Menopause is a unique journey, and at Coral, we aim to make it empowering and seamless. Coral is on a mission to empower women to thrive during their prime years by providing accessible, personalized, and empathetic care and solutions. With a focus on evidence-based treatments and integrative support, Coral is setting a new standard for menopause care in Canada.
Leading the charge is Dr. Ariane Ouellet-Decoste, Coral’s Medical Director. With nearly 20 years of experience spanning emergency medicine, preventative care, and women’s health in Canada and the UK, Dr. Ouellet-Decoste brings a wealth of expertise to Coral. She has trained extensively in areas such as menopause, cardiology, and nutrition.
At Coral, Dr. Ouellet-Decoste oversees the development of treatment pathways and ensures compliance with medical regulations. Her mission is to deliver exceptional care to women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause, ensuring that Coral’s solutions meet the highest standards of medical excellence.
To shed light on the approach Coral was built on, we sat down with Dr. Ouellet-Decoste to understand exactly how Coral supports women during this transition, what makes our care model unique, and why personalized care matters during this important life stage.
Q1: What is Coral?
Coral is a digital platform designed to provide women with holistic, integrative, and personalized support as they navigate perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause in their life. Our approach centers on listening to every woman’s unique needs and working with them to improve their symptoms through lifestyle adjustments, with or without menopause hormone therapy (MHT) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as previously named.
What we mean when we say holistic and integrative is we’re not just addressing physical symptoms like hot flashes or night sweats, but also mental health, stress management, nutrition, and movement. We look at everything. We live this journey with our members for however long they need us, ensuring they feel supported every step of the way. Menopause symptoms often evolve, and we are a dedicated partner to adapt and provide care at every stage.
Q2: What can a member expect when they join Coral?
It all starts with a whole health assessment—we want to get to know all of you—your health history, your lifestyle, any health issues you may be experiencing, and your health aspirations. To do this, you’ll complete a series of detailed intake questionnaires followed by comprehensive blood testing so we can have a complete view of what’s happening inside your body. Once we receive the results, an appointment is scheduled to review them with your dedicated nurse practitioner, who will partner with you to develop the right treatment plan tailored to address symptoms, health issues, and achieve your goals. If medication is required, this is where the right treatment will be prescribed to you.
After this, you’ll be assigned your own dedicated health coach. They work closely with you to implement your treatment plan and offer ongoing motivation and support. They are your point of contact for any questions or guidance you may need. Through the Coral app, you can connect with your certified coach anytime via chat or scheduled video call. They’ll help you stay on track and ensure that as your symptoms evolve, your care team adapts your plan to meet your changing needs. Our approach is designed to ensure members always feel supported and empowered to achieve their best health and live their best lives.
Q3: What makes Coral’s integrative care model different from traditional menopause treatments?
Traditional menopause treatments often center solely on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). For example, do you have hot flashes? Yes? Ok, that’s an indication of estrogen deficiency, and it’s addressed as a medical problem with estrogen prescribed. Whereas at Coral, menopause is not only about symptom management. We know this is a period of your life where if you make the right changes in your lifestyle, you’re going to stay healthy much longer than if you don’t. So it has a major impact on healthy lifespan too. If you don’t make these changes by the time you reach menopause, the risk of chronic illness increases like heart diseases, many cancers, type 2 diabetes, dementia and some auto-immune conditions. While HRT can be effective for managing certain symptoms, it’s only one piece of the puzzle.
At Coral, we look at the bigger picture. We address other crucial aspects of a woman’s life. For example, how and when you eat matters, not just what you eat. We focus on nutrition, sleep quality, stress reduction, movement, and even the pace at which women live their lives. These factors have a much greater impact during menopause because the body becomes less resilient to unhealthy habits.
Our care model is designed to help women reflect on their lifestyle and implement sustainable changes. It’s not just about managing menopause symptoms today; it’s about laying the foundation for long-term health and vitality. We want to support you every step of the way and in every aspect, and that’s why we developed Coral based on an integrated, team-based approach.
Q4: How does Coral’s team-based approach improve the care experience for members?
Our team-based approach is all about collaboration. At Coral, healthcare practitioners, nurses, and health coaches work together with our members to deliver streamlined, personalized care.
In the traditional healthcare system, care is often siloed—you might see a doctor, a nutritionist, or a trainer, but they rarely communicate with each other. At Coral, we bring it all together. Your coach works closely with your healthcare team, creating a seamless experience where everyone is aligned on your care plan.
This approach ensures no aspect of your health is overlooked. Whether it’s adjusting a treatment plan based on your progress or addressing new symptoms, our team is there to support you. Making changes, especially as we get older, becomes more difficult. This collaborative model not only makes the care experience smoother but also enables our members to achieve better health outcomes.
Q5: Why is personalized treatment so critical during menopause, and how does Coral achieve this?
The guidelines currently say that “one size fits all” when it comes to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), but we know that not every woman reacts the same way to the same dose. It’s not only about the hormone they get, and the dose—it’s also about their metabolic health and their lifestyle. So it requires listening to the whole body and making adjustments along the way. Perimenopause is a time of immense change—metabolically, hormonally, and emotionally. During this period, it is very hard to put every woman in a box. The journeys are different. Some experience intense physical symptoms, while others struggle more with mental health changes. That’s why personalized care is so critical.
At Coral, we tailor our plans to each woman’s unique needs, considering everything from metabolic health to lifestyle habits. For example, while HRT is often prescribed, not every woman reacts the same way to a standard dose. We take the time to listen, adjust treatments as needed, and ensure those treatments are right for each individual. By taking a personalized approach, we can help women manage their symptoms effectively and set them up for long-term health and wellness. Additionally, as symptoms evolve, our plans adapt to ensure care remains aligned with your needs. We’ll track your symptoms with a scale that we visit regularly during your consultations so we can track your progress and make adjustments as needed.
Q6: What long-term outcomes can women expect when working with Coral?
With Coral, women can expect to feel more energized, confident, and in control of their health. Our approach not only helps manage symptoms but also focuses on building habits that support long-term well-being.
By addressing lifestyle factors like nutrition, movement, and stress management, we help women reduce their risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and osteoporosis. It’s about thriving—not just during peri-menopause, but for the rest of your life.
We want our members to live their best lives well into their 60s, 70s, and beyond—whether that means keeping up with grandkids, traveling, or simply enjoying everyday activities with vitality. At Coral, we’re here to help women embrace this transformative phase and emerge stronger than ever.
Q7: As you know, at Coral, we are on a mission to help women thrive. What helps you thrive?
For me, thriving is all about curiosity. I’m always eager to learn—whether it’s through podcasts, meeting new people, engaging with innovative ideas, or exploring new perspectives. Staying curious allows me to grow both personally and professionally.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider to determine what is best for your individual health needs.
