Why is perimenopause often missed or minimized in clinical care, and what are the consequences?

Perimenopause is often missed or minimized in clinical care for several reasons. Here at Alloy, we see that:

There is a significant lack of education and training among healthcare providers about perimenopause and menopause. In fact, less than 10% of medical residents in relevant specialties feel adequately prepared to manage menopause, let alone perimenopause.
The symptoms of perimenopause are highly variable and can mimic other conditions. Women may experience a unique mix of over 34 symptoms, including anxiety, mood changes, fatigue, joint pain, irregular periods, and more. These are often misattributed to aging, stress, or other health issues.
Hormone testing is not reliable during perimenopause because hormone levels fluctuate dramatically from day to day, making it difficult to "prove" perimenopause with lab results.
Many women are told their symptoms are "just part of getting older" or are dismissed with generic advice like "just diet and exercise," rather than being offered targeted support.

The consequences of missing or minimizing perimenopause are significant:

Women may suffer unnecessarily from symptoms that are disruptive to their quality of life, such as sleep disturbances, mood swings, and hot flashes.
There is an increased risk of misdiagnosis, such as being treated for depression or anxiety without addressing the underlying hormonal changes.
Important health risks, like increased cardiovascular disease after menopause, may be overlooked or not managed proactively.
Women may not receive effective treatments that could help them feel better and function optimally during this transition.

At Alloy, our mission is to change this narrative by providing expert, personalized care for perimenopause and menopause. We offer a range of FDA-approved treatments and resources to help you understand and manage your symptoms. You can learn more about perimenopause and why it’s often missed in clinical care in our article: Perimenopause: What Is it, and How Did We Get Here?

For a deeper dive into why perimenopause is so often overlooked, check out the YouTube video chapter on the Challenges in Recognizing Perimenopause, which explains the lack of provider training and the wide range of symptoms women experience.

If you’re looking for support or treatment options, visit our Perimenopause Support page or start your personalized treatment plan with a menopause-trained doctor at Alloy: Start Your Treatment Plan.

You deserve to feel heard and supported—at Alloy, we’re here to help you every step of the way.

This answer was created using the following resources: