Frequently Asked Questions

We see patients located in North Carolina and Alabama. State licensing means what matters is where you are at the time of each visit, not your home address.

Dr. Watson sees patients located in North Carolina. Your first appointment is in person at our Raleigh office. Follow-up visits can be by telehealth as long as you are physically in North Carolina at the time, and Dr. Watson can offer phone appointments if you are traveling out of state.

Kate Willis, FNP, IFMCP, MSCP sees patients located in North Carolina and Alabama.

• North Carolina patients: all appointments are by telehealth, and you must be physically in North Carolina at the time of each one.
• Alabama patients: your first appointment is in person at our Birmingham office. Follow-ups can be by telehealth while you are physically in Alabama, and at least one in-person visit per year is required.
• Kate does not offer out-of-state phone calls.

That depends on your needs and preferences. Both providers are certified through the Institute for Functional Medicine and the Menopause Society, and both specialize in women’s midlife and menopause care. The provider you see for your first visit stays your provider going forward, so your care is continuous.

Kate Willis, FNP, IFMCP, MSCP

• Accepting new patients now.
• More than 16 years of experience in women’s wellness, including gynecologic oncology and dermatology.
• Works with women in their 20s through 60s for hormone balance and functional medicine care.
• Sees North Carolina patients by secure video or phone, and Alabama patients in person in Birmingham and by telehealth.
• Your primary care provider or gynecologist will perform your annual pelvic and breast exams and share that documentation with us.

Dr. Polly Watson

• More than 20 years of experience as an OB-GYN, specializing in midlife and menopause.
• The first appointment is in person in Raleigh. Follow-up visits can be virtual.
• Performs breast exams, pelvic exams, and Pap smears when not done by an insurance-based provider.
• Does not perform in-office procedures, and will refer you for biopsies or specialized care.
• A good fit for vulvar concerns.
• Not accepting new patients under 35

No. We provide specialized consultative care that works alongside your primary care, not in place of it. We are not available for emergencies, evenings, weekends, or holidays. Every patient needs an outside primary care provider for annual exams, urgent concerns, and routine services such as breast or pelvic exams, EKGs, and treatment for common illnesses.

If you are having a medical emergency, contact your primary care provider, the ER, or an urgent care center.

• Menopause and perimenopause
• Hormone imbalance: PMS and PMDD, PCOS, thyroid disorders, low libido and sexual dysfunction, fatigue, estrogen metabolism, fibroids
• Metabolic issues: weight changes, insulin resistance, adrenal dysfunction
• Gut health: GI imbalances and mold-related concerns
• Stress, anxiety, sleep concerns, insomnia, and brain fog
• Hormone or stress-related hair loss

See all of our services

• Lyme disease
• Fertility or pregnancy
• Serious mental health or neurological conditions
• ADHD medication management
• Men’s health

Dr. Watson can perform pelvic exams, Pap smears, and breast exams. Kate Willis, FNP, IFMCP, MSCP does not perform exams, so you will need a gynecologist or primary care provider for those.

Many patients keep their regular gynecologist so they can use insurance benefits for annual exams, which makes care with Kate a convenient addition to their current health team. If you receive exams from an outside provider, please share documentation of those visits with us.

With Dr. Watson, the first visit is in person. After that, you may be seen in-person, by phone or secure telehealth video. If Dr. Watson feels an exam is needed, you will be asked to schedule an in-person visit.

Appointments with Kate Willis, FNP, IFMCP, MSCP are virtual or by phone, apart from in-person visits at the Birmingham office for Alabama patients.

To remain an active patient and receive medication refills, lab interpretations, and medical advice, you need to meet with your provider at least once every 12 months.

If you use insurance for your hormone prescriptions, your plan determines coverage and cost. It is worth checking GoodRx, since its prices are sometimes lower than insurance copays.

Most generic estrogen and progesterone medications cost around $45 for a 90-day supply, depending on your insurance. Your drug formulary lists coverage details for transdermal estradiol and micronized progesterone. Compounded testosterone and other compounded medications typically cost around $100 for a two to three month supply. We do not compound medications ourselves, so we cannot guarantee what a compounding pharmacy will charge.

It depends on your overall health, and we would need to review your history to give you a definite answer. Typically, if you are in good cardiovascular health, HRT may still be an option at 60 and beyond. Before prescribing, we recommend lab work and possibly a coronary artery calcium score to assess your cardiovascular health.

If you have had estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) cancer, you are generally not a candidate for HRT. Non-hormonal options can help manage symptoms, and vaginal hormones may be considered safe for breast cancer survivors. If your oncologist is open to collaborating, we are happy to work with them on the possibility of adding testosterone. If you have a history of precancer that was successfully treated, HRT may still be an option.

Yes. As the standard of care, every patient receiving HRT from our clinic needs annual or biannual breast cancer screening, such as a mammogram or abbreviated MRI. If you have had a bilateral mastectomy and are no longer a candidate for breast screening, please share medical documentation with us. Thermograms are not accepted in place of breast screening: major medical societies, including the American College of Radiology and the American Cancer Society, do not support them as a standalone screening method.

Pricing is simple and upfront. You always know the cost of your care ahead of time, with no surprise bills and no extra charges if you bring up additional concerns during a visit.

Working outside the insurance system also lets our providers put their time into your health rather than billing codes. The hours that would go to paperwork go to staying current on the research and applying it to your care.

Yes, we accept HSA and FSA as forms of payment. Please verify your own plan’s benefits.

We make pricing clear before your first appointment, and payment is due at the time of your visit. We do not offer payment plans, but we are happy to answer any questions about costs.

See appointment and membership pricing

Yes. Pricing is the same for both providers and for virtual and in-person visits. It reflects the provider’s time and expertise, which includes reviewing your case before the visit, documenting, and following up afterward, not just the appointment itself. Kate and Dr. Watson have completed the same functional medicine and menopause training and work closely together to make sure you get the best care possible.

We require at least 48 business hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Cancellations made inside that window incur a $100 fee, charged to the card on file, and a second late cancellation is charged the full cost of the appointment. Missing an appointment without notifying your provider by email or portal message is also charged.

No. All patients are referred to Labcorp or Quest Diagnostics for testing, so you can choose a location and time that works for you.

Bloodwork can be billed to your insurance. If you do not have insurance, cash-pay discounts are available through Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics. Pricing depends on the tests ordered, so estimates are not available before the appointment, but we will work with you on recommended testing within your budget.

Functional medicine tests such as the DUTCH panel, GI-MAP, and OAT typically run $300 to $500, depending on the test. We do not mark up these tests or take payment for them. You pay the testing company directly and may submit the bill to your insurance for possible reimbursement. These tests are optional, and it is up to you to check your own insurance benefits.

Yes. Non-hormonal treatment can include herbal therapies, non-hormonal prescription medications, and targeted lifestyle changes. Herbal remedies do not provide the brain and heart protection of HRT, but for many women they relieve up to 85% of menopause symptoms. We often use tools like continuous glucose monitoring to address insulin resistance, which can worsen menopause symptoms, and sleep support is a focus for anyone managing without systemic hormones.

Yes. We work with women of many ages who want hormone balance and functional medicine care. Patients under 35 are scheduled with Kate Willis, FNP, IFMCP, MSCP. However, we do not offer infertility services.