Virtual care for women in Glenview
Functional Medicine & Menopause Doctor in Glenview, IL
Who is a functional medicine and menopause doctor serving Glenview?
Dr. Christine Maren, D.O., sees Glenview women by telehealth for functional medicine and menopause care. She trained in family medicine and is board-certified through the ABFM, then added The Menopause Society's MSCP and the Institute for Functional Medicine's FMCP-M certification. She treats perimenopause and menopause, heavy or irregular cycles, PCOS, thyroid disease and gut problems, and she prescribes bioidentical HRT when appropriate.
Perimenopause arrives slowly for some women. For others it lands all at once: cycles that suddenly run heavy or short, sleep that breaks apart at 3 a.m., a shorter fuse and a body that stops responding the way it used to. If you are in Glenview asking yourself what on earth is happening at 43, you deserve a real answer, not a pat on the head. Dr. Maren looks at hormones, thyroid function, gut health and metabolism through real testing, then builds a plan around what she finds. You can start from your own living room, between school drop-off and the evening crawl up Waukegan Road.
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 Glenview?
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 Glenview 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 Glenview?
Apply online
Share your symptoms and goals in a brief application. The team confirms you are located in Illinois 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 Glenview or wherever you are in Illinois.
Test and personalize
Blood is drawn at a lab near Glenview, and the team then connects each result to how you actually feel, in detail and in plain language. 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 Glenview and nearby communities
Care is virtual, so where you live in Illinois does not limit your options. Dr. Maren sees women in Glenview, and throughout the North Shore suburbs.
Nearby communities
Helpful reading
Functional medicine and menopause care in Glenview: FAQs
Are heavy or irregular periods in my 40s part of perimenopause?
Yes, they can be. As ovulation becomes less regular in perimenopause, cycles may shorten, lengthen or get heavier. Heavy bleeding can also come from fibroids, thyroid problems or other causes, so it deserves a proper workup. Dr. Maren tests hormones and thyroid, coordinates with your gynecologist when needed, and treats the cause, not just the calendar.
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.
I'm 44. Am I too young for hormone therapy?
No, age alone does not rule it out. Hormone therapy can be appropriate during perimenopause when symptoms are disrupting your life, and the decision depends on your symptoms, history and personal risks rather than a birthday. Dr. Maren tests first and weighs risk against benefit, so hormones are prescribed only when they are right for you, and other paths exist when they are not.
Do I need to be in Illinois during my visits?
Yes. State licensing laws require you to be physically located in Illinois, or in another state where Dr. Maren is licensed (California, Colorado, Michigan and Texas), at the time of each video visit.
Is there a perimenopause specialist close to Glenview?
Yes. Dr. Christine Maren is MSCP-certified and licensed in Illinois, and she cares for Glenview women entirely by telehealth. Perimenopause is one of her core areas, from the first changes in sleep and cycles through the final period and beyond. You get a physician-led plan built on testing, without a drive into the city.
How do I become a patient in Glenview?
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 Glenview.
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 Glenview 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 Glenview and across Illinois by telehealth. Start with a brief application so we can understand your goals.