Menopause happens to all women, so why do some Colorado doctors ignore so many symptoms?

A Colorado woman noticed changes in her body and needed professional help. Her doctor later ruled out that her symptoms, including hot flashes, insomnia and weight gain, were work-related stress and that she was too young to be perimenopausal. I had never heard of such a thing.

Kesha Crowe is 44 years old. In February, she felt something was wrong with her body.

“It wasn't just too much fatigue or too much stress,” she says. “My body was changing.”

But Crowe never thought menopause would be at the forefront. That's when a women's health specialist told Crowe she was experiencing menopause.

lack of funds

Despite how common menopause is, there is limited research funding to study it.

According to the Mayo Clinic, perimenopause refers to the up to 10 years leading up to menopause. Most American women experience menopause at age 51. This is the time when your ovaries no longer produce as much estrogen as they used to.

“More research into the effects of estrogen on our bodies and how it relates to aging in women would be a huge accomplishment,” said Dr. Abby Burns, an obstetrician-gynecologist at HCA HealthONE in Denver.

in study Of nearly 5,000 respondents, 87% of women ages 45 to 60 said they didn't see a doctor for menopausal symptoms because they were too busy or didn't know enough about possible treatments, according to a November 2025 Mayo Clinic Proceedings report. This is symptomatic of a broader theme that, while more women are talking about menopause, not enough is being done at a professional level.

According to the Society of Menopause Medicine, less than 20% of primary care physicians receive formal training in menopause, which is why layoffs and misdiagnosis are so common. In fact, one-third of women wait at least three years before their symptoms are correctly diagnosed as being related to menopause. That's according to a study of 5,000 women conducted by Newson Health Research and Education. The study also found that 18% of these women visited the doctor an average of six times before getting the help they needed.

Burns said providers need to be good listeners. However, we also need more information across departments. This way, when you see your doctor, you'll get the same feedback as if you were to see a specialist. Even so, not everyone has access to institutions beyond their primary care physician.

verification

Crowe is not alone.

“That validation is very important,” says Dr. Jennifer Harned Adams, a clinical psychologist at HCA HealthONE. “This is a natural and expected change in a woman's life and should be examined. It is not, as they say, 'in a woman's head.'”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, classic symptoms like irritability, hot flashes, weight gain, insomnia, night sweats, and irregular periods are all part of menopause. What comes out of it varies from woman to woman.

“Hot flashes can be really embarrassing,” Burns says. “It has a huge impact on[women's]ability to feel comfortable at work and feel comfortable in their clothes.”

Hernd-Adams said menopause can “impact the way[women]see themselves, the world around them, and their relationships.” At this stage in life, a woman may be less willing to hold back on what she has done in the past and more courageous to set boundaries.

“Do I hate my husband or is it because of my hormones?” she said as an example.

process

hormone Although this therapy is the most effective treatment for hot flashes and night sweats, it's not suitable for everyone, especially women with a history of breast cancer, Burns said. In October, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lynkuet. new daily medicine Bayer products offer non-hormonal treatment options Hot flashes.

For Crowe, once treatment options became available, a burden was lifted. Additionally, talking to her peers made her feel safe.

“It helps me know what was going on with my body,” she said.

More women are creating a sense of community by raising their voices.

Harnd-Adams said that while “connecting with friends and gaining social support” can be helpful, it can also help women become educated about topics that have historically been kept underground.

“I remember my mom telling me she had some symptoms,” Crowe said. She added that her mother's generation didn't talk about specifics.

“In perimenopause, I think it's really important to have conversations like this so that the generations after us, even before menopause, know what's going on,” she said.