Becoming an MSCP
Why I Became a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner
Written by: Dr. Madeleine Clark, ND MSCP
When I first got my period, I calculated how many days of my life it would affect. I was assuming I'd live to 85 and hadn't yet learned that periods stop at menopause. I didn't understand hormones at all back then.
I fell into perimenopause and menopause care more than I planned it, but I'm glad I did.
After completing my extended prescribing exams in Ontario, which allowed me to prescribe Hormone Therapy as a naturopathic doctor, I received a scholarship to pursue certification as a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. (If you're eligible for scholarships in your field, apply. You have nothing to lose.)
The certification gave me something the prescribing exam didn't: rigorous, current training built on actual research, not internet trends. I stay current through ongoing education from the Menopause Society each year, from clinicians and researchers actively doing the work. That matters because menopause care is full of noise right now, and patients deserve someone who can tell you what's evidence-based versus what's just well-marketed.
Supporting patients through PMS, PMDD, perimenopause, and menopause is now one of the most rewarding parts of my practice. What I love most is helping people choose themselves during this stage.
To choose feeling good. To choose understanding what's going on in their body. To choose the path that feels right for them, whether that's lifestyle-based support, supplements, medications like HRT, or a combination.
Menopause isn't something to just put up with, and you don't have to figure it out alone.
Whether you're just starting to feel "off" in your late 30s or you're well into post-menopause and unsure if you have options, you do. Education is power, and you deserve support that helps you feel like yourself again.
If you're curious what's possible, let's talk.
Read more about my approach to care in Hormone Therapy 101 and Depression & Anxiety in Perimenopause.