By: Jillian Caravella
When it comes to women’s health, especially during menopause, there’s often more confusion than clarity. Conventional medicine can leave women feeling unheard, rushed through appointments, or misunderstood when it comes to symptoms like brain fog or mood shifts. That’s why my recent conversation with Dr. Shabnam Das Kar MD, who is a trained OB/GYN and functional medicine practitioner, was both enlightening and encouraging.
From Conventional to Functional Medicine: Dr. Das Kar’s Journey
Dr. Das Kar’s journey into functional medicine began with a personal mission, understanding brain health and preventing dementia. Trained as an OB/GYN, she transitioned into functional medicine to explore a more integrated, systems-based approach. Unlike conventional medicine, which often treats symptoms in isolation, functional medicine views the body as a web of interconnected systems. As she explained, treatment is tailored to the individual, looking not just at lab results, but at a person’s environment, lifestyle, and capacity for change.
The Reality of Conventional Care?
One of the biggest challenges Dr. Das Kar identified in conventional medicine is time. With appointments limited to 10 or 15 minutes, this often leads to dismissals or misdiagnoses, particularly when physicians aren’t trained to recognize the full range of menopausal symptoms.
Dr. Das Kar offered a simple but powerful piece of advice for patients when coming into the doctors office: come prepared. Writing down your questions ahead of time can help ensure your concerns are heard.
Myths, Misinformation, and Menopause
A particularly eye-opening part of our discussion centered on hormone therapy. Dr. Das Kar clarified that fears surrounding hormones and cancer or heart disease are often based on outdated research or misinterpretation. Many women are told to avoid hormone therapy entirely, even when it could help alleviate severe symptoms and protect cognitive, heart, and bone health.
She also emphasized that supplements aren’t a substitute for hormones, a myth perpetuated by unregulated wellness marketing. Hormone levels can’t be “balanced” by supplements alone, and relying on these products can delay proper treatment.
Hormones, the Brain, and the Menopausal Transition
We dove into research from Dr. Lisa Mosconi that links hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause with shifts in brain metabolism. It’s likely not just a decline in estrogen, but changes in other hormones like progesterone also play a significant role in how the brain processes glucose. When these hormones decline, some women experience symptoms that mimic early cognitive decline.
There’s good news too: the brain is adaptable. It can switch to using ketones for energy, and in many cases, interventions like hormone therapy can help. Dr. Das Kar even noted its potential protective effects for women with the APOE4 gene, a genetic marker associated with Alzheimer’s.
A Smarter, More Personalized Future for Women’s Health
Dr. Das Kar is an advocate for a “multi-pronged” approach to treating symptoms. Specifically looking at sleep, food, nutrient depletion, and lifestyle rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all pill. She stressed that cognitive symptoms should never be brushed off as just “normal aging,” and that providers need to listen more closely to what their patients are experiencing.
AI, she noted, could be a powerful ally here, particularly for personalizing care and improving access in underserved communities. Tools like symptom trackers or AI-driven health coaches could help identify patterns in hormone-related changes, even if real-time hormone monitoring isn’t fully integrated into care yet.
A Personal Note
This conversation deeply resonated with me, both professionally and personally. As a sociology major and public health minor, and someone considering a Master’s in Public Health, I’ve always been passionate about the intersection of gender, health, and the complexity of women’s health. My mother’s experience navigating menopause, combined with my own work in the field, has shown me just how much more exploration is needed in this field.
Dr. Das Kar’s insights reminded me that revolutionizing women’s health isn’t just possible, it’s already happening. It’s happening in longer, more thoughtful consultations, in research that centers women’s bodies and brains, and in conversations like this one.
Final Thoughts
If you’re navigating menopause or supporting someone who is, know this: your symptoms are real, your concerns are valid, and there are doctors like Dr. Shabnam Das Kar who are working tirelessly to shift the narrative. Personalized and systems-based approaches offer a promising path forward, not just for treating symptoms, but for honoring the complexity and power of women’s health.
At Whole in One Health, we are advocates of personalized, preventive, and data-informed care that honors the full spectrum of women’s lived experiences, especially through transitions like menopause, where traditional care often falls short. Our platform is designed to empower patients with the tools, insights, and support they need to understand their bodies, advocate for themselves, and access providers who listen and respond. Inspired by clinicians like Dr. Das Kar and fueled by a commitment to health equity, Whole in One is building a smarter, more connected future. One where every one of us feels seen, heard, and supported at every stage of life.
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