Menopause can be painful and confusing, but thankfully, you don’t need to navigate this life stage alone. With the right care team in your corner, you can manage symptoms and learn about your body as it changes. 

But who should be part of your care team, exactly? Primary care physicians (PCPs) and menopause specialists are two key members. And, in some cases, these roles can overlap—your PCP may be a menopause specialist. 

Read on to learn more about the roles of PCPs and menopause specialists, and find out how these clinicians can support your menopause journey. 

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Understanding PCPs and menopause specialists

Here’s an overview of the roles PCPs and menopause specialists play (and how they can overlap). 

What’s a PCP?

A PCP is the first point of contact for most medical concerns, including those related to menopause. You may also hear them referred to as a general practitioner (GP). They’re tasked with managing their patients’ health over time. 

Here’s what’s involved in becoming a PCP:

• Bachelor’s degree: Training begins with a four-year undergraduate degree, typically involving premedical coursework, such as biology and chemistry. 
• Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): Most medical schools require applicants to complete the MCAT, which is a standardized test centered on the sciences and critical thinking. 
• Medical school: Medical school typically involves four years of training, earning students a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. 
• Residency: Following medical school, graduates can specialize by completing a residency program, usually in family medicine, internal medicine, or pediatrics. 
• Licensure: Residents then complete licensing exams to obtain a state medical license. This is required to practice medicine. 
• Board certification: Becoming board certified requires a physician to pass a specialty-specific board exam. This step is optional, but many take it.

Primary care physicians also have to periodically renew their state medical licenses and complete continuing medical education (CME) requirements. Specific CME requirements vary by state. For example, Illinois requires 150 hours of CME every three-year renewal cycle, while California requires 50 hours every two-year renewal cycle. 

What’s a menopause specialist?

There’s no dedicated, menopause-specific residency program. The term “menopause specialist” generally refers to one or both of the following:

• Training overlap: A specialist can be a clinician whose field encompasses aspects of menopause care, like OB-GYNs and endocrinologists. Both work beyond menopause care but have additional training in areas of the body that menopause affects. 
• Dedicated training: A clinician (of any specialty) might decide to do menopause-specific training or certification. A common option is The Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP) credential, offered by The Menopause Society. 

PCPs can be menopause specialists. They might pursue menopause-specific training, including the MSCP credential. 

Additionally, becoming a menopause specialist isn’t limited to medical doctors. To earn the MSCP credential, applicants have to be licensed healthcare professionals, and that includes nurse practitioners, midwives, and pharmacists. 

Here’s a further breakdown:

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What’s the MSCP credential?

The Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society, or NAMS) is the leading U.S. authority on menopause. They offer the MSCP credential, which is an established certification for menopause. 

Earning it involves three main steps:

• Apply: Candidates submit an online application, which includes a copy of their current professional license and an exam fee. 
• Prepare: There’s no official study guide. The Menopause Society points candidates to its own educational resources (which aren’t mandatory). 
• Pass the exam: Candidates can take the test online or in person. The exam assesses competency across the spectrum of menopause care. 

The credential is valid for three years. To renew it, practitioners have to either retake the exam or complete 45 hours of continuing education. This is to make sure clinicians stay up to date with the latest science. To find healthcare professionals with this credential, The Menopause Society provides an online directory.

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When should you see your PCP?

Specialist or not, PCPs are typically the right first point of contact. If your menopause symptoms are mild and don’t require additional expertise, a non-specialized PCP may be the only stop you need. 

Symptoms that are severe, persistent, complex, or unresolved warrant a specialist’s input and oversight. If your PCP is a menopause specialist, they’re equipped to manage these. Otherwise, they’ll refer you to a specialist. Menopause-specialized PCPs also often work alongside other specialists (of other disciplines), providing wraparound support. 

Even if your symptoms are mild and manageable, you may choose to see a specialist for reassurance. That’s common, too, because your peace of mind matters. 

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Why see a menopause specialist? 

Having menopause specialists in your corner can make a meaningful difference in your experience. Here are a couple of key reasons why. 

Menopause specialists offer dedicated expertise

Most medical doctors don’t have menopause-specific training. This is true even for specialties that naturally overlap with menopause care. A 2023 study from Augusta University surveyed 99 U.S. OB-GYN residency program directors and found that only 31.3% had a menopause curriculum in their programs. 

A 2019 study involved 20 U.S. residency programs. Researchers found that only 6.8% of residents felt adequately prepared to manage menopause patients. Plus, over 20% reported that they didn’t receive any menopause lectures during residency—even though it’s something nearly all women experience. 

Menopause specialists close this gap, seeking out training to equip them with the right tools. They have more experience and confidence to support you through this complicated stage of life. 

Menopause specialists deliver whole-person care

Too often, doctors prescribe a single solution for a single symptom. The issue with that is that menopause affects many parts of your body (and life). Everything is connected. 

Menopause specialists recognize this and are equipped to deliver whole-person care. They connect the dots between what you’re feeling and what’s happening beneath the surface.

A key part of this process is knowing which other specialists to bring into your corner—because effective whole-person care is a team effort. As our patient, Denise, expressed: "My in-person doctors are great, but they can't compete with the entire team I can meet with on Maven. I've met with a wellness coach, physical support coach, OB-GYN, career coach, naturopath, and many more.”

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Experience specialized menopause care with Maven Clinic

At Maven Clinic, we put a multidisciplinary team of menopause specialists in your corner. This includes PCPs, OB-GYNs, mental health providers, and sleep coaches, just to name a few. Each clinician collaborates to deliver personalized, whole-person care. 

Our patient, Debbie, found the right care with Maven. She says, “What stood out immediately was how understood I felt. The providers didn't dismiss my symptoms. They helped me make sense of the changes happening in my body and gave me practical, personalized support.”

This is why millions of people trust Maven Clinic. Discover our approach to hormone care.