Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions Answered: Everything You Need to Know About Rosewood Wellness Solutions
We know that seeking help for hormonal health concerns can feel overwhelming—especially when you've been dismissed or misunderstood in the past. Below, you'll find answers to the most common questions we receive. If you don't see your question here, we're always happy to help. Send us an email at info@rosewoodsolutions.co
About Our Services
What Services Do You Offer?
We specialize in women's hormonal health across all life stages, with particular expertise in perimenopause, menopause, PCOS, irregular periods, hormonal acne, endometriosis, PMDD, and hormone-related mental health concerns. Our services include:
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Comprehensive virtual consultations
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Diagnostic testing (blood panels, validated questionnaires)
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Personalized treatment plans (hormone replacement therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, nutritional guidance, holistic care)
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Ongoing support and follow-up care
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Weight management programs
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Urinary and pelvic floor health support
Do I need to live in Calgary?
No! While we're based in Calgary, we're licensed to provide virtual care to women throughout Alberta. As long as you're located in the province, we can support you.
How does virtual care work?
Our clinic operates entirely online, allowing you to receive expert care from the comfort of your own home. After booking your appointment, you'll receive a secure link to join your video consultation at your scheduled time. All follow-up communication, prescription management, and ongoing support happen through our secure patient messaging platform, Medeo.
How long are appointments?
Initial consultations are approximately 60 minutes, giving us time to thoroughly review your health history, symptoms, and goals. Follow-up appointments are typically 30–45 minutes, and prescription refills can often be handled quickly through our messaging system.
Pricing and Payment
Why is there a cost if healthcare is free in Canada?
We understand that private healthcare is a sensitive topic in Canada. The reality is that Alberta currently doesn't support Nurse Practitioners billing Alberta Health Services (AHS), which means we cannot offer publicly funded services at this time.
However, the federal government has mandated that provinces allow Nurse Practitioner billing, and we're hopeful Alberta will follow this mandate beginning in 2026.
Until then, the current public system often doesn't provide adequate time or specialized care for complex hormonal health concerns. Many women wait months (or years) for appointments, only to receive 10-minute consultations that leave their symptoms unaddressed.
As a private clinic, we're able to offer extended appointments, comprehensive testing, personalized treatment plans, and ongoing support that simply isn't available in the overwhelmed public system. We're also committed to giving back through pro-bono work and community support, because we believe healthcare should be accessible to everyone.
Once Alberta implements Nurse Practitioner billing with AHS, we'll be thrilled to offer more accessible options to the women we serve.
How much do your services cost?
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Initial Consultation: $280
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Follow-up Appointments: $250
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Prescription Refills: $50
Do you accept insurance?
Currently, our services are not covered by Alberta Health Services, as Alberta doesn't yet support Nurse Practitioners billing AHS. However, our services can often be claimed on private insurance plans. We recommend checking with your insurance provider to confirm your coverage for nurse practitioner consultations.
We provide detailed invoices for all services, which you can submit to your private insurance company for reimbursement.
We're hopeful that once Alberta follows the federal government's mandate to allow Nurse Practitioner billing beginning in 2026, we'll be able to offer publicly funded options as well.
Do you offer payment plans?
We understand that cost can be a barrier to care. While we don't currently offer formal payment plans, we're happy to discuss your situation and explore options. Please reach out to us directly.
The Treatment Process
What happens during the initial consultation?
Your first appointment is a comprehensive 60-minute consultation where we'll review:
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Your complete health history
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Current symptoms and how they're affecting your life
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Previous treatments you've tried
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Your goals and concerns
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Family health history
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Lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, stress, sleep)
You'll have plenty of time to ask questions, share your story, and feel truly heard. By the end, we'll have a clear plan for diagnostic testing and next steps.
What kind of testing will I need?
Based on your consultation, we may recommend:
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Blood panels to assess hormone levels, thyroid function, vitamin deficiencies, metabolic markers, and more
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Validated questionnaires to track symptom severity and mental health
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Additional imaging or tests if needed (referred to appropriate specialists)
Not everyone needs extensive testing—we only recommend what's necessary to understand your unique situation.
How long does it take to feel better?
This varies by individual, but most women experience:
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Immediate relief from simply being heard, validated, and having a clear plan
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Medical improvements within 1–3 months as treatments take effect
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Ongoing optimization as we fine-tune your treatment plan based on your response
Some symptoms (like hot flushes) may improve quickly, while others (like mood or energy) may take longer. We'll monitor your progress closely and adjust as needed.
How often will I need follow-up appointments?
We typically schedule follow-up appointments every 3 months to monitor your progress, review lab results, and adjust your treatment plan. However, if you need support sooner—whether you're experiencing side effects, have questions, or just need reassurance—earlier follow-ups are always available.
What if the treatment doesn't work for me?
Not every treatment works for every woman, and that's okay. If your initial treatment plan isn't giving you the results you need, we'll reassess and adjust. We have multiple tools at our disposal, and we won't stop until we find what works for you.
Some women also choose to discontinue treatment if they prefer natural approaches, experience adverse reactions, or find their symptoms have resolved. You're always in control of your care.
About Perimenopause & Menopause
When does perimenopause start?
This is one of the biggest misconceptions we encounter. Many women think perimenopause starts in their late 40s or 50s, but it can actually begin in your mid-to-late 30s—sometimes even earlier. If you're experiencing unexplained mood swings, brain fog, irregular periods, sleep disturbances, or changes in libido, perimenopause could be the culprit.
What are the symptoms of perimenopause?
Perimenopause affects every woman differently, but common symptoms include:
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Hot flushes and night sweats
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Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
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Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
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Low libido or changes in sexual function
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Sleep disturbances
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Weight gain (especially around the midsection)
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Irregular or heavy periods
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Fatigue
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Joint pain
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Hair thinning or skin changes
Many women don't realize these symptoms are connected to hormonal changes—they just feel like they're "going crazy" or "falling apart."
How is perimenopause different from menopause?
Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, when your hormones begin to fluctuate and decline. It can last anywhere from 4–10 years (or longer) and is when most symptoms occur.
Menopause is officially diagnosed after you've gone 12 consecutive months without a period. At this point, your ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and producing significant amounts of estrogen and progesterone.
Postmenopause refers to the years after menopause.
Most of the challenging symptoms women experience happen during perimenopause, not menopause itself.
My doctor said my blood tests are "normal." Why do I still feel terrible?
This is incredibly common and deeply frustrating. Hormone levels fluctuate dramatically during perimenopause—sometimes day to day or even hour to hour. A single blood test might catch your hormones on a "good" day, even though you're experiencing debilitating symptoms the rest of the time. Your hormones might be in the 'green zone' but hormones work together and even if they're in the acceptable range the ratio might be completely off.
At Rosewood, we don't rely solely on blood tests. We use a combination of validated questionnaires, symptom tracking, comprehensive health history, and diagnostic testing to get the full picture. Your symptoms matter more than a single lab value.
I'm afraid of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Isn't it dangerous?
This is one of the most common fears we hear, and it's based on outdated research. A 2002 study (the Women's Health Initiative) suggested HRT increased cancer risk, but that study has since been widely criticized for its flawed methodology and misinterpretation.
Current research shows:
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HRT is safe and effective for most women, especially when started during perimenopause or early menopause
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Bioidentical hormones can be tailored to your specific needs
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The benefits (improved quality of life, bone health, cardiovascular health, cognitive function) often far outweigh the risks
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Not treating severe symptoms can actually be more harmful to your long-term health
We'll thoroughly discuss your personal health history, risk factors, and concerns to determine if HRT is right for you. You'll never be pressured into any treatment you're not comfortable with.
What if I don't want to take hormones?
That's completely okay! Hormone replacement therapy is just one tool in our toolkit. We also offer:
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Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for mood and anxiety symptoms
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Nutritional and lifestyle guidance
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Supplement recommendations
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Exercise and stress management strategies
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Natural and holistic approaches
Your treatment plan will always be tailored to your preferences, values, and comfort level.
Practical Questions
How do I book an appointment?
Simply click the "Book Your Consultation" button on our website, choose a time that works for you, and complete the intake form. You'll receive a confirmation email with all the details you need for your virtual appointment.
What do I need for my virtual appointment?
Just a quiet, private space and a device with internet access (computer, tablet, or smartphone). We'll send you a secure link to join the video call—no special software required.
How do I get prescriptions?
If your treatment plan includes medications, I'll send prescriptions directly to your preferred pharmacy. You can pick them up just like any other prescription. For ongoing prescriptions, we offer convenient refill services through our secure messaging platform.
What if I have an emergency?
If you're experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately. Our clinic provides scheduled consultations and ongoing support, but we're not equipped to handle urgent or life-threatening situations.
For urgent (but non-emergency) concerns, please message us through Medeo, and we'll respond as quickly as possible.
