The Menopause Society also has a menopause practitioner directory to connect women in this life stage with skilled providers.
Rosser says that a provider who understands the complexity of perimenopause can offer individualized treatment approaches that address not just hot flashes, but the full spectrum of symptoms affecting mood, sleep, sexual function, bone health, and overall well-being.
But if you can’t locate a certified practitioner in your area, that doesn’t mean you can’t get quality care. Dr. Anderson Tull says that while many ob-gyns and other women’s health doctors haven’t done the specialized training, “there are so many primary care doctors who are doing a good job at treating perimenopausal patients.”
At the end of the day, “it’s important to find a provider who hears you,” says Anderson Tull. “Maybe you’ve been dismissed before or told you just need more sleep. Keep looking for the right fit until you find someone who can get you back to where you were before, or at least functional.”