What practical steps can women take to advocate for better menopausal care when their clinicians may have limited training on menopause?
It’s true that many clinicians get very little menopause training, sometimes just a few hours in all of medical school. That doesn’t mean they don’t care, but it does mean you may need to come in prepared and ready to advocate for yourself.
Start by educating yourself
Knowledge really is power here. Dr. Mary Claire Haver talks about how even she felt undertrained until she sought out more education. Reading trusted resources and understanding current guidelines can help you walk into an appointment feeling clear and confident.
Her book The New Menopause is a great place to start, and you can also watch her conversation with us here, especially the chapter on preparing and advocating: Ask the Expert: Personalizing Menopause Care | Dr. Mary Claire Haver - Encouraging Younger Women to Prepare and Advocate
When you understand that hormone therapy is considered safe for the majority of healthy women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause, and that guidelines have evolved, you’re in a stronger position to have an informed discussion.
You can also review the updated Menopause Society guidelines we follow at Alloy: New Menopause Treatment Guidelines
Be clear and specific about your symptoms
Perimenopause is diagnosed clinically, not with a single magic lab test. If a clinician focuses only on labs, it can help to calmly explain your symptoms, when they started, and how they’re affecting your life. Concrete examples, like disrupted sleep from night sweats or difficulty concentrating at work, make the impact harder to dismiss.
Dr. Jayne Morgan puts it simply in her talk on self advocacy: if you feel unheard, keep looking until you find someone who will listen and help. You can watch that chapter here: Disparities in Menopause Care | Dr. Jayne Morgan - Importance of Self-Advocacy
Ask direct questions
You can ask things like, “What’s your experience prescribing menopausal hormone therapy?” or “Are you comfortable managing menopause, or should I see a menopause specialist?” That opens the door without confrontation.
Dr. Corinne Menn also talks about collaborating with your doctor and, if needed, seeking someone new. That chapter is here: Hormone Therapy 101 (pt.2) | Dr. Corinne Menn - Self-Advocacy and Provider Collaboration
Seek menopause trained providers
If your clinician isn’t comfortable prescribing or managing MHT, it’s reasonable to look for someone who is. At Alloy, we have menopause trained physicians who follow evidence based guidelines and focus specifically on this stage of life. Our care is virtual, ongoing, and personalized to your history and symptoms. You can learn how it works here: How does Alloy work And if you’re ready to explore treatment options, you can start a medical intake here: Start a medical intake
Advocating for better menopausal care often comes down to three things, educate yourself, communicate clearly, and don’t settle for being dismissed. Here at Alloy, we’re working to push the standard of care forward, but in the meantime, having the right information in your hands can really change the tone of the conversation in the exam room.
This answer was created using the following resources: