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Dr. Meredith Rusthoven DNP, CNM | Hormones + Functional Medicine

@drmeredithrusthoven

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Which one are you?

Either way, we got you! 🫶🏻 taken in Phoenix, Arizona by @drmeredithrusthoven

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

Have you been given a prescription for an SSRI instead of BHRT?

Don't get me started. 🔥 taken in Denver, Colorado by @drmeredithrusthoven

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2 months ago

BHRT = Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Very different from synthetic.

Bioidentical = exact same chemical structure as the hormones your body makes.

Synthetic hormones = increases risk factors, not the same outcomes as bioidentical, and suppress your own endogenous hormone production (like in birth control pills).

We have always prescribed BHRT at @ritualfunctionalmedicine 🤍 taken in Denver, Colorado by @drmeredithrusthoven

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2 months ago

When your hormones are finally optimized. 🙌

What's your Hallelujah moment? 👇 taken in Denver, Colorado by @drmeredithrusthoven

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2 months ago

Okay, but the iced bevvies and bestie chats are non-negotiable. 🤍

What would you add to yours? taken in Scottsdale, Arizona by @drmeredithrusthoven

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2 months ago

Do you guard your sleep with your life?
Me too.
Let’s break down my personal sleep stack.

1. Oral progesterone, how do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.

Progesterone, when taken orally, has a calming and sedating effect. It can be a game changer for sleep, anxiety, and mood swings. It also supports bone health, thyroid hormone conversion, and healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels while being ovarian, breast, and uterine protective.

Compounded because I like my progesterone sans peanut oil, optimally micronized, and in a dye-free capsule.

2. Cortisol Manager from @therituallife.co
A team favorite at @ritualfunctionalmedicine. This combo of ashwagandha, l-theanine, magnolia bark extract, epimedium, and phosphatidylserine is 🤌🏻 for feeling calm in the evening and sleeping deeply.

3. Melatonin SR from @therituallife.co
I take melatonin for benefits beyond sleep including immune support, antioxidant activity, and cardiovascular protection. Sustained release because I’m extra and like to savor the benefits. Melatonin levels start to decline during perimenopause.

4. Morning sun
I religiously get morning sun while I have my coffee. This ritual has a major impact on sleep because it helps set your circadian rhythm for the day.

5. Blue light blockers at night
I started using them in my mid-30s and instantly stopped waking up between 2-3 am. My husband and I put them on every night a couple hours before bed and can literally feel our bodies relax. IYKYK.

We also use the Twilight app on our phones at night. F.lux is another great option.

6. Eye mask (cupped)

Total darkness matters. Plus there’s something about the subtle pressure that is deeply calming. Like a weighted blanket for your face.

7. The Fan
Yes, it is a proper noun. We travel with it, including on airplanes. It is the perfect sound frequency and it must live forever.

8. Rain on Leaves from the Calm app
Every patient of mine has heard this recommendation. I set it on a 15-minute timer at lights out and let it work its magic. The symphony of Rain on Leaves + The Fan? WATCH. OUT.

Are you as obsessed with elite sleep as I am?

What's in your sleep stack? I wanna know. 👀 taken in Colorado by @drmeredithrusthoven

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3 months ago

This is what we wish everyone knew about their thyroid.

Over 8 years of optimizing thyroid function at RFM has taught us that most people are leaving a lot on the table.

#hypothyroidism
#hashimotos
#thyroid taken in Denver, Colorado by @drmeredithrusthoven

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3 months ago

Perimenopausal rage is real.
Like, really real.

And it can feel impossible to snap out of it.

Sometimes silence does the trick.
Other times blasting your favorite playlist is the answer.

Sunshine cures all things.
And honestly, so does a good walk.

Distraction can look like a good show, a good book, a catch up sesh with a friend, a workout, or a few bites of something delicious.

Whatever you choose, do it quick.

The likelihood of the rage cloud passing on its own is slim, so take action and start enjoying your day again. 🫶🏻 taken in Denver, Colorado by @drmeredithrusthoven

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5 months ago

Optimization is not obsession.
It’s precision.

At Ritual, optimization means we don’t guess.
We test thoroughly.
We interpret intelligently.
We personalize intentionally.

It means understanding why you feel tired, inflamed, anxious, or not like yourself and correcting the physiology driving it.

To us, optimization means getting your hormones, thyroid, metabolism, and foundational health aligned efficiently so you can stop thinking about them all the time.

When your physiology is supported, you get your energy back.
Your clarity back.
Your confidence back.

So you can live your life fully.

That’s optimization.

Comment DEEP DIVE to learn how. 🤍 taken in Denver, Colorado by @drmeredithrusthoven

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5 months ago

Share with your husband if he's chewing. 🥴

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! 🥰💘

#perimenopause #bhrt #testosterone taken in Denver, Colorado by @drmeredithrusthoven

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5 months ago

Progesterone and thyroid work synergistically.

If one is struggling, the other usually is too.
And that’s why surface-level testing and single-hormone fixes often fall short.

Hormone symptoms are rarely about ONE lab or ONE hormone.
Context is everything.

You want a care team that understands how systems work together and supports them with precision.

That’s exactly what we do inside our Health & Hormone Deep Dive.

Comprehensive labs.
Thoughtful interpretation.
A personalized path forward.

No guesswork, no overwhelm.

Comment DEEP for info on our Health & Hormone Deep Dive.

Comment LABS to download our comprehensive lab guide to see what labs we order for your Deep Dive and how we look at them in the context of your symptoms and goals.

#hormonereplacementtherapy #hashimotos #pcos taken in Denver, Colorado by @drmeredithrusthoven

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6 months ago