Perimenopause support with Dr. Amy Day and The Women’s Vitality Center
Written by Heather Anderson
Dr. Amy Day, ND, Founder of The Women’s Vitality Center
Amy, can you share what led you to establish The Women’s Vitality Center? What inspired you to focus on supporting women’s health, particularly through perimenopause and beyond?
Yeah, it really began as a personal journey, especially regarding my focus on women's health. When I was in naturopathic medical school, I was diagnosed with endometriosis after struggling with really painful periods and trying to figure out what was going on for a while. As a patient, I faced a lot of dismissal and apathy around my symptoms, and realized how lacking our medical system was in providing the kind of information and supportive experience I needed at that time. This inspired me to create a different kind of experience for patients—one where they felt more validated and listened to. This deep need to create a more supportive and informative medical system led to me practicing as an ND since 2005, launching my own private practice in 2013, and later, the founding of The Women's Vitality Center in 2018.
What was the impetus for expanding your private ND practice into a wellness center with a team of doctors? I know that’s a big leap.
Well, the short answer is that my practice was fully booked up and I was at personal max capacity, but I didn’t feel like that was all the impact I wanted to have in the world. I felt a desire to help more people and spread a wider impact.
I love that. You’re at a limit, but your desire to help wasn’t. Next logical step, build a team!
Right. And that does sound like the next logical step. But I hesitated because building a team felt scary so I did first try all the other ways to possibly scale my services - online programs, courses, group delivery, etc. And we did and still do all those things. But I really wanted more people to get to work 1-1 with an actual doctor, so I took the big leap to try and ‘replicate’ myself in 2018 - and I am so proud and relieved that I did. Because I now feel incredibly fortunate to have surrounded myself with skilled doctors who synergistically add up to so much more together than the sum of our individual parts. And while we take a unified approach, there’s so much more value in a team beyond “replicating myself”.
Where did you launch the original Women's Vitality Center physical space?
We initially launched in downtown Berkeley. It was a beautiful space that the universe kind of pushed me into—it had four rooms! Then the pandemic hit, and we were forced to adapt to a virtual model, which actually turned out to be incredibly convenient for our patients, so we’ve kept it and we can now serve patients throughout all of California.
The Women’s Vitality Center offers a range of programs designed to support women’s health. Can you highlight a few of your core offerings and explain how they cater to the unique needs of women+ at different stages of their wellness journey?
We are a high-touch annual membership-based practice and love supporting our patients as their health journey unfolds over time. Before joining our membership, we have two ways for new patients to get started. Our premiere offering for new patients is the three-month Vitality Jumpstart, which includes detailed history taking, lab testing, and an initial treatment plan. It's our signature one-on-one offering designed to lay a solid foundation for our patients. Another entry point is our Hormone Harmony Foundations program, which provides a preset panel of labs and a consultation with a hormone expert. Additionally, we offer an on-demand mini-course called Perimenopause 101 and have a robust online platform full of other free resources and low cost DIY options.
“I felt a desire to help more people and spread a wider impact. ”
What makes The Women’s Vitality Center’s approach to women’s health and wellness unique?
Our VITAL method truly sets us apart. We start by Validating each patient's experiences, then we Investigate by digging deep into their medical histories and conducting thorough lab tests. We Target our therapeutic approach to the person’s individual needs and Track progress meticulously, Adjust treatment plans as needed—something often missing in conventional medical settings—and finally, we focus on helping our patients Live it up, by aligning treatment with their life goals.
How do you integrate different modalities to support your patients?
Our treatment pyramid starts with foundational lifestyle choices—nutrition, fitness, sleep, stress management, and mindset. We then add layers as needed, including herbs, supplements, and bioidentical hormone therapy. The tip of the pyramid might include conventional medical interventions like surgery or prescription medications provided by other doctors, but these are needed infrequently.
The Women’s Vitality Center’s Pyramid of Solutions
Could you introduce us to some key members of your team and explain how their expertise contributes to the holistic approach of The Women’s Vitality Center?
We have a wonderful team of NDs and national board-certified health and wellness coaches. Each team member brings overlapping expertise, trained to provide a consistent and unique experience. Our health coaches add a layer of support, helping integrate treatment plans into daily life, enhancing the effectiveness of our medical guidance. Coaches coordinate with the doctors so as a patient, there isn't a lapse in your care. Continuity of care means that even when the patients are too busy to take care of themselves, we are here to remind them to make their appointments and follow up with their progress.
How important is the sense of community in the healing journey for your clients? What opportunities for connection does The Women’s Vitality Center provide?
Community is crucial in the healing journey. Our Vitality Club, initially for patients only and now open to the public, offers a space where women+ can share their experiences, educate themselves, and know that they're not alone. It includes free resources like articles, workshop recordings, and group support calls , enhancing the supportive environment we foster.
Without revealing personal details, could you share a story of transformation that captures the essence of the impact The Women’s Vitality Center has on the lives of the women you work with?
Yes, of course. The Background: A 46-year-old woman came to our wellness center burdened by a family history of neglecting personal health and prioritizing the needs of others. Suffering from chronic exhaustion, brain fog, and significant premenstrual syndrome (PMS), her quality of life was deeply affected. She struggled with inconsistent eating habits, reliance on cigarettes during stressful periods, and sleep disturbances that worsened during her menstrual cycle. Additionally, she experienced digestive issues, including bloating and stomach pains, which she recognized were exacerbated by certain foods.
Challenges: The client faced multiple challenges:
Managing severe PMS symptoms, which included painful periods that impacted her professional performance due to worsening brain fog.
Inconsistencies in diet and self-care habits.
Overcoming the ingrained habit of placing others' needs before her own, leading to stress and poor health management.
Intervention: Our approach focused on identifying and prioritizing lifestyle changes that could make the most significant impact on her wellbeing without feeling overwhelming. We provided:
One-on-one sessions with a health coach to offer accountability and explore the psychological barriers to healthy habits.
A personalized nutrition and supplement plan based on lab tests to address specific imbalances. Bioidentical progesterone support to manage menstrual symptoms.
Emphasis on manageable steps towards change, encouraging the client to accept imperfection in her health journey.
Results: The tailored support and interventions led to remarkable improvements in the client's health and quality of life:
Enhanced sleep quality and mood stabilization.
Increased energy levels, leading to better performance and recognition at work.
Improved ability to set personal boundaries, saying no to undue demands.
Visible changes in her demeanor, with colleagues noting her happier and healthier appearance.
Conclusion: This case underscores the importance of holistic and personalized health care. Unlike conventional medical settings where patients may receive generic advice and minimal follow-up, our comprehensive support system between doctor visits enabled the client to effectively implement lifestyle changes and tackle the underlying challenges of her health journey. Her success is a testament to the efficacy of integrated wellness programs that include consistent coaching and tailored treatment plans.
I love the focus on accepting imperfect action and embracing where a client is at, because most of us know what we should and shouldn’t be doing, but following that advice is a whole different story.
Exactly! A doctor can tell you, “don’t smoke and avoid dairy”, but without continued support and encouragement, those aren’t easy lifestyle changes to make.
What are some of the most common challenges women face when they come to you?
We are women’s health and hormone experts who specialize in supporting the perimenopausal transition. The most common challenges our patients face include fatigue, mood issues, period changes, hot flashes, PMS and sleep disturbances, plus thyroid, adrenal and a variety of other hormonal imbalances. Our Perimenopause 101 on-demand mini-course is a great resource for those who are beginning to navigate these challenges and want to have a better understanding of what is going on in their body and what steps they can take to start feeling better ASAP.
Education is a powerful tool for empowerment. How does The Women’s Vitality Center educate and empower women to take charge of their health?
Education is pivotal for empowerment. We provide various educational resources and courses, like our Perimenopause 101, to help women take charge of their health and make informed decisions about their wellness journey.
Looking to the future, what new programs or initiatives can women look forward to from The Women’s Vitality Center?
Looking forward, we're excited about growing our team to be able to help even more women+ in California and expanding into other states as well. The highly personalized 1:1 approach is so needed in the world of women’s health. We are also expanding our offerings to include more group and educational formats, such as the 'book club' version of our Perimenopause 101. We're always looking to adapt and expand our services to meet the evolving needs of our clients and patients.
For people who are interested in connecting with you for more support, what are the next steps?
If you’re curious about your own perimenopausal journey and would like to optimize the next era of your life, you can:
Book a call to get help choosing your best action plan! Ongoing care is available through our VITAL Membership but before committing to a full year of care, new patients begin one of two ways:
Become a new patient with the comprehensive 3-month Vitality Jumpstart.
Find out if your hormones are correctly in balance via their Hormone Harmony Foundations package. This is perfect for you if:
You want to learn more about what’s happening in your unique body RIGHT NOW and to understand the various foundations of health that may be specifically impacting your hormones.
You are someone who is “generally healthy” but is dealing with perimenopause, menopause, PMS, stress and fatigue, burnout, insomnia, low libido, mood swings, unexplained weight gain, anxiety, skin issues, brain fog, hot flashes, or other annoying hormonal symptoms.
The diet and lifestyle changes you’ve tried so far aren’t making enough of a difference, and you want more insight through lab testing.
You are curious about bioidentical hormones and want to get your hormone levels tested to help consider if that is the right path for you.
Your regular doctor says your symptoms are “normal” because you’re a woman or because you’re getting older, but you don’t want to accept that!
You’ve been offered antidepressants and birth control pills, but you prefer a more natural approach if possible.
Connect with Amy Day at womensvitalitycenter.com.
You can also find her on The M List, The Mamahood’s searchable database of mom-recommended resources, or connect and collaborate with Amy inside of The Club membership for women Founders.