
Table of Contents
Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and menopause
The Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause is comprised of the following programs:
For more information, please call 312.694.9676.
Meet the Clinicians
Dr. Streicher is the author of a comprehensive sexual and hormone health book: Sex Rx-Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever and The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy
In addition to her role as medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause, Dr. Streicher sees patients as part of her Extended Care Program.




Patricia Handler, MSN, FNP-C, is a Family Nurse Practitioner in the Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause. She has many years of experience in women’s health including labor and delivery, contraceptive research and reproductive endocrinology. Ms. Handler completed a certificate program in Sex Counseling from the University of Michigan. She is a Certified Menopause Practitioner of The North American Menopause Society. She is a member of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health, The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health’s (NPWH), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Audrey Fenwick, MS, PA-C, Prior to receiving her Physician Assistant degree, Ms. Fenwick worked extensively in the field of menopausal and contraceptive health with a significant focus on health education. Audrey previously held a position with Northwestern University’s Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology working in women’s health research. She is a graduate of the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science with a degree in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS). She received her undergraduate degree in 2010 from Indiana University in Bloomington. Audrey is a member of The North American Menopause Society and the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health. She is also a Certified Menopause Practitioner of The North American Menopause Society.

Jennifer Levy, MA, LCPC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor who received her Masters in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University and completed a certificate program in Sex Therapy from the University of Michigan. She has expertise working with women and couples across the lifespan around issues of low sexual desire, desire discrepancy, infidelity and concerns regarding sexual functioning and changes due to menopause, aging and illness. With over 15 years of women’s health experience, Ms. Levy also specializes in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, relationship patterns, conflict, grief and loss that often underlie sexual concerns.

Rachel Zar, MS, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who holds a Masters in Marriage & Family Therapy from Northwestern University and a Certificate in Sex Education from the University of Michigan. She works with both individuals and couples, and clinical focuses include: sexual dysfunction or difficulty, low desire or desire discrepancies, coping with chronic pelvic pain, and general dating or relationship concerns. She offers a sex-positive and sex-inclusive approach, and she is an LGBTQ- and kink-affirmative clinician. She is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and Kink & Poly Aware Chicago Therapists (KPACT).

Shantae Williams, PT, DPT, graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and went on to complete her Doctorate in physical therapy at Central Michigan University. Her areas of interest include male and female pelvic floor dysfunction, pregnancy- and postpartum-related pain, and general orthopaedics. She has completed her course work for the Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Physical therapy (CAPP) from the American Physical Therapy Association Section on Women’s Health and is working on becoming a certified specialist in this area. Shantae has a special interest in chronic pelvic pain, incontinence and bowel dysfunction and takes a holistic and comprehensive approach in treating her patients.

Andrea Shemesh, PT, graduated from Tel Aviv University with a Bachelor in Physical Therapy degree and started her career practicing in orthopaedic outpatient settings. She continued specializing in integrative and holistic approaches that she incorporated in her practice, among them are: craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, and strain-counter strain through the International Association of Health Education in Florida. Andrea started developing her passion in treating all pelvic floor conditions and enhancing her skills through continuing education with the Herman and Wallace Rehabilitation Institute, combining her experience and knowledge in the orthopaedic field and holistic fields with pelvic floor rehabilitation of both females and males. Her clinical interests are in treating all pelvic floor dysfunctions (bowel and bladder dysfunctions that include urinary and fecal incontinence, urinary urgency /frequency, painful bladder syndrome, pelvic organ prolapse and post-partum musculoskeletal issues). Her passion lies in treating chronic pelvic floor pain. Andrea is a member of the APTA Women’s Health chapter and IAHE.

Toshiko Odaira, PT, graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, ME with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 2006. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree in 2014 from CUNY Graduate Center/Hunter College, located in New York, NY. Her career in physical therapy began in an outpatient orthopaedic clinic in Chicago, IL, where she trained in functional manual therapy and took extensive coursework with the Institute of Physical Art. As her interest in women’s health grew, she began taking coursework through the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. Toshi applies functional manual therapy, dry needling, patient education on pain science and various home exercise programs to her treatment sessions, guiding patients toward recovery and healing through a holistic approach. Toshi’s clinical interests are chronic pelvic pain, neurodynamic dysfunction, sexual dysfunction and bowel/bladder dysfunction. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association Section on Women’s Health and Section on Orthopaedics.
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