Breaking the Silence: Discussing Menopause Treatment Options in Primary Care

Many women experiencing menopausal vasomotor symptoms suffer in silence, unaware that effective treatments exist. As patient awareness grows, largely driven by social media and public conversations about menopause, primary care physicians are increasingly fielding questions about treatment options. However, nearly two decades of practicing physicians received little to no training in menopause management during their medical education.

In this interview segment, Lisa Larkin, MD, CEO and Founder of Ms.Medicine, discusses how the landscape of menopause care is shifting and what it means for primary care practice. Larkin explains how patient-driven demand is pushing menopause management into the primary care setting, similar to what happened with erectile dysfunction treatment in the 1990s. She also addresses the urgent need for accessible, practical education tools that can help busy clinicians get up to speed on menopause treatment options and confidently engage in these conversations with their patients.