Up to two million American women go through menopause every year, according to the Mayo Clinic. Yet only about 4,500 of the nation’s 49,000 OB-GYNs are Menopause Society Certified Practitioners, and fewer than one-third of OB-GYN residency programs have a standardized menopause curriculum. That gap shows up in exam rooms, where women describe symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, anxiety, and rage, only to hear it chalked up to stress. One patient said the word menopause never even came up during her appointments.
The stakes are personal here on the Suncoast. Our community is full of retirees, snowbirds, and families caring for the women they love, and nearly every household knows someone who has been through this transition without clear guidance. A survey found more than half of perimenopausal women were treated for anxiety, depression, or mood swings, while 46 percent received no treatment at all. Meanwhile, the FDA has lifted older warnings on hormone replacement therapy after newer research contradicted the study that shaped decades of fear.
There is help. Certified menopause practitioners exist, and you can search for one near Sarasota, Bradenton, or Venice through the Menopause Society’s directory. If your symptoms have been dismissed, ask directly about menopause and perimenopause, and don’t settle for a shrug. Have you or someone you love struggled to get answers about menopause? Share your story with us.
