Pharmafile Logo

Voices of Change: Women Leading the Menopause Movement

For decades, menopause has been swept under the rug, or into the dark corners of clinicians’ offices, often dismissed as something women just had to “get past” and hardly worth discussing. In this episode of “Hear From Her,” learn how three leaders in menopause medicine are building a new standard of care with compassion and education—and shouting their message from the rooftops: Anyone who takes care of women should know about menopause care. Period.

- PMLiVE

For Dr. Alyssa Dweck, the shift to menopause care came naturally—as stages of life do. As an OB/GYN, she spent her early career delivering babies. But as her patients got older, their health needs changed. “As my patients stopped having babies and started entering perimenopause and menopause, I was growing up with them,” she says. “We didn’t get much training in medical school or residency.” As an underserved space, it was learn-as-you-go.

Heather Maurer’s path into menopause medicine was also shaped by lived experience. As well as being CEO of The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) “I am officially in full menopause,” she says. And looking back, I see missed opportunities in my own care.

“Six years ago I had a frozen shoulder for over a year, and in hindsight I was absolutely in perimenopause. And not once did anyone suggest that it might be estrogen related,” she says. That gap in her own clinical care helped inspire her work to provide continuing education through NPWH for advanced practice providers. Practitioners need evidence-based education and tools to raise the standard of women’s care, she says.

The menopause desert

Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, also an OB GYN, recalls the abrupt halt in menopause education when the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study was published. The study (suggesting that HRT increased risks for breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke, but whose findings were later revealed to depend on many factors), stirred up tremendous fear with both clinicians and patients about hormone replacement therapy. “Menopause education stopped on a dime,” Minkin says.

Around the same time, residency programs were trying to shorten their hours. “And if no one’s taking hormones, then why bother teaching about menopause?” So menopause training went out the window.  Twenty years later, Minkin says, we’re still trying to dig out of that hole. We are still in a menopause desert.”

Reshaping menopause care

Historically, women have been excluded from clinical trials, says Maurer. “There’s very little research done specifically in women. [We] were sort of considered little men in terms of extrapolating results and applying them to women’s health, which really just isn’t the case.”

Despite these challenges, the landscape is shifting largely thanks to these passionate women’s healthcare leaders. Patient advocacy, workplace awareness (yes, more toilets and cooler room temperatures go a long way, they say), and entrepreneurial innovation are shining a light on menopause care. Telehealth platforms dedicated to perimenopause and menopause are expanding access. Private companies like Bonafide, where Dweck is Chief Medical Officer, are investing in research and creating products offering hormone-free menopause symptom relief for women. Nurse practitioners are stepping into leadership roles, particularly in underserved areas, to bridge care gaps.

“We have more than 13,000 women’s health nurse practitioners in the U.S., many working in rural or federally qualified clinics,” says Maurer. They are critical in helping women access both treatment and education, and encouraging patients to bring information back to their care teams.

 “As a patient, I bring studies to my primary care person who’s not a WHNP or an OB GYN and say, ‘Hey, here’s all this great information about menopause and perimenopause.’” In today’s world, physicians have like 15 minutes for each patient appointment, Maurer says,  and everyone has to play a part in maximizing that time.  

All three women believe that menopause shouldn’t require specialists at all, and that women’s health should be a standard pillar of medical practice. “It’s basic healthcare, and every provider should know about this,” Minkin says.  It’s a chapter in every woman’s life if they’re lucky enough to live that long. “More women will go through menopause than will ever have a baby.”

Adds Maurer: “Anyone who takes care of women should know about menopause care. Period.”

For more information, or to find a menopause specialist in your area, go to menopause.org.

 

Follow us for updates on upcoming podcasts and more insightful conversations.

For more information, please contact Jelena Spyropoulos (Global) or Piyali Shin (US).

 

About Medscape Education

Medscape Education (medscape.org) is the leading destination for continuous professional development, consisting of more than 30 specialty-focused destinations offering thousands of free CME and CE courses for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

This content was provided by Medscape Education

Company Details

 Latest Content from  Medscape Education 

Being Rare Together: Medscape Education Sponsors the 2025 Cholestatic Liver Disease Summit

Medscape Education is a proud sponsor of the inaugural 2025 Cholestatic Liver Disease Summit, taking place June 26–28 in Aurora, Colorado, at the Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center. Hosted in...

New Alzheimer’s Treatments Are Driving a Shift in Earlier Detection and Clinician Education Engagement

June is Brain and Alzheimer’s Awareness Month — a chance to examine real-world data that links new treatments to changing clinical behavior.

“Humanizing Healthcare, Humanizing Education: The Power of Patient Integration”

Victoria Harvey-Jones, PhD, Clinical Strategist (Oncology) and Worldwide Patient Integration Lead to Present at the 2025 Patient Centricity & Engagement Conference

Driving Impact in Diabetes Care: Medscape to Present 11 Publications at ADA’s 85th Scientific Sessions

Medscape Education is proud to present 11 publications at the American Diabetes Association 85th Scientific Sessions, taking place June 20–23 in Chicago. These presentations reflect our commitment to advancing diabetes care...

Medscape Education Celebrates 30 Years of Impact with Launch of The Center of Excellence for Instructional Design

Medscape Education, a global leader in healthcare education, proudly announces the official launch of its Center of Excellence for Instructional Design—a central hub of expertise and strategic capability, dedicated to...

Medscape at the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions: Your Sweet Spot for Innovation!

The American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions is almost here, and Medscape is ready to make an impact in the world of diabetes care! With two groundbreaking symposia, 11 dynamic...

Sharing Educational Outcomes at EHA 2025

Medscape Hematology will be at EHA 2025 to showcase the power of education impact through online abstracts, posters, and 4 symposia.

30 Years of Innovation in Education at HLTH Europe

The Medscape Education Global team will be travelling to Amsterdam for the HLTH Europe 2025 conference to showcase the power and value of CME. As pioneers in clinician education for...

Medscape Online Continuing Medical Education Led to New Diagnoses in Alzheimer’s Disease

Medscape Education has recently published a study looking at the real-world impact of online continuing medical education on Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. Read the full article here.  The study, published in...

Medscape Oncology at ASCO 2025: Driving Innovation, Education & Better Patient Outcomes

Medscape Oncology is making a powerful impact at ASCO 2025, bringing seven high-impact symposia, new research insights, and the return of the Medscape Fellows Program—all aimed at educating the next...