Melinda French Gates Says 3 Doctors Missed Perimenopause as Only One-Third of OB-GYNs Are Trained
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Melinda French Gates Says 3 Doctors Missed Perimenopause as Only One-Third of OB-GYNs Are Trained
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Summary
Melinda French Gates said it took three doctors to diagnose and treat her perimenopause, despite symptoms beginning in her early 40s.
On Norah O'Donnell's podcast "Healthful," the 61-year-old said she later learned only about one-third of OB-GYNs are trained in menopause care, framing her case as a systemwide gap rather than individual error.
Research cited in the report backs that up: a 2023 survey found only about one-third of U.S. OB-GYN residency programs have a formal menopause curriculum, and a 2024 study found low knowledge and confidence among OB-GYN, family medicine and internal medicine residents.
A 2026 Kansas study found more than half of residents got fewer than five hours of menopause education, while a national survey of 2,000 women found only 25% felt adequately informed about perimenopause.
The training shortfall affects a large population: about 1.3 million U.S. women reach menopause each year, with perimenopause often starting in their 40s and bringing symptoms from irregular periods and hot flashes to brain fog and joint pain.