Dr. Karen Alvarez is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (NCMP) who specializes in perimenopause and menopause care, including hormone therapy and non-hormonal treatment.
Karen Alvarez, MD, NCMP
OB-GYN, Certified Menopause Practitioner
Credential verified LinkedIn
Medical Review BoardAreas of focus
MenopauseHormone therapyWomen's health
Education
- MD, University of California, San Francisco
Medically reviewed by Karen
Menopause
The Best Diet for Menopause: What to Eat (and Limit)
A clinician-reviewed guide to the best diet for menopause: why a Mediterranean-style pattern wins, the nutrients to prioritize for muscle and bone, what to limit, and how diet ties weight, heart, and bone health together.
June 24, 2026 2 min Reviewed
Menopause
Menopause Belly Fat: Why It Happens and How to Lose It
A clinician-reviewed guide to menopause belly fat: why falling estrogen shifts fat to the abdomen, why visceral fat matters for health, the strategies that actually work, and what doesn't.
June 24, 2026 2 min Reviewed
Menopause
Perimenopause Symptoms: The Signs the Transition Has Started
A clinician-reviewed guide to perimenopause symptoms: when the transition starts, the full range of signs, how long it lasts, what helps, and the bleeding warning signs that need evaluation.
June 24, 2026 2 min Reviewed
Menopause
Frozen Shoulder and Menopause: The Overlooked Connection
A clinician-reviewed guide to frozen shoulder in menopause: the estrogen connection, the three stages, who is at risk, what treatments help (physical therapy, injections, hormone therapy), and when to see a doctor.
June 24, 2026 2 min Reviewed
Menopause
Menopause Brain Fog: Why It Happens and What Actually Helps
A clinician-reviewed guide to menopause brain fog: how common it is, why perimenopause affects memory and focus, how to tell it from other causes, the strategies with real evidence, and when to see a doctor.
June 24, 2026 3 min Reviewed
Menopause
Menopause Joint Pain: Why Your Joints Ache and How to Ease It
A clinician-reviewed guide to menopause joint pain (menopausal arthralgia): how common it is, the estrogen link, how to tell it apart from arthritis, the strategies that relieve it, and when to see a doctor.
June 24, 2026 2 min Reviewed