Oregon · Women's Health & Menopause Specialist · Currently Accepting New Patients
Your body changed. Your care should too.
I'm Nora, a DNP, nurse practitioner, menopause specialist, and certified sexual counselor. I help women navigate perimenopause, menopause, and sexual health with evidence-based care and zero judgment.
(Yes, we can talk about that. Whatever "that" is. I've heard it all.)
DNP, FNP-BC, AOCNP, MSCP, CSCDoctor of Nursing Practice · Board-certified family & advanced oncology NP
Menopause Society Certified (MSCP)One of fewer than 120 certified in Oregon
Certified Sexual Counselor (CSC)Certified through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists
30+ Years of ExperienceIn practice since 1994 · Oregon residents · accepting new patients
Each day, approximately 6,000 women in the U.S. reach menopause. (yes, really)
And most of them won't get a real conversation about it from their provider. That's exactly why this practice exists.
Why Choose Nora
Care that actually meets you.
One of Fewer Than 120 in Oregon
Nora holds MSCP certification, one of the rarest credentials in women's midlife medicine in Oregon.
Evidence-Based, Full Stop
No trends, no guesswork. Every recommendation comes from current clinical research and board-certified expertise.
30+ Years of Real-World Practice
Since 1994: that's thousands of women, hundreds of complex cases, and a whole lot of experience knowing what actually works.
100% Telehealth · Oregon
Expert care on your schedule. No commute, no waiting room. Fully virtual and HIPAA-compliant.
Dual-Specialty Expertise
Board-certified in both family care and advanced oncology, with specialized training in sexual counseling.
Zero Judgment. Real Conversations.
Whatever you've been afraid to bring up: bring it. This is a space where nothing is TMI and everything is heard.
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Years in clinical practice
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MSCP-certified providers in Oregon
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Women reach menopause daily in the U.S.
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Virtual · No commute · Oregon residents
Free Resource
The Perimenopause Handbook.
A straight-talking, evidence-based guide to navigating perimenopause and menopause, written by Nora from 30 years on the front lines of women's health. No jargon, no scare tactics. Just the real picture.
1
The Four Phases of Ovarian Transition — explained simply
2
Decoding Your Symptoms — what's hormonal and what isn't
3
HRT vs. BHRT — what you actually need to know
4
Sexual Health Changes — what's normal and what isn't
5
Questions to Ask Your Provider — and red flags to watch for
Request your free handbook.
Free. No spam. Your info is never shared.
Nora Lersch, DNP · FNP-BC · MSCP · CSC
The Perimenopause Handbook
What Your Doctor Didn't Tell You — and What to Do About It
Nora Lersch, DNP FNP-BC · AOCNP · MSCP · CSC
FREE
Meet Nora
"I built this practice because women deserve a provider who takes their symptoms seriously, and doesn't flinch at the hard conversations."
30+
Years in Practice
DNP
Doctor of Nursing Practice
MSCP
Menopause Society Certified
OR
Licensed in Oregon
Background & Philosophy
Hey, I'm Nora.
I'm a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and AASECT Certified Sexual Counselor. That's a lot of titles, and each one came from the same place: a deep commitment to understanding women's health at every stage, especially the parts that standard training tends to overlook.
I have spent years specializing in women's hormonal and sexual health, working with women navigating changes that most providers don't have time, training, or comfort to address. That experience made me passionate about building a practice where perimenopause, menopause, and sexual health are the whole point.
I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh, my graduate degree from East Tennessee State University, and my doctoral degree from Carlow University. When I'm not in clinic, you'll find me reading, knitting, golfing, sailing, or walking the dog with my husband.
My practice is for women who are ready to stop being dismissed and start getting actual answers. I can't be your PCP, and I don't do pap smears, but I can guide you through perimenopause, menopause, and sexual health with the depth and attention you deserve.
Real talk. Real care. Real results.
Perimenopause, menopause, and sexual health are three of the most under-addressed areas in women's medicine. Women are dismissed, minimized, and handed a pamphlet when what they actually need is a provider who gets it, clinically and personally.
With over 30 years of clinical experience, a doctorate from Carlow University, board certifications in family and oncology nursing, MSCP certification through The Menopause Society, and specialized training in sexual health counseling, I bring an unusually comprehensive lens to women's midlife care.
My practice is built on two things: the best available evidence, and actually listening to you.
Hormone Therapy (HRT & BHRT)
Sexual Health Counseling
Lab Ordering & Interpretation
Perimenopause to Menopause Management
Telehealth (Oregon Residents)
Prescription Authority (Oregon)
The Nora Difference
What care should feel like.
Most women have spent years being rushed, dismissed, or handed a pamphlet. Here's what's different.
Typical Appointment
What most women experience
With Nora
What you actually deserve
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15-minute visit, mostly spent on paperwork, not you
✓
Unhurried visits; Nora reviews your chart before you even log on
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"That's just part of aging" and nothing else
✓
Every symptom taken seriously, investigated, and addressed
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Referred to three specialists who don't talk to each other
✓
Comprehensive care in one place: hormonal, sexual health, and beyond
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Too embarrassed to bring up sexual health, so you don't
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Nothing is off-limits. Ever. Zero judgment, full conversation
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One-size-fits-all treatment, if you get treated at all
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Evidence-based, personalized plan built around your life
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Leave with more questions than you came in with
✓
You leave with a real plan and someone in your corner
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Drive across town, wait 45 minutes, repeat in 6 months
✓
100% telehealth; expert care from your couch, on your schedule
Currently accepting new patients in Oregon · 100% virtual
Ready to Work Together?
Scheduling, records, and your patient portal are all managed securely through CharmHealth. No PHI on this site; just click to get started.
The Four Phases of Ovarian Transition
"Am I menopausal?"
Every woman moves through this journey; understanding where you are is the first step to getting the care you deserve.
01
Phase One
Reproductive
Regular cycles, monthly ovulation, and predictable hormonal patterns, from your first period onwards. Estrogen and progesterone rise and fall in a steady rhythm.
Puberty onward
02
Phase Two
Perimenopause
Hormones begin to fluctuate unpredictably. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, irregular cycles, sleep disruption, often starting 4–8 years before menopause.
Typically mid-40s
03
Phase Three
Menopause
Defined as one single day: 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. The ovaries have significantly reduced estrogen production. A transition point, not an endpoint.
Average age 51
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Phase Four
Postmenopause
Every day after menopause, for the rest of your life. This phase can span 30–40 years and brings its own considerations: bone health, cardiovascular health, and hormonal wellbeing.
Your next chapter
Wherever you are in this journey. I can help. You don't have to figure it out alone.
Are You Experiencing This?
You are not imagining it. And you are not alone.
Perimenopause & Menopause
Your hormones are changing. So is everything else.
Irregular cycles, hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, weight shifts, mood swings, insomnia; perimenopause can feel like your body just stopped cooperating. And menopause brings its own set of changes that don't always resolve on their own.
"My doctor said this was normal." Normal doesn't mean you have to put up with it. Let's do something about it.
I offer comprehensive perimenopause and menopause care, including hormone therapy, lab analysis, and lifestyle support, to help you feel like yourself again.
Sexual Health
Nobody told you this part would change too.
Low libido, pain during sex, vaginal dryness, difficulty with arousal or orgasm; sexual health changes are incredibly common and profoundly undertreated. Most women never get a real conversation about it from their provider.
"I was too embarrassed to bring it up." I promise, nothing you say will surprise me. This is literally my specialty.
As a certified sexual counselor, I offer compassionate, clinical, judgment-free care for women navigating sexual concerns at any stage of life.
Symptom Check
Are these symptoms yours?
Many women suffer for years thinking what they're experiencing is "just aging." It's not. These symptoms are real, treatable, and you don't have to manage them alone.
Hot flashes or night sweats disrupting your sleep
Brain fog, memory lapses, or mood shifts
Vaginal dryness or pain with intimacy
Low libido, fatigue, or loss of energy
Irregular periods or cycle changes
Anxiety, depression, or feeling overwhelmed?
100% virtual · Oregon · Coming soon to Washington · Currently accepting new patients
Quick Symptom Check
How long have you been experiencing symptoms?
Question 1 of 520%
For educational purposes only. Not a substitute for medical advice.
✓
You may be a great fit for Nora's practice.
Based on your answers, the symptoms you're experiencing are real, common, and treatable. A consultation with Nora is the best next step.
How I Can Help
My Offerings
Personalized, evidence-based care for women who are done being dismissed. Strictly virtual, telehealth for Oregon residents and coming soon to Washington.
Perimenopause & Menopause
Initial Visit
Virtual · Oregon · Coming Soon to Washington
Whether you're newly perimenopausal or a decade post-menopause, I meet you where you are with a care plan built entirely around you, not a protocol designed for someone else.
Hormone Testing & Lab Analysis
Menopause Hormone Therapy (HRT)
Perimenopause Hormone Management
Lifestyle, Nutrition & Sleep Support
Bone Density & Cardiovascular Health
Thyroid & Metabolic Assessment
One-on-One
Follow Up Visit
Virtual · Oregon · Coming Soon to Washington
Starting with a comprehensive initial visit, we build your personalized plan together, then meet as your body and needs evolve. Because hormones aren't a set-it-and-forget-it situation.
Follow-up visits every 1–3 months as needed
Annual visit with plan updates as needed
Lab ordering and interpretation
Prescription management and titration
Secure messaging between visits
Your plan evolves as your hormones do
Getting Started
New Patients
Here's what happens when you decide you want to work with me.
1
Schedule Your Appointment
Book online through the CharmHealth scheduling system. You'll receive a confirmation email with a link to create your patient portal account.
Check your spam folder. It's probably in there being antisocial.
2
Complete Your Paperwork — Early
Please finish all intake forms at least 24 hours before your appointment. I review them ahead of time so we can use our visit for actual conversation, not paperwork.
Your appointment may be rescheduled if forms aren't completed. No hard feelings, just logistics.
3
Write Down Your Questions
All of them. Even the ones you think are embarrassing. Especially those. There is genuinely nothing I haven't heard, and nothing is off the table.
4
Get Ready for Your Telehealth Visit
All visits are conducted virtually via CharmHealth. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and test your audio before we meet. Future you will thank present you.
5
Know Your Lab Network
If you can verify which labs are in your insurance network before we meet, it speeds up any orders I recommend. Call your insurance; they're actually helpful for this one.
All of Nora's visits are conducted virtually, just like this.
Practice Information
The facts before your first visit
Format100% Virtual — Telehealth Only
LocationOregon · Coming Soon to Washington
SchedulingOnline via CharmHealth
PrescriptionsAvailable in Oregon
Lab OrderingYes — know your network
InsuranceOut-of-network; superbill provided
PCP ServicesNo — keep your primary care provider
💡 Billing
Nora's practice is out-of-network with all insurances. Payment is due at time of service. You'll receive an itemized superbill to submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. Payment plans available; contact the office. Medicare and Medicaid are not billed.
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
(Including the ones you were afraid to ask.)
Can you order labs and imaging?
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Yes. I can order labs and necessary imaging. These services can often be covered by your insurance. It helps to know which lab or imaging center is in your insurance network before your visit; a quick call to your insurer can sort that out.
Can you prescribe medications?
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Yes. I can prescribe medications in Oregon, including hormone therapy. I will not take over medications prescribed by your primary care provider, as I am not your PCP. We play well with others.
Yes, that includes HRT. Yes, I know your last doctor said you "didn't need it." Let's talk.
Can you be my primary care provider (PCP)?
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No. I specialize in perimenopause, menopause, and sexual health. Please keep your PCP; they handle the rest of you beautifully. I handle this very specific and very important part.
Can you do my annual well-woman exam or Pap smear?
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No. Annual exams and Pap smears belong with your PCP or gynecologist. I focus exclusively on menopause and sexual health, where I can do the most good.
Is everything virtual?
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Yes, all visits are conducted virtually via CharmHealth. There are no in-person appointments. Just make sure you have a stable internet connection and test your audio before we meet. Future you will thank you.
What if I don't live in Oregon?
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If you live outside of Oregon, I can provide educational consultations only; I cannot diagnose, prescribe, or order labs/imaging for patients outside my licensed state.
Do you prescribe HRT or bioidentical hormone therapy?
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Yes. Hormone replacement therapy using bioidentical hormones is safe, effective, and evidence-based for the right candidates. It can provide significant symptom relief and preventive benefits during perimenopause and menopause. We'll review your history together and decide what makes sense for you, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
I have questions about sexual health. Is that actually something we can discuss?
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100% yes, and it's one of the most important reasons to make an appointment. As a certified sexual health counselor, sexual health is not a side topic here. It is a primary focus. Low libido, pain, dryness: bring all of it.
I have genuinely heard it all. You are not going to be the one who surprises me.
What happens after I request an appointment?
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You'll receive a confirmation email from my practice with a link to create your CharmHealth patient portal account. Complete your intake forms at least 24 hours before your visit; your appointment may be rescheduled if they're not done in time.
Do you accept insurance?
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My practice is out-of-network with all insurances. Payment is due at the time of service. You'll receive an itemized superbill to submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Payment plans are available; contact the office to discuss. Medicare and Medicaid are not billed.
Book an Appointment
Schedule Online
Select an appointment type below and choose a time that works for you. No phone calls, no waiting rooms.
Get in Touch
Let's Work Together.
Accepting new patients in Oregon, and coming soon to Washington. All visits are strictly virtual. Scheduling and all health-related communication go through CharmHealth to keep your information secure and HIPAA-compliant.
Practice Details
I'm currently accepting new patients in Oregon. All visits are 100% virtual; no in-person appointments. Use the form for general questions; for everything health-related, use your patient portal.
Not sure if we're a good fit? Schedule a free 10-minute call to learn more about Nora's practice style, ask a quick question, and see if this feels right, no commitment required.
Is this the right practice for me?
What does a first visit look like?
Learn more about Nora's practice style
Scheduling is handled securely through CharmHealth. All health-related communication goes through your patient portal.
Transparent Pricing
Simple, straightforward fees.
No surprises. No hidden fees. Nora believes you deserve to know exactly what care costs before you commit.
$0
Free
10-Minute Consult
A no-commitment call to see if we're a good fit, learn about Nora's practice style, and ask a quick question.
Most Popular
$400
One-time
New Patient Visit
Comprehensive initial consultation. Full history review, symptom assessment, and a personalized care plan built around you.
$200
Per visit
Return Visit
Follow-up visits to review labs, adjust your plan, and continue care as your body and needs evolve.
Nora's practice is currently self-pay. She does not bill insurance directly. A superbill can be provided for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
Group Education Sessions
Join the Waitlist
Be the first to know when Nora launches group education sessions — virtual, evidence-based, and open to all Oregon women.
