Melinda French Gates is opening up about her experience navigating perimenopause and the difficulty of getting an accurate diagnosis, despite having access to top healthcare.

Speaking with journalist Norah O'Donnell on the new podcast “Healthful,” French Gates explained that it took visits to three different doctors before she finally received proper treatment for the hormonal changes she was experiencing.

The philanthropist and business leader shared that she began noticing symptoms in her early 40s, describing her reaction by saying she “kind of couldn’t believe it,” according to CBS News.

She explained that, even with her resources and connections, the process was longer and more confusing than expected. “It was kind of unbelievable to me that, even in this, you know, unbelievably privileged situation I'm in, where I feel like I can get some of the best healthcare, it took me three doctors to really diagnose what I was going through and to get the right treatments for where I was,” she said during the podcast.

Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement

French Gates emphasized that she does not blame the doctors she saw. Instead, she pointed to what she now understands is a significant gap in medical education around menopause care.

“It wasn't because anybody was doing the wrong thing. It's because of what I now know, which is, only one-third of OB-GYNs in this country are trained in menopause,” she stated.

According to a 2023 national survey published in the journal *Menopause*, about one-third of obstetrics and gynecology residency programs in the U.S. offer a formal menopause curriculum.

A 2024 study further highlighted these shortcomings, finding that OB-GYN, family medicine, and internal medicine residents reported low knowledge and confidence levels when treating menopausal patients.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

The lack of specialized training is echoed in a 2026 Kansas study, where more than half of medical residents said they received fewer than five hours of menopause education. Most did not feel fully prepared to treat menopausal patients on their own.

Survey data of 2,000 women also found that only 25 percent felt their healthcare providers had adequately explained what to expect during perimenopause.

Researchers have suggested that structured curricula can make a difference. In one cited example, knowledge scores rose from 61 percent to 79 percent among residents who received targeted menopause training.

French Gates said she was fortunate to have older friends who recognized her symptoms and guided her toward the right questions and care. Still, her experience reflects a broader issue in women’s health where symptoms are sometimes misunderstood or untreated due to insufficient education among healthcare providers.

Each year, about 1.3 million women in the U.S. reach menopause, according to The Menopause Society, with most starting perimenopause in their 40s, though it can begin earlier.