better).

If any part of this story resonates with you, you’re in the right place.

Thank you for trusting us in this next journey of your life.