Peri & Pause

11/16/2025

✨ We are SO EXCITED! ✨
Peri & Pause has been nominated for Best Healthcare in Fuquay, and we are over here doing a very midlife-appropriate happy dance (easy on the joints with proper hydration LOL)!

But truly…this means the world.

Every day, we show up for midlife women with evidence-based care, longer visits, real listening, and a whole-woman approach. To be recognized in our community for that? It’s an honor.

If Peri & Pause has supported you, encouraged you, educated you, or helped you feel like yourself again…
we’d be so grateful for your vote!

🗳️ Vote below ⬇️
Thank you for helping us lead the way in midlife women’s health here in Fuquay! 💙🩵

11/15/2025

✨ Let’s Talk About Estrogen Therapy — With the Nuance Women Deserve ✨

Earlier this week, I celebrated the FDA’s decision to remove the boxed warning from estrogen-containing products — a long-overdue change grounded in updated evidence and decades of research. I absolutely stand by that celebration.

But I also want to make something very clear, because women are already reaching out with questions:

Not all estrogens are the same, and not all hormone therapy is appropriate for every woman.

When we talk about menopausal hormone therapy, we’re talking about different types of estrogen — each with unique properties, effects, and risk profiles.
These include:

• Estradiol (E2) – the primary form used in standard evidence-based menopause care
• Estriol (E3) – a weaker estrogen often found in compounded preparations
• Conjugated estrogens – a blend of estrogen types found in certain older formulations
• Other combinations used in various FDA-approved and compounded products

Because these estrogens act differently in the body, it is not a one-size-fits-all situation. A headline, a post, or even an FDA change can’t replace a thoughtful medical conversation.

At Peri & Pause, we specialize in midlife women’s health — and that means your hormone therapy (or decision not to use hormone therapy) is:

✨ Individualized based on your symptoms
✨ Grounded in evidence
✨ Informed by your personal and family history
✨ Shaped by your preferences and long-term goals
✨ Built on a real relationship and ongoing follow-up

Estrogen therapy can be life-changing and incredibly safe for the right women — but it requires the right type, the right route, the right dose, and the right clinical oversight.

This is what we do every single day.
Care that’s precise, thoughtful, relational, and tailored to your whole story — not a blanket statement, trend, or quick fix.

If you’re confused by the conversations happening online right now, you’re not alone. We’re here to help you navigate it with clarity and confidence.

💙 This is midlife women’s healthcare. This is Peri & Pause.

11/14/2025

✨ Closing Out National Nurse Practitioner Week With Gratitude ✨

A message from our founder -

“As National Nurse Practitioner Week comes to a close, I want to take a moment to honor the work that means the most to me.

Being a nurse practitioner is more than a role — it’s the way I serve. It’s the way I advocate. It’s the way I help women understand their bodies, reclaim their health, and feel like themselves again.

Peri & Pause began as an idea and a mission I couldn’t ignore. Today, it’s a growing team, two locations, and a community of women who finally feel seen, heard, and cared for in a way they always deserved. That is the privilege of my lifetime.

I’m grateful for every woman who trusts us.
I’m grateful for every NP who stands beside me.
And I’m grateful for this profession that allows me to care, teach, advocate, and lead.

Here’s to the work.
Here’s to women in midlife.
And here’s to the nurse practitioners who change lives every single day.

Happy NP Week — from my heart to yours.”

- Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP
💙🩵

11/14/2025

✨ Important Update in Menopause Care: FDA Removes Boxed Warning on Estrogen Products ✨

This week, the FDA officially removed the boxed warning from estrogen-containing hormone therapy products — a change that reflects years of ongoing research, updated evidence, and a clearer understanding of the true risks and benefits of hormone therapy.

As with any major shift in women’s health, there has been some pushback and concern, mostly from those who were trained to practice the same way for the past 20 years. ⬅️ IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS. Change can feel uncomfortable, and many clinicians are still catching up on the latest data.

Here’s what matters most:

➡️ There is evidence.
A significant amount — far more than most people realize. We now have stronger, more nuanced data that helps us understand who benefits, how, and when estrogen therapy is safest and most effective.

➡️ The science has evolved.
Our understanding of hormone therapy today is not the same as it was in 2002. We know more, we understand more, and we can apply this knowledge with precision.

➡️ And yes — it can be applied safely.
That is what trained menopause specialists do. We don’t prescribe hormones casually or carelessly. We apply evidence with clinical judgment, personalization, and ongoing monitoring.
That’s our job, and we take it seriously.

At Peri & Pause, we use the best and most up-to-date available research, professional guidelines, and years of clinical experience to guide safe, individualized care. You deserve providers who understand the evidence as it exists today, not as it existed decades ago.

If you’re confused by the headlines or unsure what this means for you, we’re here to help you make informed, confident decisions about your health.

Women deserve clarity, not fear.
And we deserve care grounded in up-to-date science, not outdated narratives.

11/14/2025

✨ Today’s National Nurse Practitioner Week Spotlight: Natalie Morreale MSN, AGNP-C ✨

We are so excited to celebrate Natalie, a master’s-prepared, board-certified Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with a passion for caring for women in midlife.

Natalie has been serving patients in the Triangle since 2016, first in family medicine and now here at Peri & Pause. Her strong clinical foundation—an undergraduate degree from East Carolina University and a master’s degree from Duke University—shines through in the exceptional care she provides every day. Her patients absolutely love her!

She lives in Holly Springs with her husband and two children, and when she’s not in the clinic you’ll often find her out on the lake, involved in her kids’ school, or cheering from the sidelines at their sports events.

We are so grateful for the expertise, heart, and warmth she brings to our team and our patients.
Thank you, Natalie, for all that you do. 💙🩵 We love you!!

11/13/2025

✨ Celebrating National Nurse Practitioner Week: Meet Amanda Maingi MSN, WHNP-BC ✨

This week, we’re proud to spotlight Amanda — a master’s-prepared, board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and true North Carolina native who brings both excellence and heart to Peri & Pause.

Amanda graduated at the top of her class from Georgetown University and has devoted her career to helping women thrive through every stage of life. She specializes in sexual health, perimenopause, and menopause, offering evidence-based, holistic care that truly empowers women.

As she shares so beautifully:
“Women in midlife are rewriting their stories. I love supporting them through this season because it’s a time of transformation — not decline. Helping women find relief, balance, and renewed confidence is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.”

Amanda is also an active member of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health and The Menopause Society, staying at the forefront of research and best practices in women’s health.

Outside the clinic, you’ll find her cooking, lifting weights, exploring the outdoors, and cheering on the Carolina Panthers with her husband, Abe, and their rescue pup, Hunter. 🩵

We are so grateful for the way Amanda shows up for women in our community.
Help us celebrate her this NP Week! 💙🩵

11/12/2025

🇺🇸 Honoring our COO this Veterans Day 🇺🇸

Today we pause to recognize and thank our Chief Operating Officer, LTC (Ret.) Stuart Gallagher, for his military service and for all he continues to bring to our Peri & Pause family.

The dedication, integrity, and calm leadership he developed through his years of service show up in the way he supports our team, our patients, and the mission behind everything we do.

Peri & Pause was founded with heart, hard work, and a deep sense of service — and his influence has been an important part of that from the beginning.

This Veterans Day, we’re grateful for him and for all who have served — and for the families who stand beside them every step of the way. 💗

11/11/2025

In continuing with our showcase during National Nurse Practitioner Week…
🌿 Meet Kristen from our Raleigh office— the future of midlife women’s care 🌿

Every so often, someone steps into this field and you can just feel that they’re helping shape where it’s going. Kristen is one of those people.

As a board-certified Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, Kristen brings both science and soul to what she does. She listens deeply, validates every woman’s story, and is already helping redefine how midlife care should feel — thoughtful, informed, and empowering.

Her graduate work at UNC Chapel Hill focused on early menopause after chemotherapy, which says everything about her heart for women facing complex transitions. Her commitment, curiosity, and compassion are exactly what will keep pushing this specialty forward.

Outside of clinic life, Kristen loves cooking, yoga, travel, matcha, and time with her husband and pups, Tembo and Penny. 🩷🐾

We couldn’t be more proud to have her on our team — and for what her generation of menopause specialists means for the future of women’s health.

💖- “Midlife women keep the world running — they’re raising families, leading at work, and caring for everyone around them. Yet their needs have been overlooked for far too long. Once I saw that gap in care, I couldn’t unsee it. There’s nothing better than hearing a woman say, ‘I finally feel like myself again.’” - Kristen

11/11/2025

🌸 It’s National Nurse Practitioner Week! 🌸

This week we’re celebrating the heart, expertise, and compassion that NPs bring to healthcare every single day — and today, we’re shining the spotlight on Nancy Chen, FNP-C, one of our incredible clinicians here at Peri & Pause, The Menopause Center!

Nancy brings such calm confidence and care to every patient she meets. She listens deeply, educates with clarity, and helps women feel truly seen and supported through every stage of midlife. Her patients describe her as approachable, thorough, and kind — and we couldn’t agree more. 💕

We’re so proud to have her on our team and grateful for all she does to make women’s healthcare as it should be.

Help us celebrate Nancy and all the amazing NPs who make such a difference in the lives of women across North Carolina! 👏💗

11/10/2025

Y’ALL!! We’re not crying, you’re crying! 🥹 We are SO GRATEFUL for this change in labelling that has caused fear and has impacted so many women.

Let’s get on with it!! 💞

We’re here to support you and educate you and - most importantly - CARE for you. 💝💖

FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss the agency's announcement Thursday that boxed warnings will be removed from many estrogen products used for hormone therapy, a treatment that helps alleviate the symptoms of menopause.

11/09/2025

🩷 When women start estrogen therapy matters — and timing could make all the difference.

New research presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society shows that initiating hormone therapy during perimenopause — not waiting until after menopause — may offer long-term benefits without increasing the risk of breast cancer, heart attack, or stroke.

The large study analyzed over 120 million patient records and found that women who began estrogen therapy within the 10 years before their final menstrual period had no higher risk of major health events compared to those who started later or not at all.

✨ These findings highlight what we already believe at Peri & Pause: the right care, at the right time, can protect long-term health and improve quality of life.

We’re here to guide women through this transition with clarity, compassion, and evidence-based options — because how and when you start matters. 🌿

📚 Presented at The Menopause Society 2025 Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL