Virtual care for women in Plano
Functional Medicine & Menopause Doctor in Plano, TX
Who is a functional medicine and menopause doctor serving Plano?
Plano women can work with Dr. Christine Maren, D.O., by telehealth. Her credentials cover three fields: board certification in family medicine from the ABFM, functional medicine certification (FMCP-M) from the Institute for Functional Medicine, and menopause certification (MSCP) from The Menopause Society. She treats perimenopause and menopause, gut conditions such as SIBO and IBS, thyroid imbalance, and the brain fog and fatigue that often travel with them.
In Plano, the stretch between morning drop-off and the last evening pickup rarely leaves an hour for you. That is often exactly when perimenopause arrives. Texas is part of Dr. Maren's story: she trained as a family physician in San Antonio, then joined Dr. Amy Myers' team at Austin UltraHealth to work with complex autoimmune and gut cases. She is based in Colorado now and sees Plano women by video, so the time you carve out goes to answers instead of traffic on US 75 or the Tollway. You take care of everyone else. This part is for you.
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 Plano?
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 Plano 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 Plano?
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 Plano or wherever you are in Texas.
Test and personalize
Labs are drawn close to home in Plano at a time that suits your schedule, and your care team walks you through every number in detail. 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 Plano and nearby communities
Care is virtual, so where you live in Texas does not limit your options. Dr. Maren sees women in Plano, and throughout Collin County north of Dallas.
Nearby communities
Helpful reading
Functional medicine and menopause care in Plano: FAQs
Is there a women's functional medicine doctor near Plano?
Yes. Dr. Maren practices functional medicine for women by telehealth and is licensed in Texas, so Plano is fully within reach. She is also menopause-certified (MSCP), so your hormones are evaluated together with your thyroid, gut and metabolism rather than one system at a time.
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.
Brain fog is getting in the way at work. Could it be hormonal?
Yes, it can be. Changing estrogen and progesterone levels in perimenopause often affect focus, memory and sleep, and thyroid imbalance, nutrient gaps and blood sugar swings can do the same. Dr. Maren tests for each of these instead of guessing, then builds your plan around what the results actually show.
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.
Will my plan be realistic with a demanding job and a family?
Yes. Dr. Maren's rule is progress over perfection. Your plan is built in steps around your goals and the life you actually have, often starting with foundations like protein, strength training and sleep, then adding treatment guided by your testing. Nothing about it assumes you have hours of free time each day.
How do I become a patient in Plano?
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 Plano.
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 Plano 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 Plano and across Texas by telehealth. Start with a brief application so we can understand your goals.