Welcome to your
most empowered chapter yet.
The Menopause Care Collective brings together certified experts in sex therapy, mental health, psychiatry, and women's health so you have everything you need to understand, embrace, and thrive in this stage of life.
RESEARCH-BACKED | EXPERT-DRIVEN | COMMUNITY-CENTERED
Menopause isn’t an ending…
it’s an arrival.
For too long, menopause has been whispered about, minimized, or simply endured. We believe women deserve honest, research-backed information — not just about hot flashes, but about their full selves: their desire, their mental health, their hormones, their identity.
The Menopause Care Collective was built on one idea: that every woman navigating this transition should have access to expert voices who speak plainly, celebrate her body, and take her seriously.
This is a sex-positive, science-grounded, fiercely supportive space. Whether you're in early perimenopause or years post-menopause, you belong here.
Did you know?
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Researchers increasingly describe menopause as a brain-driven transition involving changes in glucose metabolism, thermoregulation, sleep architecture, and neuroinflammation — not simply ovarian decline. Brain imaging studies have shown measurable changes in brain energy utilization during the menopause transition.
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Emerging evidence suggests vasomotor symptoms are associated with altered autonomic nervous system regulation and endothelial function. Women with severe vasomotor symptoms may also show higher cardiovascular risk markers years before overt disease develops.
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Subtle changes in sleep, mood regulation, migraine patterns, anxiety sensitivity, ADHD symptom amplification, and sensory processing may occur during early neuroendocrine transition — sometimes before cycle disruption becomes obvious.
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Sleep fragmentation during perimenopause is increasingly linked with metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance, cognitive symptoms, mood disorders, and inflammatory activation — independent of hot flashes alone.
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Current sex therapy models increasingly recognize that desire in midlife women is deeply influenced by emotional labor, chronic stress load, sleep quality, pelvic floor function, antidepressant exposure, body image, relationship dynamics, and cognitive overload.
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Estrogen receptors exist throughout pelvic floor tissues, the bladder, urethra, and vulvovaginal tissue. Menopause-related changes can contribute to urgency, recurrent UTIs, dyspareunia, prolapse symptoms, and altered orgasm quality.
Welcome to the White Pants Club. 🤍
There is a whole community of women on the other side of fear — women who have traded anxiety for agency, and silence for solidarity. This is your invitation to join them.
Meet your expert guides
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Julie Labanz, MA, LPCC-S, CST, CST-S
Juile is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Licenesed Professional Clinical Counselor. She is the owner of Be Known, LLC, a private sex and relationship therapy practice, as well as the co-owner of the Institute for Sex Positive Therapy. Julie recognizes that menopause can drastically change how women feel about sex and their sexuality and wants to help them explore new ways of being sexual that align with what feels pleasure-filled in this stage of life.
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Maria Bertrand, MA, IMFT
Maria is a licensed, Independent Marriage and Family Therapist and owner of her own private practice, Maria Bertrand Therapy LLC. Maria has worked for years with women going through midlife changes that impact their sense of self and relationships. She's a firm believer that midlife is the pinnacle of female empowerment and a time to take stock and make changes for the best years ahead.
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Deb Amann, MD, ABPN, MSCP
Dr. Deb Amann is a Cincinnati native and a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in women’s mental health and menopause care. Having navigated her own challenges with perimenopausal treatment options, she brings a deeply informed and compassionate approach to patient care. Dr. Amann provides individualized, evidence-based treatment while offering preventive guidance to support long-term well-being. As a menopause society certified provider, she is committed to helping women feel understood, supported, and empowered through every stage of midlife.
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Ronda Lehn, MSN, FNP-C, MSPC
Ronda Lehn is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP) with decades of experience in family medicine and a deep commitment to supporting women through midlife and beyond. Practicing through Concierge Medicine of Cincinnati, she brings a relationship-driven, unhurried approach to care.
Whether you're navigating perimenopause, managing post-menopausal health, or looking for a primary care partner who truly listens, Ronda offers personalized, thoughtful care that meets you where you are.
Events designed for real women.
We bring the Collective to you. Whether you're a wellness group, a book club that's evolved, a corporate wellness program, or a circle of friends ready for something more meaningful — we design experiences that inform, inspire, and connect.
Groups of 10 to 50 women. Customizable to your community's needs.
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Deep dives into hormones, sexual health, mental wellness, and the science behind what's happening in your body led by our Menopause Care Collective Team.
Opportunities for Q&A as well as deepened discussion with other participants.
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Movement, meals, art, and more — because joy is its own kind of medicine. We design experiences that spark connection and creativity, whatever form that takes for your group.
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There’s something so special about getting to explore deep topics in community with others who truly get it. We know that healing happens in brave spaces and community and we make space for that to occur.
Ready to bring us to your group?
We'd love to design an experience for your community. Reach out to tell us about your group and what you're hoping to create together.
Groups of 10 to 50 women
Customizable format and focus areas
Led by certified experts
In-person or virtual
Educational, social, wellness, or a mix
Upcoming Experiences
Join us for this FREE,in person for an empowering morning all about embracing the changes that come with menopause. Connect, learn, and share in a relaxed atmosphere designed to support your journey. Whether you're curious or seeking community, this event is your chance to restore balance and renew energy. Let's navigate menopause together with confidence and care!
Location: Salt & Soul Wellness 6946 Tylersville Rd. West Chester, OH, 45069
Date: Saturday, August 8th from 10a-12p
What to expect:
Talks on menopause around sex, relationships, and holistic wellness by Julie Labanz, MA, LPCC-S, CST, CST-S, Maria Bertrand, MA, IMFT, and Lisa Thamann
Q&A with the speakers to dive deeper into the topics you really want to know
A restorative 20 minute sound bath to close out our time
The White Pants Club Cocktail Party! You've heard the old wives' tale. You've maybe even believed it. Well, we're officially retiring the rules… and celebrating the ones who make them.
Join us for an unforgettable evening at a professional photography studio where women in the midst of their menopause transition come together with their girlfriends, slip on their white pants, and say yes to this next chapter, boldly and beautifully.
Enjoy signature cocktails and mocktails, light bites, and candid conversation with leading experts — a sex therapist, relationship therapist, nurse practitioner, and psychiatrist — who'll share real, empowering insights on navigating this transition with confidence, joy, and a whole lot of humor.
Come for the education. Stay for the photos and drinks. Leave feeling like the woman you've always been — and the one you're becoming.
Grab your girlfriend and your favorite white pants. We'll handle the rest.
When: July 23rd from 6p-8p
Where: Angie Lipscomb Photography 2511 Essex Pl, Cincinnati, OH 45206
What to expect:
A brief educational panel followed by Q&A from our team of specialists to answer all the questions you’ve wanted answered about menopause (and learn how this can be a positive transitional time of life!)
An opportunity to have your photo taken with your friends in your white pants. Option to bring an object that’s meaningful to you to include
Delicious cocktails and mocktails designed specifically for this event
Cost: Free to attend with the option to purchase photos taken at the event
Some of the most important investments you'll ever make are in yourself — and that starts with being informed.
Join us on Wednesday, October 22nd at Truepoint Wealth Counsel’s Blue Ash office for an intimate morning with the Menopause Care Collective as we take the stage at their Women's Wealth Counsel. Doors open at 8:00 AM for breakfast and networking, followed by a panel-style conversation from 8:30–9:30 AM where our four experts — spanning sex therapy, couples therapy, psychiatry, and women's health — will answer your most pressing questions about the menopause journey, from perimenopause through the other side.
Join us for a conversation that goes beyond the basics.
Step into something one-of-a-kind. For the first time ever, the Cincinnati Art Museum is opening its doors to a curated, docent-guided tour designed exclusively around the menopause experience — exploring works inspired by this transformative season of life, whether through subject matter or the artist's own story.
Join us on Saturday, September 19th at 11:00 AM at the Cincinnati Art Museum for a gallery experience unlike any other. This isn't your typical gallery walk — it's a chance to see art through a new lens, one that reflects the depth, complexity, and beauty of what so many of us are living.
After the tour, members of the Menopause Care Collective team will be on hand to answer your questions and send you home with a curated takeaway gift.
Space is limited — RSVP to reserve your spot.
Menopause talk just got a rooftop upgrade. Join the Menopause Care Collective for a free evening of real conversation, expert insights, and good company — perched above the city at Cincinnati's iconic Mercantile Library. Enjoy refreshments, hear from our providers, ask the questions you've been sitting on, and meet others who are navigating this season of life. Grab a friend and come as you are.
What to expect:
Talks on menopause around sex, relationships, hormones, body changes and more from our experienced panelists
Q&A with the speakers to dive deeper into the topics you really want to know
Time to connect with other attendees and enjoy the view
Where: Rooftop of Mercantile Library
When: August 27th 6:30-8:30p
Cost: Free
You asked.
We’ll answer
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We're a group of four certified specialists — in sex therapy, mental health therapy, psychiatry, and women's health nursing — who have joined forces to offer women a more complete, honest, and empowering approach to the menopause transition.
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Our events generally run anywhere from one to two and a half hours and are designed to feel like time well spent — not a lecture. Most gatherings weave together a few key elements: accessible, expert-led education on a topic relevant to where you are in your journey; open Q&A so your real questions get real answers; and dedicated time for connection among the women in the room. We also love to incorporate a creative or fun element — whether that's a shared meal, a craft cocktail, an art activity, or something else entirely that fits your group's vibe. The goal is that you leave feeling informed, seen, and a little lighter than when you walked in.
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Menopause is a natural life transition, not a disease. Our approach is about understanding what's happening, having your questions answered, and making informed choices — not pathologizing a normal part of a woman's life.
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It means we believe sexual health and desire are valid, important parts of your overall wellbeing at every age. We don't shy away from conversations about intimacy, libido, or pleasure. It's expert care without shame.
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Perimenopause is the transition period leading up to menopause, which can begin years before your last period. If you're anywhere in that journey — or anywhere post-menopause — you're exactly who we're here for.
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Send us a note at info@menopausecarecollective.com with a little about your group and what you're looking for. We'll be in touch to design something together.
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Each provider in the Collective maintains their own independent practice. You're welcome to reach out to them individually for one-on-one care in their respective areas of expertise.
Let’s Work Together
