What Doctor Treats Female Hormone Imbalance? How to Find the Right Provider for Weight Loss & Metabolism

If you’ve been feeling off—but can’t quite explain why—you’re not alone. Maybe it’s the sudden weight gain, the constant fatigue, or the way your moods shift without warning. Your labs might be “normal,” but your body is clearly trying to tell you something. For many women, these symptoms point to a deeper issue: hormone imbalance.

And here’s the truth most providers won’t tell you—treating hormone-related concerns like stubborn weight gain, low energy, or perimenopause symptoms isn’t one-size-fits-all. The right provider isn’t just someone who will write a prescription. It’s someone who will actually listen, look deeper, and co-create a plan that supports your metabolism and long-term wellbeing.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what kind of doctor treats female hormone imbalance, how to know if your hormones are the root cause of your symptoms, and what to look for in a provider—especially if weight loss, energy, and metabolic health are top of mind.

In case you’re new here…We’re Dr. Erin Hendriks and Dr. Maricela Castillo MacKenzie, the founders of Elle MD, a functional medicine and medical weight loss clinic based in Royal Oak, Michigan. We help women uncover what’s really driving their symptoms—from gut imbalances to hormone chaos—and design personalized care that actually helps you feel like yourself again. We also offer hormone replacement therapy for women in Michigan. If you’re ready to stop guessing and finally get answers about your health, you’re in the right place.

What doctor should you see to check your hormones if you’re gaining weight?

Not all lab work is created equal. If you’ve been told your labs look fine, but you feel completely off, you’re not imagining it.

Female hormone specialists and functional medicine doctors

We recommend seeing a provider who will:

• Run comprehensive hormone panels, not just TSH or total estrogen
• Include gut testing, because your microbiome impacts hormone metabolism
• Assess insulin, cortisol, and nutrient status

Why? Because hormones are messengers—and when the message is stress, chaos, or depletion, your body holds on to weight as protection.

Here’s what to look for in comprehensive hormone testing:

Let’s be real: a basic lab panel isn’t going to tell the full story. If your doctor only checks TSH for your thyroid or total estrogen without looking at detox pathways, you’re getting an incomplete picture.

• Full thyroid panel: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies
• Cortisol mapping: To see how stress is impacting your weight and energy
• Fasting insulin + glucose: For early detection of insulin resistance
• DUTCH test or hormone metabolite testing: To see how your body is actually using and detoxing hormones
• GI-MAP or stool analysis: Because gut bugs = hormone chaos

You deserve to see why your body feels out of balance—not just be told it’s all in your head.

What to look for in a practitioner (especially if you’re already on hormone therapy)

Already on hormone therapy but still not feeling better? That’s a red flag.

A good practitioner won’t just prescribe and disappear. They will:

• Re-test to make sure the therapy is working, not making things worse
• Support your liver, gut, and detox pathways (because those process your hormones)
• Customize your treatment based on you, not a generic protocol
• Validate your experience—because your symptoms are real, even if your labs are "normal"

At Elle MD, we specialize in helping women who’ve tried the meds, the workouts, the diets—and still feel off. You’re not too complicated. You’re not a lost cause. You just need a different approach.

What Happens at a Hormone-Focused Appointment?

Picture this: you walk into your appointment and someone actually listens. They don’t rush you. They don’t dismiss you. They want to know your story.

That’s what a hormone-focused appointment should feel like.

Functional medicine goes far beyond surface symptoms and labs. At Elle MD, we:

• Map your hormone patterns across the day and your cycle
• Investigate your gut health, inflammation levels, and stress load
• Explore nutrient deficiencies, metabolism, and detox function

Because until your body feels safe, it won’t let go of weight, inflammation, or emotional stress.

Questions you’ll be asked, tests you’ll likely need

Expect your provider to ask things like:

• When did your symptoms start?
• What does your cycle look like now vs a year ago?
• How do you feel after eating? Do you crash mid-day?
• What’s your sleep like? Libido? Bowel movements?

They may recommend:

• DUTCH hormone test
• GI-MAP or gut pathogen testing
• Micronutrient testing
• Cortisol mapping
• Full thyroid and metabolic panels

It’s not about collecting data. It’s about connecting dots.

The relationship with hormones and weight loss 

Gut inflammation, insulin resistance, and estrogen overload

Gut inflammation disrupts hormone balance, insulin resistance signals your body to store fat, and estrogen dominance can cause bloating, mood swings, and stubborn weight gain. These issues are often triggered by stress, poor sleep, processed foods, or hidden toxins. Supporting gut health is key to breaking this cycle—learn more in our blogHow to heal leaky gut naturally: A functional medicine guide.

When hormone therapy helps… and when it can backfire

Hormone therapy can be life-changing, but only if your body is ready. Many women gain weight, feel moodier, or develop acne after starting HRT because their gut and detox pathways aren’t prepared to process those hormones. At Elle MD, we focus on balancing the gut, liver, and key minerals first—so hormone therapy supports your body instead of overwhelming it.

Why detox pathways and gut function matter more than calorie counts

This isn’t about willpower—and it’s not your fault. When your liver is overloaded, your gut inflamed, and your cortisol levels stuck on high alert, your body isn’t being stubborn; it’s protecting you.

Here’s the truth:

• Cutting more calories won’t help—your body will keep holding onto fat if it doesn’t feel safe.
• Over-exercising can make it worse by raising cortisol even higher.
• Real progress happens when you support your system: regulate blood sugar, calm your nervous system, and give your liver and gut what they need to work properly.

Only when your body feels safe will it release what it’s been holding onto—not just weight, but also stress and inflammation. That’s what real healing looks like.

How Elle MD helps women heal hormones, lose weight, and feel like themselves again

Personalized plans, not one-size-fits-all hormone therapy

At Elle MD, we know you’re not just a set of symptoms or lab numbers—you’re a whole person with a unique story. That’s why we don’t hand out cookie-cutter hormone therapy plans. Instead, we:

• Take time to understand your full health history and what you’ve already tried
• Look at how your lifestyle, stress, gut health, and hormones interact
• Create a personalized plan that supports your body rather than forcing it

Because when your body feels safe and supported, it finally stops holding onto stress—and the weight, mood swings, and fatigue start to shift.

Root cause testing, nutrition, and lifestyle that works with your body

Most women come to us frustrated because they’ve been told their labs are “normal” even though they feel anything but. Here’s how we do things differently:



• Advanced testing – We run hormone panels, gut tests, and metabolic assessments to uncover what’s really going on.
• Targeted nutrition & lifestyle shifts – Anti-inflammatory foods, blood sugar balance, and nervous system support replace restrictive dieting or punishing workouts.
• Gut-first approach – Because your hormones can’t rebalance if your gut isn’t working properly. 

Our approach is science-based but compassionate—helping you heal in a way that’s sustainable and actually works with your body.Explore our Hormone Replacement Therapy services and book your consultation today. Your future self will thank you.