It Took Three Doctors for Melinda French Gates to Get a Perimenopause Diagnosis

When Melinda French Gates—now 61—first started noticing odd mood swings, sleep hiccups and a sudden dip in energy during her early 40s, she brushed it off as “just getting older.” It wasn’t until the symptoms grew louder that she thought, maybe it’s something else.

She eventually booked an appointment with a primary‑care physician, who suggested a battery of routine tests. The results came back normal, and the doctor shrugged it off as “stress.” Undeterred, Gates sought a second opinion, this time from an OB‑GYN. The specialist, however, admitted she rarely dealt with menopause‑related issues and sent her on her way with a prescription for a vitamin supplement.

The turning point came after a third visit—this one with a menopause‑focused practitioner who recognized the classic signs of perimenopause. “It finally clicked,” Gates said in her interview on Norah O'Donnell’s new podcast Healthful. The doctor explained that perimenopause can begin a decade before a woman’s final period, and that many physicians simply aren’t trained to spot it early.

Gates doesn’t just want to share her personal story; she’s using the platform to call attention to a wider problem. According to recent data, roughly one‑third of OB‑GYNs in the United States receive formal training on menopause, leaving countless women navigating a medical gray zone.

She hopes that by speaking out, other women will feel empowered to push for answers, even if it means seeing more than one doctor. “Don’t settle for a vague ‘it’s probably stress’ answer,” she advises. “Your body is trying to tell you something, and you deserve a clear diagnosis.”