Melinda French Gates highlights the challenges of diagnosing perimenopause, revealing that it took three doctors to identify her condition and emphasizing a significant gap in OB-GYN menopause training across the U.S.
Melinda French Gates has opened up about her struggles with perimenopause, revealing that it took three doctors to finally receive a proper diagnosis and treatment. Her experience sheds light on a concerning gap in the training of obstetricians and gynecologists regarding menopause care.
In an interview with journalist Norah O’Donnell on her new podcast, “Healthful,” set to be released on Wednesday, French Gates, now 61, recounted how she began experiencing symptoms of menopause in her early 40s. She expressed disbelief at the time, stating, “I kind of couldn’t believe it,” as reported by CBS News.
French Gates, a prominent philanthropist and businesswoman, later discovered that many OB-GYNs lack formal training in menopause care. This revelation highlights a broader issue in women’s healthcare. She noted that she was fortunate to recognize the signs of perimenopause, thanks to advice from older friends.
“But it was kind of unbelievable to me that, even in this, you know, unbelievably privileged situation I’m in, where I feel like I can get some of the best healthcare, it took me three doctors to really diagnose what I was going through and to get the right treatments for where I was,” she explained during the podcast interview.
French Gates emphasized that the difficulty in obtaining a diagnosis was not due to negligence on the part of the doctors but rather a systemic issue. “It’s because of what I now know, which is, only one-third of OB-GYNs in this country are trained in menopause,” she stated.
Supporting her claims, a national survey published in the journal *Menopause* in 2023 revealed that only about one-third of U.S. obstetrics and gynecology residency programs include a formal menopause curriculum. A subsequent study conducted in 2024 found that residents in OB-GYN, family medicine, and internal medicine exhibited low knowledge and confidence in treating menopausal symptoms.
Furthermore, a 2026 study conducted in Kansas indicated that more than half of the residents reported receiving fewer than five hours of education on menopause, with the majority feeling unprepared to treat menopausal patients independently after completing their residency.
In a national survey of 2,000 women, only 25% reported that their healthcare provider had adequately informed them about perimenopause. This lack of education underscores the need for additional training in this area, as research indicates that knowledge scores increased from 61% to 79% among those who received a structured menopause curriculum.
According to The Menopause Society, approximately 1.3 million women in the U.S. reach menopause each year, with most beginning perimenopause in their 40s, although it can start earlier. As hormone levels fluctuate during perimenopause, women may experience a variety of symptoms, including irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes, vaginal dryness, brain fog, and joint pain, as noted by the Mayo Clinic.
Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for French Gates for further comment on her experience and the broader implications for women’s health.
As the conversation around menopause continues to evolve, the insights shared by French Gates serve as a crucial reminder of the importance of comprehensive training for healthcare providers in addressing the unique needs of women during this significant life transition, according to *CBS News*.