Angie Lee, MD, FACOG, discusses bridging the menopause care gap

As conversations around women’s health continue to evolve, menopause remains a critical, but often overlooked, milestone. To better understand this life stage and improve care delivery, Bayer commissioned 2 surveys conducted by The Harris Poll: one exploring the experiences of US women aged 40-70 years in menopause or postmenopause, and another capturing insights from healthcare providers in OB/GYN and primary care settings.

The results revealed persistent gaps in knowledge, communication, and symptom management, underscoring the need for more proactive and informed dialogue. Contemporary OB/GYN spoke with Angie Lee, MD, FACOG, executive medical director for Women’s Healthcare at Bayer U.S. Medical Affairs, about what these findings mean for patients and providers—and how they can help shape the future of menopause care.^1,2

Angie Lee, MD, FACOG, executive medical director for Women’s Healthcare at Bayer U.S. Medical Affairs

Contemporary OB/GYN: What were some of the biggest takeaways from the survey results?

Angie Lee, MD, FACOG: Both surveys highlighted key insights about the menopause experience and the dynamics between women and their healthcare providers. They unveiled the disconnect in awareness and dialogue surrounding common menopause symptoms. While nearly three-quarters of healthcare providers say they initiate menopause discussions at an age-appropriate time, the experience is perceived differently from the patients’ perspective, as half reported taking the lead on these discussions.

The disconnect continues when discussing specific symptoms. Less than a third of women recognize that changes in menstrual cycle frequency or duration are linked to menopause. This is a stark contrast to over three-quarters of providers reporting [that] their patients are aware of this symptom. What’s clear is [that] there is still work to be done to ensure menopause is proactively talked about in an open and candid way between women and providers.

Contemporary OB/GYN: The survey revealed a disconnect between providers’ perceptions and women’s awareness of menopause-related symptoms. What do you think contributes to this gap, and how should it inform future education efforts?

Lee: Third-party resources and experts attribute a variety of elements to this gap. The stigma associated with menopause and aging may impede open communication in both healthcare and personal settings.

The silence may be amplified by the broader inconsistencies in women’s health education and research, specifically as it relates to menopause, reproductive health, sexual health, and disease prevention.

Cultural differences may also influence the comfort levels and willingness to openly discuss female health experiences and issues. The lack of robust menopause-specific education in residency program curricula for training medical providers also plays a critical role.

Contemporary OB/GYN: Only 47% of providers reported using tools like intake forms to capture menopause symptoms. Was this an expected finding, and what implications does it have for standardizing care?

Lee: While it is somewhat expected given the variability in practice approaches, this finding highlights an area for improvement. Using intake forms and other tools could be helpful to facilitate consistent documentation and understanding of a woman’s menopause symptoms. This can lead to more tailored care plans and productive patient-provider conversations.

Contemporary OB/GYN: Based on the survey insights, what are the most actionable next steps for improving communication, education, and care strategies around menopause in clinical practice?

Lee: The most immediate steps towards bridging the menopause communication gap involve enhancing education for both women and providers. Encouraging comprehensive menopause-specific education in medical training programs is key, as current offerings are limited and inconsistent. Equally important is fostering an environment where women feel empowered to discuss menopause openly with their healthcare providers. This can be achieved through awareness efforts to break the stigma surrounding the topic and by encouraging shared decision-making in clinical settings. By focusing on these areas, we can develop more effective communication and care strategies to address each woman’s unique needs in menopause.

References:

1. Bayer. Bayer U.S. Surveys Shed Further Light on the Diversity of Menopause Care Approaches and Menopause Symptom Experiences. Buisnesswire. May 8, 2025. Accessed May 21, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250506634406/en/Bayer-U.S.-Surveys-Shed-Further-Light-on-the-Diversity-of-Menopause-Care-Approaches-and-Menopause-Symptom-Experiences

2. Ebert, M. and Lee, A. (2025) ‘An interview with Angie Lee, MD, FACOG, on Bayer’s recent survey’.