Virtual care for women in Dripping Springs
Functional Medicine & Menopause Doctor in Dripping Springs, TX
Who is a functional medicine and menopause doctor serving Dripping Springs?
Dr. Christine Maren, D.O., provides telehealth care to women in Dripping Springs and Belterra, so living in the Hill Country does not put specialist care out of reach. Three certifications shape her work: family medicine (ABFM board certification), functional medicine (FMCP-M) and menopause (MSCP). Bring her concerns about perimenopause and menopause, gut health, autoimmune and thyroid conditions or weight, and expect a plan that can include hormone therapy when it is right for you.
Dripping Springs sits on US 290 where Austin gives way to the Hill Country, about 22 miles west of downtown. From there, a specialist visit in the city is a real outing, one more thing to schedule around work, family and everything else. Dr. Maren spent part of her career in Austin, at Dr. Amy Myers' Austin UltraHealth clinic, working through complex autoimmune, thyroid and gut cases. Now she practices from Colorado, where she hikes and lifts, and sees Hill Country women by video. Testing, a personal plan and prescriptions when appropriate all reach you without the drive down 290.
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 Dripping Springs?
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 Dripping Springs 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 Dripping Springs?
Apply online
Share your symptoms and goals in a brief application. The team confirms you are located in Texas 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 Dripping Springs or wherever you are in Texas.
Test and personalize
Your conventional labs are collected at a lab close to Dripping Springs or Belterra in Hays County, then reviewed with you carefully, value by value. 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 Dripping Springs and nearby communities
Care is virtual, so where you live in Texas does not limit your options. Dr. Maren sees women in Dripping Springs and Belterra, and throughout the Hill Country west of Austin.
Nearby communities
Helpful reading
Functional medicine and menopause care in Dripping Springs: FAQs
Does Dr. Maren see women in Belterra?
Yes. Belterra and Dripping Springs are neighbors along US 290, and women in Belterra can see Dr. Maren's team by video like anyone else in Texas. Labs are handled at a lab close to home, and the portal keeps you connected to your care team between appointments.
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.
Is there a hormone doctor near Dripping Springs?
Yes. Dr. Christine Maren, a Texas-licensed physician certified by The Menopause Society, sees Dripping Springs women by telehealth for perimenopause, menopause, PCOS and other hormone imbalances. She tests rather than guesses, and she prescribes bioidentical estrogen, progesterone or testosterone when appropriate, after weighing the risks and benefits with you.
Do I need to be in Texas during my visits?
Yes. State licensing laws require you to be physically located in Texas, or in another state where Dr. Maren is licensed (California, Colorado, Illinois and Michigan), at the time of each video visit.
My problem is my gut, not hot flashes. Can I still see Dr. Maren?
Yes. Everything is connected, and for some women the gut is the right place to begin. Bloating, reflux, irregular digestion and food reactions can affect nutrient absorption, inflammation and how you feel overall. Dr. Maren can order stool and SIBO breath testing and build a step-by-step plan, then add hormone care if and when it is needed.
How do I become a patient in Dripping Springs?
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 Dripping Springs.
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 Dripping Springs 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 Dripping Springs and across Texas by telehealth. Start with a brief application so we can understand your goals.