Collaborative naturopathic and physician-led care

At Tulip Women’s Health, our Naturopathic Doctors, Gynecologists and Physicians work collaboratively to provide comprehensive, integrative care focused on women’s health.

Our multidisciplinary approach brings different areas of clinical expertise together to develop an individualized treatment plan informed by your health history, symptoms, laboratory findings and treatment goals.

 

Your Comprehensive Menopause Assessment

Your Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and Tulip physician work together so your naturopathic and medical care remain aligned.

Our NDs hold specialized menopause certification and can help you understand your hormone options in detail, including whether Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT), previously referred to as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), may be appropriate for you.

Hormone therapy, however, is only one part of the picture. Other factors—including metabolic health, insulin resistance, gut health and nutrient deficiencies—can also influence how you feel during perimenopause and menopause.

Your ND is trained to look at the full picture and support you as a whole.

 

Your Collaborative Care Team

🌷 Your Naturopathic Doctor

Leads your comprehensive intake, menopause assessment, nutrition and lifestyle assessment, treatment planning and ongoing follow-up.

🩺 Your Tulip Physician

Provides medical oversight, assesses MHT candidacy, orders investigations when indicated, prescribes medications when appropriate, and provides medical/procedural care.

♡ Together

Your ND and physician communicate about your care so recommendations, investigations and prescriptions remain coordinated.

Your physician and ND are always collaborating on your care, even at visits where only one of them is in the room.

​​

​

​​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​

​

​

​

​

​​

By the end of your first two visits, you can expect to have:

✓ A thorough review of your menopause/perimenopause symptoms and health history
✓ Assessment of contributing factors, with bloodwork as needed
✓ Discussion of MHT benefits, risks and prescription when appropriate
✓ A personalized nutrition, lifestyle and supplement plan where appropriate
✓ A coordinated, comprehensive treatment plan between your ND and physician
✓ Clear next steps for follow-up and management

​

At Tulip Women’s Health, we understand that perimenopause and menopause can affect many areas of life, including sleep, mood, energy, sexual health, weight, and overall well-being.

 

Preparing for Your First Visit
Before your initial visit, please complete your intake forms in full. This is how we build a thorough picture of your history, including current medications and supplements (please include dose and brand) and any recent bloodwork or lab results you have. The more complete your forms, the more we can accomplish together at Visit 1.










Your first two appointments form the foundation of your care pathway and include comprehensive assessment, physician collaboration, review of investigations where indicated, and development of your individualized treatment plan. |
Naturopathic visits are billed individually and may be eligible for reimbursement through extended health benefits. You will receive a receipt with your ND's license number after each paid appointment (please allow 2 business days).

Cancellation Policy: Naturopathic visits cancelled or rescheduled with less than 48 business hours' notice are subject to a 50% cancellation fee.

​

​

​

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​

 

 

What Happens Afterward?
After Visit 2, care continues as ND-led follow-ups with periodic physician check-ins when needed, at the appropriate follow-up rate. To continue naturopathic care, follow-ups with our Naturopathic Doctors will be outlined; individual cases guide how many follow-ups are needed. Our NDs work with patients to decide on a follow-up plan that is sustainable and appropriate for them, based on their individual case.

 

​

Who do I contact?
Questions naturally come up between visits — about a supplement order, your next appointment, or something you want to ask your ND directly. Reaching the right person gets you an answer faster:



 

​

​

​

​​

​

​Brief clarification questions about your existing treatment plan can be directed to your ND. New concerns, significant treatment changes, or questions requiring clinical assessment may require a follow-up appointment.

​

​

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between MHT and HRT?
MHT and HRT are often used interchangeably to describe hormone therapy for managing symptoms associated with menopause.
MHT (Menopausal Hormone Therapy) is the more current and specific term, referring to hormone treatment used during the menopausal transition and after menopause.
HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) is a broader, older term that may refer to hormone therapy for a variety of purposes.

Do I need bloodwork or other tests before starting MHT?
Not necessarily. Before starting MHT, your team at Tulip will review your medical history, symptoms, medications, and risk factors to determine whether any bloodwork or other testing is appropriate. In many cases, MHT can be started based on your clinical history and symptoms rather than routine hormone testing, since estrogen and progesterone fluctuate greatly during the perimenopause window.
Any recommended tests will be discussed with you and tailored to your individual needs.

Can I continue MHT medications prescribed by another doctor?
Yes. You can generally continue MHT medications prescribed by another doctor. Our team will review your current treatment with you and work collaboratively with your prescribing physician to ensure your care remains safe, appropriate, and aligned with your health goals. Your plan may include continuing your current medications, adjusting dose or type, replacing a medication, or adding new medications as appropriate.

How can a Naturopathic Doctor complement my Medical Doctor's care?
This depends on your goals. While MHT can support many symptoms, not all symptoms can be addressed by MHT alone. Your ND provides dedicated time to look beyond hormone therapy and address the broader factors that can influence how you feel during perimenopause and menopause — including nutrition, lifestyle, metabolic health, gut health, nutrient status, sleep, and stress.

Is seeing the Naturopath mandatory if I want to be seen sooner?
Seeing a Naturopathic Doctor is not mandatory to receive menopause care at Tulip. However, the earlier appointment option is offered through our collaborative Menopause Care Pathway — not as an expedited physician-only appointment — so the initial naturopathic visit is required for this pathway. If you prefer physician-only, OHIP-covered care, you may remain in our standard referral stream and wait for the next available appointment.

Can I continue my care primarily with a physician after the initial naturopathic visit?
If you are only looking for follow-up regarding your MHT prescription, yes, this is an option. Most patients, however, find they wish to continue with naturopathic care for bloodwork review and support in non-MHT areas. Once you are on a stable dose of medication, Tulip physicians will often discharge you back to your Family Doctor for management, unless concerns arise. You are always able to reach out to your Naturopathic Doctor to continue care in the future.​
 

 

Please note: any treatment-specific questions will be answered and addressed during your appointment.
 

We're glad to have you as part of the Tulip community!

​

​​​