About
A fresh, holistic take on menopause—medical insight meets mind-body support.
Menopause is a transition that prompts you to pause and reflect on who you truly are and what comes next. Dr Melissa provides empowering support during this phase with a clinical review of your health journey to date while considering you as a whole person within the context of your life.
"Dr Melissa's care and expertise in women’s health have been life-changing."
Rewriting the Menopause Narrative—On Your Terms.
Meet your specialist
Menopause Consultant / GP / Mind-Body Practitioner
NZ Medical Degree (MBChB)
Royal NZ College of General Practitioners Fellow (FRNZCGP)
Dr Melissa, who has been prescribing body-identical hormones for women for the past fifteen years, firmly believes in our potential during menopause. She views this stage as a powerful era in a woman’s life, where physical fertility makes way for creative fertility, inspiring women to reach their full potential.
The ultimate goal is for all women to have access to this possibility by re-examining their lives. This is achieved by rewriting the narrative, integrating mind and body, and making lifestyle adjustments. Dr Melissa provides fierce support to women during this transition through consultation, prescription, referral to relevant practitioners, and a mindful investment in the therapeutic relationship.
She has a passionate interest and extensive experience in women’s health, having begun her career as a registered nurse before studying medicine. Her postgraduate study includes mind-body paradigms and palliative care. Melissa is also a writer, and writing is central to her identity, both professionally and creatively.
Dr Melissa is available for online consultations, assistance navigating the health system, workplace education, and public speaking events, including conferences, workshops, and retreats.
Areas of expertise
Menopause Symptom Management
The symptoms of menopause are loud and overwhelming for many women. Quietening or managing the volume of them is essential to enable wellbeing and progress. Dr Melissa facilitates this through movement, nutrition, personal practice, and hormonal support.
Mind-Body Medicine
Your body is telling the story and asking you to read it; menopause is no different. Taking the time to understand how menopause is affecting your body is key to identifying what needs your attention.
Post Fertility Purpose
A new phase begins with reviewing and then refining your life’s purpose. Unlocking your wildest dreams and realising they are now possible is one of the best-kept secrets of menopause.
Sexuality and Intimacy Conversations
Realising that sexuality and intimacy don’t fade but deepen during and beyond menopause is a liberating experience. It looks different for every woman, but can be a key element of our full power.
Faqs
All of my consulting services are conducted online. I will refer you for investigations and to other practitioners if a physical exam or hands-on treatment is required.
In nearly all situations, yes.
Hormone treatment is typically initiated at a low dose to assess response and tolerability. Woman who experience a positive response are keen to increase their dose quickly. Sometimes this is appropriate, and at other times, slow and steady wins the race.
Estrogen stimulates the lining of the uterus and so can increase bleeding as a result. It may necessitate trying again at an even lower dose. An ultrasound scan may also be necessary to assess the thickness of the uterine lining. Breast tenderness, an increase in breast size and mood changes or increased irritability are also reported.
Various things can help with the early symptoms of menopause, which include supplements, dietary changes, individualised exercise regimes, and personal practice.
With a multifaceted approach. There is rarely "one cause, one fix", and I will help you identify different contributing factors that can be addressed to improve your feeling comfortable in your body.
No. No, you are not.