FAQs

Yes. Many women have multiple specialists. Dr. Poncy helps patients understand recommendations, identify gaps in care, and ensure all aspects of their health are aligned.

Absolutely. Hormonal fluctuations can influence neurotransmitters in the brain and contribute to anxiety, irritability, mood swings, and decreased stress resilience.

Yes. Hormonal fluctuations may contribute to anxiety, mood changes, irritability, decreased resilience to stress, and symptoms often described as “brain fog.”

Absolutely. Nutrition, exercise, strength training, sleep optimization, stress management, and weight management often play a significant role in symptom improvement and long-term health outcomes.

Yes. Nutrition, strength training, physical activity, sleep optimization, stress management, and weight management can have a significant impact on overall well-being.

Yes. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women. As estrogen levels decline, cardiovascular risk factors may increase, making preventive screening and risk assessment especially important.

Yes. After menopause, women may experience an increased risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, insulin resistance, and changes in cognitive health. Preventive care becomes increasingly important during this stage of life.

No. Treatment recommendations are highly individualized. Some women benefit from hormone therapy, while others may achieve excellent results through lifestyle modifications and non-hormonal therapies.

A proactive approach that includes preventive screenings, lifestyle optimization, healthy weight management, cardiovascular monitoring, and ongoing physician guidance can significantly impact long-term health.

The symptoms can be different for every woman. Changes in menstrual cycles, mood, sleep quality, energy levels, and body composition are often early indicators.

Many women are surprised to learn that symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, irritability, joint pain, and weight gain may be associated with hormonal changes. A comprehensive evaluation can help determine whether hormonal shifts are contributing to your symptoms.

Dr. Poncy develops individualized care plans based on each patient’s symptoms, health history, lifestyle, laboratory findings, and long-term wellness goals rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

She focuses on the whole woman—not just symptoms. Her approach integrates prevention, wellness, hormone health, healthy aging, and long-term relationship-based care.

With more than three decades of clinical experience, Dr. Poncy helps patients understand diagnoses, evaluate treatment options, and make informed healthcare decisions with confidence.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women. Hormonal changes during menopause can influence cholesterol levels, blood vessel function, inflammation, and overall cardiovascular risk.

No. While aging brings changes, persistent fatigue is not something women should simply accept. Hormonal fluctuations, thyroid dysfunction, sleep disturbances, stress, nutritional deficiencies, and metabolic changes can all contribute to low energy.

Hormone therapy is not one-size-fits-all. Dr. Poncy performs a detailed review of each patient’s medical history, family history, symptoms, and risk factors to determine whether hormone therapy is appropriate and beneficial.

No. Understanding your health risks and optimizing wellness before symptoms become significant often leads to better long-term outcomes and improved quality of life.

For appropriate candidates, hormone optimization may improve sleep, energy, mood, cognitive function, sexual wellness, body composition, and overall quality of life.

Potential benefits may include improved sleep, reduced hot flashes, enhanced mood, increased energy, better sexual wellness, improved vaginal health, and support for bone health.

Symptoms often include irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, anxiety, mood changes, weight gain, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.

Dr. Poncy provides comprehensive women’s healthcare including preventive medicine, annual wellness exams, menopause and perimenopause management, hormone optimization, sexual wellness, cardiovascular risk assessment, bone health, weight management, cancer screening, and healthy aging strategies.

Estrogen plays an important role in cognitive function. Hormonal changes can affect memory, focus, mental clarity, and processing speed, making many women feel less sharp than usual.

Depending on age and risk factors, recommended screenings may include mammography, cervical cancer screening, colon cancer screening, cardiovascular assessments, bone density testing, and advanced laboratory evaluation.

Family history plays an important role in preventive planning. Dr. Poncy incorporates these factors into individualized screening and wellness strategies.

Dr. Poncy believes that exceptional healthcare begins with listening. Her goal is to empower women through education, prevention, early intervention, and personalized treatment plans that support vitality, longevity, and lifelong wellness.

Hormone replacement therapy uses estrogen, progesterone, and in select cases testosterone to help relieve symptoms associated with hormonal decline while supporting overall health and quality of life.

Menopause is diagnosed after a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. It marks the end of reproductive years but also represents an important transition in overall health and wellness.

Perimenopause is the transitional period leading up to menopause when hormone levels begin to fluctuate. Symptoms may begin as early as a woman’s late 30s or 40s and can persist for several years before menopause officially occurs.

Sexual wellness is an important aspect of overall health. Changes in hormones may affect libido, vaginal tissue health, comfort during intimacy, and overall satisfaction. These concerns are common and highly treatable.

Women often see multiple healthcare providers. Dr. Poncy helps patients understand recommendations, coordinate specialty care, and ensure that all aspects of their health are being addressed comprehensively.

Women experience unique hormonal, reproductive, metabolic, and cardiovascular changes throughout life. A comprehensive women’s health approach considers how these factors influence overall wellness, disease prevention, and long-term quality of life.

Nutrition influences inflammation, metabolism, energy production, cardiovascular health, gut health, and hormone function. Small dietary changes can often produce meaningful improvements.

Preventive medicine focuses on identifying risks before disease develops. Through regular screenings, laboratory testing, and personalized health planning, women can often reduce their risk of future health complications.

Focus on strength training, cardiovascular fitness, sleep quality, stress management, preventive screenings, hormone health, and maintaining a healthy body composition.

Fatigue may be influenced by hormonal changes, thyroid dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic concerns, sleep disorders, or chronic stress. A comprehensive evaluation helps identify contributing factors.

Many women experience hormonal and metabolic shifts during their 40s, 50s, and beyond. Changes in estrogen levels, muscle mass, insulin sensitivity, and stress hormones can affect how the body stores fat and utilizes energy.

Hormonal changes can alter metabolism, muscle mass, insulin sensitivity, and fat distribution. Many women notice increased abdominal weight gain during perimenopause and menopause despite maintaining healthy habits.

Hormonal fluctuations are a common cause of sleep disruption during perimenopause and menopause. Sleep quality directly affects energy, mood, metabolism, cardiovascular health, and cognitive function.

Hormones influence nearly every organ system in the body, including cardiovascular health, bone density, metabolism, cognitive function, mood regulation, sleep quality, and sexual health.

Many women notice changes in energy, sleep, mood, memory, weight, or libido years before menopause. Traditional lab testing may not always capture the full picture. Dr. Poncy takes a comprehensive approach that considers symptoms, lifestyle, medical history, and overall health rather than relying solely on laboratory values.

Women value having a trusted physician with more than 30 years of experience caring for the local community. Dr. Poncy provides personalized attention, comprehensive evaluations, expert guidance, and a proactive approach focused on helping women feel their best today while protecting their health for years to come.

For more than 30 years, Dr. Susan B. Poncy has cared for women across Palm Beach County through every stage of life. Her approach combines evidence-based medicine, preventive care, and personalized attention, allowing patients to build a long-term relationship with a physician who understands both their medical history and health goals.

Estrogen plays a critical role in maintaining bone density. As estrogen levels decline, women can lose bone mass more rapidly, increasing their risk for osteoporosis and fractures.

Women can lose bone density rapidly after menopause due to declining estrogen levels. Early identification of risk factors may help reduce the likelihood of osteoporosis and fractures later in life.