Virtual care for women in Larkspur and Ross Valley
Functional Medicine & Menopause Doctor in Larkspur and Ross Valley, CA
Who is a functional medicine and menopause doctor serving Larkspur and Ross Valley?
In Larkspur and across the Ross Valley, from Corte Madera and Kentfield to Ross and San Anselmo, women can see Dr. Christine Maren, D.O., by video. Her qualifications: ABFM board certification in family medicine, FMCP-M certification from the Institute for Functional Medicine, and MSCP certification from The Menopause Society. Her team treats perimenopause and menopause, heavy or irregular periods, weight and insulin resistance, and thyroid problems, using bioidentical HRT when appropriate.
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard ties the Ross Valley together, and on a school day it can feel like you drive the whole length of it twice. Add a job, kids, maybe a parent who needs more help each year, and your own health tends to slide to the bottom of the list. Dr. Maren knows that stretch of life well. Her own perimenopause arrived in her early 40s, with three kids at home and a practice to grow. Her care comes to you by video in Larkspur, Kentfield, San Anselmo or anywhere in the valley, so getting answers about sleep, mood, weight or your cycle does not require another trip down Drake.
Read how she approaches perimenopause and menopause, hormone replacement therapy and thyroid care, or start with Christine's journey.
What does Dr. Maren treat for women in Larkspur and Ross Valley?
Hormones, thyroid, gut, metabolism and the immune system all influence one another, so she treats them as one connected picture.
Sleep, mood, hot flashes, cycles and weight, treated as one connected picture.
Bioidentical estrogen, progesterone and testosterone when appropriate, prescribed and monitored by a physician.
A full thyroid panel with antibodies, not just TSH, and medication tuned to how you feel.
Testing for SIBO, dysbiosis and infections, then a plan to remove, repair and rebuild.
Insulin resistance, muscle and body composition, with GLP-1 therapy when appropriate.
Irregular cycles, androgen excess and estrogen dominance, traced to the root cause.
Finding the triggers that keep inflammation going, alongside the care you already have.
How is Dr. Maren's care different from a typical visit?
She combines the power to prescribe with the precision of functional medicine, and she looks for the root cause instead of treating one symptom at a time.
| What you get | Dr. Maren | Typical general visit |
|---|---|---|
| Training | Board-certified physician, IFM certified (FMCP-M) and MSCP | Varies, and menopause training is often limited |
| Hormone therapy | Prescribes bioidentical HRT when appropriate | May avoid it or offer one option |
| Testing | Hormones, a full thyroid panel, insulin, nutrients and gut health | Often one hormone level or TSH alone |
| The big picture | Sleep, mood, weight, gut, libido and energy together | Symptoms treated one at a time |
| Time with you | A 90-minute initial case review | Often a brief appointment |
| Follow-up | Regular follow-ups and portal messaging between visits | Often a one-time prescription |
When should women in Larkspur and Ross Valley see a hormone or menopause specialist?
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Irregular, heavier or closer-together periods
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Anxiety, irritability or low mood
- Brain fog and forgetfulness
- Weight gain around the middle
- Bloating, reflux or a gut that will not settle
- Exhausted, but told your labs are normal
These symptoms are common, but they are not something you simply have to live with. See the early signs of perimenopause.
How does virtual care work if you live in Larkspur and Ross Valley?
Apply online
Share your symptoms and goals in a brief application. The team confirms you are located in California and that the practice is the right fit.
Talk it through
If it looks like a fit, you will be invited to a complimentary discovery call with the team.
Meet from home
Your 90-minute initial case review and initial nutrition consultation happen by video, from home in Larkspur or wherever you are in California.
Test and personalize
You can have conventional labs drawn in the Ross Valley or along US 101, and every result comes with a real explanation from the team, not just a number on a page. Your step-by-step plan follows, with regular follow-ups and secure portal messaging between visits.
What is Dr. Maren's approach?
Her signature three-pillar approach: address root causes, optimize hormones and build resilience. We don't guess. We test.
Address the root cause
We go deeper to uncover and treat what is driving your symptoms, starting with gut health and its links to the immune system, hormones, metabolism and nutrients.
Optimize hormones
With comprehensive labs and clinical expertise, we dial in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, thyroid medications and innovative therapies like peptides and GLP-1s, when appropriate.
Build resilience
By integrating individualized nutrition, movement, lifestyle and mindset strategies, we help you strengthen your foundation for long-term health, energy and vitality.
Serving Larkspur and Ross Valley and nearby communities
Care is virtual, so where you live in California does not limit your options. Dr. Maren sees women in Larkspur, Ross Valley, Corte Madera, Kentfield, Ross and San Anselmo.
Nearby communities
Helpful reading
Functional medicine and menopause care in Larkspur and Ross Valley: FAQs
Does Dr. Maren see women in Corte Madera, Kentfield, Ross and San Anselmo?
Yes. Dr. Maren sees women all through the Ross Valley by telehealth, including Corte Madera, Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo and Larkspur, and anywhere else in California. Video visits mean the town you live in makes no difference to the care you get, from your first case review through every follow-up.
Can a functional medicine doctor prescribe hormone therapy?
It depends on the doctor's license. Dr. Maren is a board-certified family physician as well as a certified functional medicine practitioner, so she can prescribe bioidentical estrogen, progesterone and testosterone when appropriate, along with thyroid medication and other treatments, and adjust them as your labs and symptoms change.
My periods got heavier in my mid-40s. Could that be perimenopause?
Yes, it can be. Heavier or closer-together periods are common in perimenopause as hormone patterns shift, and heavy bleeding can quietly drain your iron. It still deserves a proper look, since fibroids, polyps and thyroid problems can cause it too. Dr. Maren can check iron and thyroid and coordinate with your gynecologist for an exam or imaging.
Do I need to be in California during my visits?
Yes. State licensing laws require you to be physically located in California, or in another state where Dr. Maren is licensed (California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan and Texas), at the time of each video visit.
Is GLP-1 therapy part of Dr. Maren's approach to weight?
Yes, when it is appropriate. Before GLP-1 therapy, including microdosed approaches, comes into the picture, Dr. Maren reviews your insulin, glucose, body composition and history and talks through the tradeoffs with you. If it fits, it sits inside a larger plan of protein, strength training and sleep, because keeping muscle matters as much as the number on the scale.
How do I become a patient in Larkspur?
Start with the brief online application. If it looks like a good fit, you will get an email inviting you to book a complimentary discovery call with the team. If it is a match, you will be scheduled for a 90-minute initial case review and an initial nutrition consultation, all by video from home in Larkspur.
Do you accept insurance?
We do not contract with insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. This allows us to provide personalized, unhurried care without the limitations of insurance-based models. However, the vast majority of patients use their insurance to cover conventional lab work, and many also use HSA or FSA funds to pay for our services.
Can Dr. Maren be my primary care doctor?
No. The practice functions as a specialty consulting service. You will still need a primary care provider near Larkspur for general medical needs, physical exams and urgent issues like infections or injuries.
Ready to feel like yourself again, only better?
Dr. Maren and her team see women in Larkspur and Ross Valley and across California by telehealth. Start with a brief application so we can understand your goals.