Melissa Mondala, MD

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

After reaching 3 chromosomally normal embryos, Dr. Belinda Adams says something shifted: she finally had the “audacity to believe” motherhood could happen.

There are no guarantees in infertility—but hope can change everything.

#IVF #Fertility

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

Not every fertility intervention will have perfect RCT data.

Dr. Belinda Adams explains why relatively low-risk lifestyle changes may deserve a more pragmatic conversation—and why being your own advocate matters.
#Fertility #IVF #TTC

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

When someone says they're "stuck in fight-or-flight," my first questions aren't about meditation. They're about breakfast, sleep, movement, blood sugar, and whether they've had a quiet moment all week. Your nervous system responds to your environment, not just your mindset.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

We talk so much about supplements, food, and movement that we forget one of the most powerful daily inputs: light.

Morning sunlight regulates your circadian rhythm, supports sleep, lifts mood, and helps with vitamin D — all of it matters with an autoimmune condition.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

If I could keep only three foods for healthy aging: ground flaxseed, black lentils, and natto.

They support estrogen metabolism, gut health, blood sugar, and long-term bone health.

Check with your provider before adding new foods to your routine.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

"I haven't thought about my stomach all week."

"I cleaned the house and wasn't wrecked the next day."

Those aren't small updates. They mean your body is asking less of you just to get through an ordinary day. That's progress.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

Not sure where to start before perimenopause? Don't overcomplicate it:

✓ 30g protein at breakfast
✓ Lift heavy enough that your last reps feel hard
✓ Something fermented a few times a week for your gut

You don't need a perfect routine. You need one you can repeat.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

Dr. Russell Kennedy @THEanxietyMD isn't one thing. It's two, the worries in your mind, & a state of alarm in your body. Most therapy addresses the thinking, but it leaves the alarm untouched, so the root cause stays intact. It's why CBT works for a stretch, then quietly stops.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

"Nothing's going to heal you but your connection to yourself. It took me 65 years to figure that out." Dr. Russell Kennedy @THEanxietyMD estimates self-separation drives ~90% of physical and emotional illness. If that's right, reconnection isn't an add-on. It's the treatment.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

You can't reason your way out of anxiety. The reasoning system is offline. Dr. Russell Kennedy @theanxietymd the chemistry makes you more emotional and reactive while cutting access to the rational brain. You generate more worries & lose the faculty that would've dismissed them.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

Some days, anxiety does start in the brain. But other days, it can start with blood sugar swings, poor sleep, inflammation, hormones, or a nervous system that's been running on empty for months. That's why I never assume every anxious patient needs the exact same treatment plan.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

Most people treating chronic pain want it to stop. Dr. Russell Kennedy @THEanxietyMD says that's why it doesn't. Pain isn't the malfunction. It's the lighthouse, pointing at a disconnection no protocol can reach. Change what runs in your default mode & the world gets lighter.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

The best exercise program is the one your body still recognizes six months from now. I see so many women go from zero to seven workouts a week... then disappear for the next month because they're exhausted. Consistency does more for your metabolism than intensity ever will

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

Everyone knows to check for added sugar. Far fewer check the fillers, gums, and emulsifiers.

Growing research suggests some may increase gut permeability, disrupt the microbiome, and fuel chronic low-grade inflammation.

I read ingredient lists closer than I did ten years ago.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

One of my favorite things about practicing lifestyle medicine right now: the questions have changed.

Women are asking, "How do I protect my brain before menopause?"

Ten years ago, I wasn't hearing that.

Women's health is changing because women are asking better questions.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

One of the best parts of medicine is that we don't always have to wait for a problem.

Sometimes we can see where the road is headed years before someone feels sick. Those are my favorite conversations to have with patients.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

Weekend challenge from your local lifestyle medicine doctor: eat one meal outside.

You'll slow down without realizing it. You'll get natural light. Maybe you'll stay off your phone for twenty minutes.

We forget bodies still respond to simple things. 🤍

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

I think we'll look back on this era in women's health and see it as a turning point.

Women are asking different questions than they were five years ago. Paying attention to what their mothers were told to ignore.

Long way to go, but medicine is starting to catch up.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

One thing I try not to do is obsess over a single number.

If your vitamin D is a little low, I'm asking: Are you indoors all day? Feeling more tired than usual? How's your diet? Your bone health?

I'd rather put the whole story together than chase one lab result.

[Melissa Mondala, MD @MMondalaMD]

One thing I try not to do is obsess over a single number.

If your vitamin D is a little low, I'm asking: Are you indoors all day? Feeling more tired than usual? How's your diet? Your bone health?

I'd rather put the whole story together than chase one lab result.