Women Face Fragmented Healthcare System โขDuring Menopause,Driving Demand for Specialized Clinics
WASHINGTON โข- women navigating perimenopause and โmenopause frequently enough find themselvesโข on a frustrating circuit of specialist visitsโ – a โdermatologist for โskin changes,a neurologist for brainโค fog,an OB/GYN for vaginal dryness,and a general practitioner for cholesterol – highlighting aโ critical gap in healthcareโฃ tailored to this meaningful life stage. โฃThis fragmented approach is fueling a โgrowing demandโ for specialized menopause โฃclinics and concierge practices offering extensive care, experts say.
The experienceโฃ is widespread. Symptoms of โขperimenopause and menopause areโฃ so โคdiverse that womenโฃ frequentlyโ seek help from multipleโ doctors beforeโค realizing the root cause is hormonal change.This can leadโค to delayed diagnosis, ineffective treatment, and significant out-of-pocket โexpenses, evenโฃ before โ meeting annual insurance deductibles.
Dr. Julie Andresen, author of The Perimenopauseโ Survival โคguide and founder of the โฃMenopause Clinic at โBrigham and Women’s Hospital,โข understands this struggleโฃ firsthand. โฃShe previously saw โupwards of 20 patients a โฃday addressing menopause-related issues.Now,running The Collaborative,a concierge practice,she sees fewer than half that number,allowing for more in-depth consultations.
“I wasโฃ spending so much money seeing so many doctors before hitting my deductible,” Andresen said, explaining her decision to embrace โฃthe concierge model. โข”This was really my last resort.”
Theโ need โfor specialized care stems from a historical lack of focus on women’s health during midlife. Menopause was often dismissed as โa “natural” process ratherโ thanโข a medical transition requiring attention. This has resulted in limited training for manyโฃ physicians on recognizing and treating menopause symptoms effectively.
andresen’s experience reflects a growing trend. Patients are โseeking longer appointments, comprehensive education, and a physician โwho understands the interconnectedness of menopause symptoms. She notes that โpatients at Theโค Collaborative โoften spend over an hour at their โคfirst appointment and actively engage with educational resources,with some watching more than eight hours of videos โฃon menopause.
This increased โฃawareness is also drivingโ advocacy. Andresen recently wrote a letter to โthe FDA this summer, urgingโ for improvedโฃ treatment options for women experiencing menopause.โฃ She, and others, believe that betterโ care is not just a matterโค of comfort, but a vitalโ investment in women’s overall health and well-being.
Laura Trujillo โคis a national columnist focusing on health and wellness.โ She is theโค author of “Stepping Back from the ledge: A Daughter’s Search forโข Truth and Renewal,” and can be reached at ltrujillo@usatoday.com.
