What To Do When Doctors Don’t Listen

Advocating for yourself.

Here’s a frustrating truth: most women will seek medical help for perimenopausal symptoms, but many won’t get the answers—or the care—they actually need.

According to the NIH , 90% of women experiencing perimenopause will end up visiting a doctor. But here's the problem: far too many doctors aren’t trained to recognize or treat it properly.

Contemporaryobgyn reported that a 2013 survey found that only 20.8% of OB/GYN residents had access to formal menopause training. Fast forward to recent years, and that number has only climbed to 31%—and most of that training is just lectures or reading. Only about 20% of residents actually see patients going through menopause during their training.

What does that mean for you?

It means you might go to your GP or OB/GYN, talk about your anxiety, your PMS, your sleep issues, and be told you’re “too young” for menopause—just like I was. I was handed a prescription for antidepressants and sent on my way. No one connected the dots. No one asked about the bigger picture.

And this is exactly why I want to say: You are not imagining this.

If something doesn’t feel right—if it doesn’t look right or seem right—trust yourself. You know your body better than anyone else.

There are healthcare providers out there who specialize in menopause and midlife women’s health. It may take some digging, but they exist. Get on their waitlists. Ask the uncomfortable questions. Keep searching until you find someone who listens, who believes you, and who’s equipped to help.

You don’t have to settle for feeling dismissed. You deserve answers. You deserve care.

Kelly Rigo is the creative force behind Menopause Evolution.