Slow Medicine for (Peri)Menopause: A Manifesto for Better Care

Have you ever felt ignored by your doctor?

Maybe you left an appointment feeling like your symptoms weren’t taken seriously. Maybe you were told, “That’s normal, just power through.” Or maybe you were interrupted before you could even finish explaining what was going on.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. A 2022 MITRE-Harris poll found that more than half of patients felt dismissed when they sought care. Sadly, this is especially common during the menopause transition.

Why the system doesn’t work

In the U.S., the average primary care visit lasts just 18 minutes. That’s barely enough time to run through your medication list, much less to talk about sleep issues, hot flashes, weight changes, mood shifts, intimacy concerns, or all the other ways (peri)menopause can affect daily life.

Doctors and other providers are under pressure too! Providers would need 27 hours in the day to deliver all the recommended care for their patients. The result? Rushed visits, quick fixes, and too many women leaving without the help they truly need.

And then there’s gender bias. Women’s concerns are too often labeled “emotional” instead of being taken seriously. Even with more women entering medicine, the system itself still undervalues listening, empathy, and compassion.

Why listening matters in menopause

If your provider doesn’t take time to listen, they can’t treat your symptoms properly.

One study found that less than 25% of menopausal women even had their symptoms noted in their medical chart. Only 21% received treatment—and when they did, it was often the least effective option, even when safe and more effective therapies were available.

You deserve better.

What “slow medicine” means

At Attune Menopause Care, we believe in slow medicine.

Slow medicine doesn’t mean delayed medicine. It means intentional medicine. The kind of care that starts with listening, considers the whole picture of your health, and gives you time to ask questions and be heard.

And we’re not the first to embrace “slow.” Around the world, people are rethinking the pace of life:

• Slow food: Choosing nourishment and flavor over fast food shortcuts.

• Slow travel: Savoring the journey instead of rushing from one destination to the next.

• Slow living: Prioritizing meaning, presence, and connection over constant busyness.

Slow medicine belongs in this same family of movements. It’s about rejecting the idea that faster is always better—and remembering that real healing takes time, care, and human connection.

The humble snail has been used by the Slow Food movement to celebrate slowness and local connection.

What slow medicine looks like in practice

For menopause care, slow medicine means:

• Longer visits so there’s space for your story.

• Listening first, since your experience matters more than your lab results.

• Personalized care plans built with you, not handed to you.

• Evidence-based treatment that’s tailored to your needs, including hormone therapy when appropriate.

Our promise to you

Menopause is not the end of vitality. Instead, it’s the beginning of a powerful new chapter. But you deserve care that honors this transition.

At Attune Menopause Care, we commit to:

• Respecting your concerns.

• Partnering with you, not talking over you.

• Helping you feel confident, supported, and heard.

Because (peri)menopause care should never be rushed. Like the best meals, the most memorable journeys, and the richest seasons of life, it’s worth slowing down for.

Ready to experience slow medicine for menopause?

If you’re looking for care that listens first, honors your story, and helps you thrive in this stage of life, we’d love to partner with you.

Book your visit today with our providers at Attune Menopause Care: Book Now