Virtual care for women in Ann Arbor
Functional Medicine & Menopause Doctor in Ann Arbor, MI
Who is a functional medicine and menopause doctor serving Ann Arbor?
Board certification in family medicine (ABFM), functional medicine certification (FMCP-M) and Menopause Society certification (MSCP): Dr. Christine Maren, D.O., holds all three, and she treats women in Ann Arbor and Scio, Pittsfield and Ann Arbor Townships by telehealth. Her work spans perimenopause and menopause, HRT when it is right for you, insulin resistance and weight, and thyroid and gut conditions, with advanced testing guiding each decision.
If you are someone who reads the study before taking the advice, Dr. Maren's approach will make sense to you. Her team tests rather than guesses: hormones, a full thyroid panel with antibodies, gut testing, metabolic markers and nutrients, all read alongside your history so the plan rests on actual data. Treatment also respects how you live. If your mornings start with miles on the paths along the Huron River, or your weekends end with a paddle on it, strength, recovery and sleep belong at the center of the plan, not tacked on at the end. For Ann Arbor and the surrounding townships, every visit happens by video.
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 Ann Arbor?
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 Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor?
Apply online
Share your symptoms and goals in a brief application. The team confirms you are located in Michigan 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 Ann Arbor or wherever you are in Michigan.
Test and personalize
Conventional labs can be drawn locally in Washtenaw County. Afterward, the team reviews the results with you thoroughly so you can see the whole picture. 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 Ann Arbor and nearby communities
Care is virtual, so where you live in Michigan does not limit your options. Dr. Maren sees women in Ann Arbor, Scio Township, Pittsfield Township and Ann Arbor Township, and throughout Washtenaw County.
Nearby communities
Helpful reading
Functional medicine and menopause care in Ann Arbor: FAQs
Some weeks I work in Ohio. Can I have a visit from there?
No. Dr. Maren is licensed in California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan and Texas, and you must be physically in one of those states during every visit. Ohio is not on that list, so book appointments for days you are home in Washtenaw County or elsewhere in Michigan, rather than a day you will be south of the state line.
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.
How is Dr. Maren's testing different from my yearly bloodwork?
It goes further. Beyond a standard panel, testing can include a full thyroid workup with antibodies rather than TSH alone, stool and SIBO breath testing, metabolic markers, nutrient levels, immune function and, when your history calls for it, mold, heavy metals or other environmental toxins. Conventional labs are still drawn locally, and each result is interpreted in the context of your symptoms.
Can I get help with insulin resistance or weight gain in perimenopause?
Yes. Weight and metabolic health is one of Dr. Maren's core services, with attention to insulin resistance, body composition and keeping muscle as your hormones shift. Nutrition and strength training are the foundation, and GLP-1 therapy is an option when it is appropriate for you. The goal is metabolic health you can sustain, not a crash diet.
How do I become a patient in Ann Arbor?
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 Ann Arbor.
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 Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor and across Michigan by telehealth. Start with a brief application so we can understand your goals.