What if the most powerful shift in how we practice medicine starts with one person deciding to do it differently?
Aviva’s story is that kind of shift.
Long before she ever sat in a medical classroom, she had already built a life as a midwife, herbalist, and mother of four who was deeply embedded in her community. Then, in what most of us would consider the busiest, most demanding years of life - years that often overlap with perimenopause - she made a radical decision: she went back to school. Back into training. Back into the system she wanted to help change.
Not because something was broken, but because she saw what was missing.
That’s what makes this episode different. It’s about what happens when women get to reframe the perimenopausal transition as one of the most powerful, generative, expansive years of their lives.
Instead of accepting the status quo, Dr. Aviva Romm built an entirely different way of seeing things - one that doesn’t reduce symptoms to problems, but places them in context. One that connects sleep, stress, nourishment, physiology, and even relationships into a bigger picture of health.
You can feel that perspective ripple through the entire conversation. It gently challenges the idea that you need more interventions, more testing, more fixing, and replaces it with something both simpler and harder: paying attention, understanding what your body is asking for, and supporting it instead of overriding it.
By the end, something shifts.
You’re not just thinking differently about perimenopause - you’re thinking differently about what’s possible during this phase of life. And maybe, like Aviva did, you start to wonder: what could change if perimenopause wasn’t seen as the end of something, but the beginning of something else entirely?
Clinical Takeaways from This Episode
Guest Introduction
Dr. Aviva Romm, MD, is a Yale-trained physician, herbalist, and midwife with over four decades of experience in women’s health. She has trained hundreds of clinicians in integrative and functional medicine and is the author of multiple bestselling books, including Hormone Intelligence and The Adrenal Thyroid Revolution. Her work bridges conventional and integrative medicine in a way that centers women and their paths to thriving.
Interested in advancing your clinical training? Explore Dr. Aviva Romm’s Women’s Integrative Functional Medicine Certification Program. Use code FULLSCRIPT26 in the “How did you learn about the course?” box to receive $1,000 off.
FAQ: Clinician & Patient Questions on Perimenopause and Integrative Care
What symptoms are common during perimenopause?
What can I do if I’m struggling with sleep in midlife?
How does stress actually affect my health?
Key Moments from This Episode
Want to elevate your practice?
This episode is sponsored by Fullscript, a comprehensive care delivery platform designed to support whole-person, integrative healthcare. Fullscript allows clinicians to streamline supplement dispensing, lab ordering, and patient education in one free, centralized system—helping reduce administrative burden while supporting clinical decision-making. For practitioners, Fullscript offers access to professional-grade supplements, evidence-informed protocols, and lab integrations that can support more efficient planning and follow-up. For patients, it provides a clear, organized way to receive recommendations, manage refills, and stay engaged in their care. The goal is not to replace clinical judgment, but to make it easier for clinicians to focus on what matters most: thoughtful, individualized patient care.
Disclaimer
The views expressed on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of Fullscript or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice. For your safety, always check with your doctor or healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.
Citations