Millions of women entering menopause say their symptoms are being dismissed or ignored by healthcare providers, leaving them to navigate this stage of life without adequate support or treatment. Experts are now urging women to speak up, prepare for appointments, and demand proper medical attention for what can be a deeply disruptive and transformative period.
Every day, around 6,000 women in the United States transition into menopause, according to Dr. Jessica Shepherd, chief medical officer at Hers, a telehealth platform that provides care for menopause, sexual health, and mental well-being. Yet, she says, there is a major gap in care because few doctors are properly trained in menopause management. “At every moment, we should be taking a self-assessment of where we are and how we feel,” Shepherd said. “We should never be afraid to ask the questions that generate more conversation.”
For many women, those conversations never happen. Common symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, brain fog, and anxiety are often brushed aside as inevitable signs of aging. Dr. Kathleen Jordan, chief medical officer of Midi Health, a virtual-care platform for menopause, said women should make dedicated appointments to discuss these concerns rather than mentioning them briefly during unrelated visits. “You shouldn’t trivialize them as an add-on conversation on your way in and out of your clinician’s office,” she explained.
Experts suggest coming prepared with specific details—such as when symptoms began, what triggers them, and how they affect daily life. “There’s power in being able to say, ‘I’ve been tracking this,’” Shepherd said. Keeping a written or digital symptom log can help doctors recognize patterns and prevent them from dismissing complaints as vague or exaggerated.
Language also matters, said Dr. Jane Limmer, an obstetrician-gynecologist at VCU Health. Using the word “distress” can help convey the seriousness of symptoms. “This is really affecting my ability to finish tasks, to sleep, or to maintain relationships,” she advised patients to say. “It gets people’s attention.”
Treatment options, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), should also be openly discussed. If a physician dismisses HRT without explanation, women have the right to ask why—and to request documentation of that decision in their medical record, said nurse practitioner and menopause specialist Helen Stearns.
Experts agree that women should not hesitate to seek out specialists certified in menopause care if their current providers lack expertise. “It’s our responsibility as doctors to make sure patients get to someone who does have that expertise,” Limmer said.
While menopause is a natural stage of life, experts emphasize that suffering through it is not. “You’re not going crazy, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken,” Stearns said. “Whatever you’re feeling in your body is very real—and it deserves to be taken seriously.”
