Melinda French Gates has spoken out about the difficulties in recognizing and treating perimenopause, stating that it required consultations with three different doctors before she received a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment. French Gates, 61, shared her experience on journalist Norah O'Donnell's podcast "Healthful," detailing that she began experiencing symptoms in her early 40s.
She noted that even with access to high-quality healthcare, the diagnostic process was prolonged. "It wasn't because anybody was doing the wrong thing. It's because of what I now know, which is, only one-third of OB-GYNs in this country are trained in menopause," French Gates said during the interview, as reported by CBS News.
Her experience highlights a significant gap in formal medical training regarding menopause care, which she believes affects broader women's healthcare. Supporting her assertion, a 2023 survey published in the journal Menopause indicated that approximately one-third of U.S. obstetrics and gynecology residency programs do not include a formal menopause curriculum. Further research from 2024 found that residents in OB-GYN, family medicine, and internal medicine programs demonstrated low knowledge and confidence in managing menopausal symptoms.
A separate study conducted in Kansas revealed that over half of residents reported receiving fewer than five hours of menopause education during their training. The majority of these residents also expressed that their residency programs did not fully prepare them to independently treat patients experiencing menopause.
Additional data from a national survey of 2,000 women indicated that only 25% felt their healthcare provider had sufficiently informed them about perimenopause. Researchers suggest that enhanced training could improve care, as knowledge scores increased from 61% to 79% among those who underwent a structured curriculum.
According to The Menopause Society, approximately 1.3 million U.S. women reach menopause annually. Most women begin experiencing perimenopause in their 40s, though it can commence earlier. Perimenopause involves fluctuating hormone levels, leading to a variety of symptoms. Mayo Clinic lists common signs such as irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes, vaginal dryness, brain fog, and joint pain.