I’ve come to the conclusion that the lack of support in perimenopause and menopause is the biggest healthcare crisis of our time. Women experience an enormous physiological shift that has not been studied, discussed or acknowledged enough, leaving too many women suffering on their own. We’re failing half the population during 30-40% of their lives. 

Suffering can manifest in numerous: uncomfortable symptoms that dramatically lower quality of life; brain fog that makes it hard to function; anxiety and depression related to hormonal fluctuations; the preventable onset of osteoporosis; increased risk of heart disease, pre-diabetes, hormone-sensitive cancers, autoimmune diseases and the increased risk of early death related to these conditions.  

I’ve supported women navigating perimenopause and menopause for over a decade and witnessed firsthand the enormous struggle that so many experience. I also have many women in my family who have struggled to navigate this transition. The majority of the time, their doctors provide inadequate advice, no meaningful support and fail to proactively address the hormonal shifts they experience. Symptoms are routinely dismissed, undermined, or just ignored.

Here’s why I truly believe this constitutes the largest healthcare crisis of our time…

1. Sheer Scale of Impact

Every woman with ovaries, aka 50% of the population, will experience menopause, spending approximately one-third of her life post-menopause. Yet, there is little to no support and little education available. Women are gaslit, misinformed, or simply ignored during a phase that affects their healthspan, lifespan, and quality of life. This neglect can lead women to feel isolated, unsupported and even blamed for their own physiological changes. 

2. Lack of Medical Training and Awareness

There is a huge gap in medical education, with only about 20% of OB-GYN residency programs providing formal training in menopause management. One study found that 93% of physicians-in-training felt unprepared to manage menopausal symptoms effectively. As a result, women receive misdiagnoses, dismissive advice, or band-aid solutions like birth control, antidepressants, ozempic or simply being told to “wait it out.”  

3. Widespread, Life Altering Symptoms Are Dismissed

Some of the most common symptoms drastically lower quality of life including: 

• Anxiety & depression

• Brain fog & cognitive decline

• Weight gain

• Sleep issues

• Fatigue & low energy

• Joint pain

• Low libido

• Blood sugar instability

These symptoms significantly disrupt women’s productivity and quality of life which can also lead to decreased workplace participation. Research from McKinsey Health Institute (2023) suggests menopause costs the global economy billions annually due to lost productivity, absenteeism, and healthcare expenditures. It’s also common for women to leave their jobs prematurely due to unmanaged menopausal symptoms, exacerbating gender inequalities in income and retirement savings.

4. Risk of Chronic Diseases Increases Post-Menopause

Perimenopause and menopause aren’t merely about hot flashes and mood swings. They represent significant metabolic and physiological shifts (declining estrogen being key) that increase women’s vulnerability to chronic diseases such as heart disease, hormone-sensitive cancers, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and autoimmune disease. 

The research on this is significant: 

• Osteoporosis: Women can lose up to 20% of their bone density within the first 5–7 years post-menopause, significantly increasing fracture risk.
• Cardiovascular Disease: Post-menopausal women experience an increase in cardiovascular risk due to decreased estrogen, independently exacerbating heart disease risk beyond age-related factors. 
• Cognitive Decline: Hormonal shifts in menopause correlate with an increased risk of cognitive impairments and Alzheimer’s disease.

5. Essential Information Is Rarely Given 

Evidence-based strategies such as blood sugar balancing strategies, adequate protein intake, regular strength training, hormone replacement therapy and more are rarely communicated to women. In working with thousands of women for the last decade, I’ve personally witnessed the transformative impact that these interventions can have in mitigating symptoms and lowering risk of chronic disease. 

We’re Failing Half the Population

The current state of menopause care is unacceptable. We’re failing half the population during 30-40% of their lives. It represents a systemic failure to recognize and support a fundamental aspect of women’s health. Addressing this healthcare crisis requires educational reforms in medical training, greater public awareness, increased research funding, and comprehensive healthcare policies that prioritize menopause as a critical health transition.

Women deserve acknowledgment, support, and effective interventions throughout their menopausal journey. Until that changes, take your health into your own hands and seek practitioners who support you!