The Menopause Institute provides an accredited physician program that sets standards for menopause care and trains health care professionals. This training is not limited to physicians with physicians. Osteopathic physicians, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, and physician assistants are also available. This certification is valid for three years and is maintained by passing a new exam or submitting other continuing education credits.
The Menopause Society also has a Menopause Specialist Directory to connect women at this life stage with skilled health care providers.
Rosser says a health care provider who understands the complexities of perimenopause can offer a personalized treatment approach that addresses not just hot flashes, but all the symptoms that affect mood, sleep, sexual function, bone health, and overall health.
But if you can’t find a board-certified doctor in your area, that doesn’t mean you can’t receive quality care. Dr. Anderson Tull said that while many obstetricians and gynecologists and other women’s health physicians lack specialized training, “there are a great many primary care physicians who do an excellent job treating perimenopausal patients.”
At the end of the day, “it’s important to find a provider who listens to you,” says Anderson Tull. “Maybe you’ve been fired or told you need more sleep. Keep looking for the right person until you find someone who can get you back on your feet, or at least back to a functional state.”
