Melinda French Gates told CBS News' Healthful podcast that she began experiencing perimenopause symptoms in her early 40s and needed consultations with three doctors before receiving a diagnosis. She attributed the delay to a broader training gap, saying only about one third of US OB-GYNs receive menopause training. French Gates warned that severe symptoms may cause roughly one in ten women to step back from the workforce and highlighted her philanthropic focus on women's health through Pivotal.
Melinda French Gates Says It Took Three Doctors To Diagnose Her Perimenopause; Warns Symptoms Can Affect Careers
Healthful with Norah O'Donnell and CBS News/YouTube
Melinda French Gates spoke candidly about her experience with perimenopause on the CBS News podcast Healthful, hosted by Norah O'Donnell, in an episode that premiered July 22. At 61, she recalled noticing symptoms in her early 40s and described the surprising difficulty she faced obtaining a clear diagnosis despite access to high-quality care.
Healthful with Norah O'Donnell and CBS News/YouTube
French Gates said it required visits to three different doctors before she received the right diagnosis and appropriate treatment. She emphasized that the delay was not due to individual clinicians acting improperly but reflected a broader gap in medical education: she told the podcast that only about one third of OB-GYNs in the United States receive specific training in menopause care.
Ron Sachs – CNP / MEGA
“I kind of couldn't believe it because I had just finished having my last child in my late thirties,” French Gates said. “And I thought, 'Are you kidding me?'”
Potential Impact On Work And Leadership
When asked whether menopausal symptoms might hold women back from senior leadership roles, French Gates said it is possible. She cited data indicating that roughly one in ten women step back from the workforce during their years of perimenopause or menopause because of severe symptoms, underscoring how health can intersect with career trajectories.
Philanthropy And Advocacy
Following her 2021 divorce from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and her 2024 departure from the Gates Foundation, French Gates received a settlement reported at $12.5 billion and has continued her philanthropic work independently. Through her organization Pivotal, she has pledged $2 billion since 2019 to improve women's health, economic opportunity and gender equity, with menopause care and awareness among the issues highlighted by her recent conversation.
Why This Matters
Her experience highlights systemic shortfalls in menopause education among clinicians and the need for better clinical training, workplace support and public awareness so women can access timely care and remain fully supported in the workforce during midlife transitions.
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