True Women's Health

06/17/2026

For too long, menopause has been treated as something women should simply endure.

In a recent article featuring actress Gabrielle Union-Wade and true.'s Dr. Diana Bitner, the conversation centers around a topic that affects millions of women but is still too often left unspoken: hot flashes and menopause symptoms.

Many women assume these symptoms are just something they have to live with. But as Dr. Bitner shares, understanding your symptoms, asking questions, and having open conversations with your healthcare provider can help you better understand the options available to you.

One thing we know for certain: menopause isn't something you have to navigate alone.

The more we talk about menopause, the more we help women feel informed and empowered to advocate for their health.

Read the full article to learn more:

Here's how this actress and menopause advocate found her voice to talk about her moderate to severe hot flashes—and why starting the conversation about treatment options with your doctor matters.

06/16/2026

Perimenopause is more than a transition. It's also an opportunity.

New research shows that women's cardiovascular health often begins to decline during perimenopause, making this an important time to focus on prevention and long-term wellness.

In a recent West Michigan Woman article, Dr. Celia Egan shares why women shouldn't just "push through" midlife changes. She shares about how a proactive approach to nutrition, strength training, metabolic health, and individualized care can help support heart health for years to come.

Read the full article to learn more:

Perimenopause is linked to declining cardiovascular health and increased heart disease risk in women. Learn why this midlife stage is a critical time for prevention and heart health planning.

06/14/2026

At true., we believe exceptional care starts with exceptional people. People who are curious. Compassionate. Thoughtful. People who understand that listening is just as important as treating.

We're currently hiring Medical Assistants to join our team! If a friend, daughter, colleague, or recent graduate comes to mind, we'd love to meet them.

Apply on our website here: https://bit.ly/43u8XYK

06/11/2026

Talking about health with a partner isn't always easy. Even when the conversation comes from a place of care, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

In her recent Fox 17 appearance, Dr. Diana Bitner discussed a challenge many couples face: what happens when one partner is making healthy changes and the other isn't. Whether it's nutrition, exercise, weight gain, or aging, these conversations can quickly become tangled in fear, shame, or defensiveness.

Instead of focusing on what needs to change, Dr. Bitner encourages couples to start with curiosity. "How do you want to age? What does health look like for you? How can we work toward it together?"

Sometimes the most powerful health habit isn't a new diet or workout plan. It's creating space for honest conversations and supporting each other along the way.

Watch Dr. Bitner's full segment for practical insights on navigating health conversations here:

June is Men's Health Month, and part of a healthy life is a healthy partnership. Dr. Bitner shares how you can tackle some of those hard questions.

06/09/2026

Can we all agree that “Try harder” is not a treatment plan?

Midlife weight gain is often blamed on willpower. But hormones, metabolism, sleep, stress, muscle mass, inflammation, and conditions like lipedema can all play a role.

The answer isn’t more shame. It’s better information, better questions, and a plan that actually fits your body now.

Read the latest article from our Director of Obesity Medicine & Metabolic Health, Dr. Celia Egan: https://bit.ly/4uue8mp

06/05/2026

June is Lipedema Awareness Month, and Sarah Suydam of West Michigan Woman wrote a personal and helpful article outlining 8 things to know about lipedema.

She covers what lipedema is, why it’s often misdiagnosed, how it differs from obesity, the role of hormones, treatment options, and the mental health impact. Sarah also shares that her own diagnosis came from Dr. Celia Egan at true. Women’s Health. We’re grateful to Sarah for her vulnerability and for helping more women recognize the signs, ask better questions, and feel less alone! Thank you, Sarah!

Read the article here: https://bit.ly/4uVy5nc

Please consider sharing with your network, too! Someone you know may be looking for these answers.

06/04/2026

June is Men’s Health Month, and while menopause is often viewed as a women’s health issue, its effects can extend to partners and relationships, too.

This week on FOX 17, Dr. Diana Bitner discussed how menopause can impact communication, intimacy, sleep, stress levels, and overall relationship health. The good news? Men can play an important role by learning about menopause, asking questions, and supporting their partners through this transition.

When couples approach menopause as a team, it can strengthen relationships rather than strain them.

Watch Dr. Bitner’s full interview to learn how understanding menopause can benefit both partners and support healthier relationships for years to come.

June is Men's Health Month, and while menopause happens to women, it can affect couples. Dr. Diana Bitner explains how it affects men, and how partners can navigate the challenges together.

06/01/2026

You can’t diet away lipedema.
And yet, most women are told to try. Eat less. Move more. Be more disciplined.

So when their body doesn’t respond, they assume the problem is them. It’s not. Lipedema is a form of fat driven by hormones, inflammation, and genetics that does not respond to traditional weight loss strategies. And most women have never even heard of it.

Dr. Celia Egan wrote an article to help change that by bringing more awareness, more education, and more compassionate care to women who have spent too long feeling confused or dismissed.

Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3ROChX4

05/28/2026

Lipedema is often mistaken for weight gain. But it’s actually a painful medical condition that affects millions of women and often goes undiagnosed for years.

Yesterday on Fox 17, Dr. Celia Egan joined Janice Allen FOX 17 to explain what lipedema is, how it differs from lymphedema, and why so many women are told to “just lose weight” when something more is going on.

Lipedema commonly affects the hips, thighs, calves, buttocks, and sometimes the arms. It can cause painful fat, swelling, heaviness, easy bruising, and tissue that does not respond to diet and exercise the way typical fat does. It often begins or worsens during times of hormonal change, including puberty, pregnancy, and...yes, perimenopause, and menopause.

One of the most important takeaways from Dr. Egan is that this is NOT a failure of willpower. A diagnosis can bring clarity, validation, and a path forward.

If you’ve struggled with painful, disproportionate fat in your legs or arms, especially if it hasn’t responded to diet and exercise, it may be worth asking whether lipedema could be part of your story. Watch the Fox 17 segment to learn more: https://bit.ly/4vbwlWz

05/27/2026

Perimenopause isn’t just a hormone transition. It’s also an important heart-health checkpoint. Dr. Celia Egan joined eightWest yesterday to talk about why this stage of life can be a “window of opportunity” for women to better understand and reduce their cardiovascular risk.

As estrogen levels begin to shift, women may also see changes in blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight, sleep, mood, and inflammation. These changes can happen quietly, long before symptoms of heart disease appear.

That’s why knowing your numbers matters: Blood pressure, cholesterol, Hemoglobin A1c, weight and waist circumference trends and your family history.

And remember: prevention doesn’t have to start with a complete lifestyle overhaul. A walk after dinner, more consistent sleep, strength training, balanced meals, stress reduction, and addressing conditions like high blood pressure, insulin resistance, sleep apnea, or obesity can all support long-term heart health.

Perimenopause may be unpredictable, but it can also be a powerful time to pay attention, ask questions, and take small steps toward protecting your heart! Watch Dr. Egan’s eightWest interview here:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – In a recent study, perimenopausal women were found to be two times more likely to have a low cardiovascular health score compared to women having regular menstrua…