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July 10, 2025

The conversation around menopause is finally gaining cultural traction—ads during the Super Bowl, new tech platforms and even Google reporting an 80% surge in searches around “menopause in the workplace.” But despite this momentum, that progress has yet to filter down into everyday healthcare experiences.

Recent studies paint a painfully clear picture—most women don’t feel equipped to navigate menopause until they’re already in it. Even more unsettling? The majority of doctors don’t feel prepared to guide them. Only 7% of OB-GYN residents feel confident treating menopausal patients. That number shouldn’t just be a statistic; it should be a wake-up call.

But here’s the good news: Change is not only possible—it’s already in motion. The Menopause Society’s NexGen Now Initiative, fueled by a $5 million donation, is aiming to train 25,000 healthcare professionals on evidence-based menopause care over the next three years. It’s one of the most promising efforts we’ve seen to finally bridge the education gap and equip providers with the tools they need to serve midlife women with the care and compassion they deserve.

The path forward is clear: education, empowerment and open dialogue. We can’t normalize the dismissal of symptoms or the lack of treatment options. We need doctors who are trained not just to listen, but to understand. And we need women who feel informed enough to speak up in the exam room.

Because menopause isn’t a niche issue—it’s a universal one. And better care for midlife women benefits all of us.

Meet the Doctor Rewriting the Rules Around Weight Gain and Menopause

When it comes to weight management, midlife hormone shifts or navigating the evolving GLP-1 conversation, Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen isn’t just in the room—she’s leading it. A board-certified endocrinologist and one of the earliest adopters of GLP-1 therapies, Salas-Whalen is challenging outdated ideas about what women “deserve” when it comes to care, especially in perimenopause and menopause. Her soon-to-be-released book, Weightless , aims to demystify obesity medications and empower patients with the tools to make them work—for the long term.

In a conversation with Flow Space, she opened up about rethinking access to care, the questions women should be asking their doctor and why lifting weights is non-negotiable in midlife.

**In your upcoming book Weightless, you help people navigate GLP-1 medications in real life. What’s one misconception you think women still have about these drugs?**

That they have to earn them, that they have to try many different diets, fail on them, and then come convince a doctor that they’ve done everything they can, and now they earned the right to be on GLP-1s. And people thinking that it should be the last resource; it should be the first resource. [Particularly menopausal women] want to prove that they've earned the right to be on them, yeah? But sometimes, I’ll have a patient, [and I’ll have to] stop them and say, “I believe you. You don’t have to convince me.”

You’ve said there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to hormone therapy. What’s one question you wish more women asked their doctors when it comes to perimenopause or menopause care?

I would say go even further and ask if they have experience with it… if they prescribe it? Because if they don't, you’re not going to get the care that you want, even if you have the laundry list of symptoms. Avoid being in those situations where you get denied [hormone therapy] or it’s not offered your Do due diligence. Or ask somebody who's on hormone replacement therapy, who's their doctor and did they like them. Then, when you call to make an appointment, ask, does the doctor prescribe?

So many midlife women are navigating weight gain, sleep issues, and mental health shifts at once. What’s one first step you recommend to start regaining balance?

Start lifting weights. OK, inform yourself. Read books: Estrogen Matters, The XX Brain. There's so much information now that patients can really start to take some responsibility in being informed, so they can advocate for themselves.

How do you find flow—that space where you’re fully present and immersed?

I mean definitely in the morning—my morning coffee, going on the balcony of my apartment before my kids wake up, before I have to walk the dog. It's just like my “me time.” If I don't have that, I feel like I'm rushing through the morning.

Midlife Skin, Made Simple

Our skin tells the story of where we’ve been—and how we care for it can shape how we feel moving forward. As we age, it’s not just about keeping up appearances; it’s about understanding the shifts happening beneath the surface and responding with the right kind of support.

Skin in midlife is navigating a changing landscape: hormonal shifts that sap moisture and elasticity, a drop in collagen production and increased sensitivity to environmental stressors. Knowing how skin evolves in your 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond isn’t just interesting—it’s empowering. It helps you adapt your routine with intention, choosing ingredients and practices that suit your skin’s current needs.

One of the most impactful (and most overlooked) tools? Sunscreen. Not the chalky, one-size-fits-all kind of the past, but smart, dermatologist-recommended formulas designed specifically for mature skin. Think: added hydration, DNA repair enzymes and lightweight textures that make daily wear easy. Protecting skin from UV exposure not only slows visible aging—it also helps maintain tone, texture and firmness.

And if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by all the skin care advice out there, you’re not alone. That’s why we’re also turning to books—yes, books—to cut through the noise. These science-backed reads from dermatologists, cosmetic chemists and skin health experts help make sense of what your skin actually needs and why. Because once you understand the “why,” building a routine that works feels a whole lot simpler.

How We're Finding Flow

LISTENING to a 22-minute, science-backed playlist—created by DJ Hesta Prynn, a licensed therapist who understands how music affects the brain in collaboration with In the Saddle—designed to move your midlife body into full-on pleasure mode.

READING the newly updated paperback version of Karen Tang's book, It's Not Hysteria, which was released this Tuesday and contains updates to its perimenopause and menopause sections.

WATCHING the new PBS documentary Caregiving, which was produced by Bradley Cooper, who talks about taking care of his own dad, and is narrated by Uzo Aduba.

ANTICIPATING what incredible new adventures await Flow Space Advisory Council member Jessi Miley-Dyer now that she’s stepped down from her commissioner role at the World Surf League.

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Modern Beauty Trends

Thursday, July 10, 2025

It's Not in Your Head: Your Doctor Isn't Comfortable Treating Menopause