Perimenopause Hell: Why Doctors Keep Failing Us

Doctors give the impression they know everything about every ailment known to man, but when you realize they received only four hours of menopause education in med school, the truth is: they don't.

Here’s what many of us actually hear when we show up with perimenopause symptoms:

• “Perhaps you need an antidepressant.”

• “Losing your hair? Must be stress.”

• “Itching down there? Probably a yeast infection.”

• “Can’t sleep or waking up at 3 am? Here’s a Xanax.”

Notice what’s missing? Hot flashes. That’s one of the only symptoms medicine reliably recognizes. Everything else gets dismissed or misdiagnosed.

I had a doctor look me in the eye and recommend antidepressants when I described classic perimenopause symptoms. I wasn’t depressed. I wasn’t anxious. But writing a script was quicker than listening.

This dismissal isn’t just insulting — it’s dangerous. Remember when Halle Berry shared that a male doctor told her she had “the worst case of herpes” he’d ever seen? She didn’t. It was vaginal atrophy, a very real perimenopause condition. Vaginal atrophy can cause:

• Painful urination and frequent UTIs

• Microtears simply from using the bathroom (or during sex)

• In some women, even receding labia ( or disappearing completely, yeah, not kidding!)

So what do we do? We find better care. Look for a gynecologist who is certified by The Menopause Society or has completed specialized training in menopause and perimenopause. At least then, you’ll know you’re being seen and treated by someone who actually understands what’s happening in your body.

Because here’s the bottom line: women deserve more than a dismissive prescription pad. We deserve to be heard, believed, and properly treated.

Ladies — this is just the beginning of what I have to say about perimenopause. Hit follow, because I promise I won’t stop talking about it until we all start getting the care we deserve.

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