Why Women’s Health Feels Like a Maze — And Why We Need to Talk About It

Lately, I’ve been dipping my toes (okay, maybe my whole leg) into the world of supplements and hormone support because I think I’m heading into perimenopause. Or maybe I’m already in it. Or maybe it’s Tuesday and I’m just tired. Honestly? It’s hard to tell.

And that confusion is exactly the point.

During a recent appointment, my VA primary care provider—who I genuinely appreciate—told me she has a certification in women’s health. And then said she didn’t feel comfortable advising me on perimenopause because less than 10% of her patients are women.

She said it plainly and with humility, and I respected that. But it also landed like a gut punch. If even our trained providers don’t feel confident in advising us… where exactly are we supposed to go?

That conversation cracked something open for me. I started thinking more broadly about how we, as women—especially women leading teams, businesses, and families—are navigating a healthcare system that simply wasn’t built with us in mind.

And perimenopause is just one piece of the puzzle.

Women’s Health ≠ Just Reproductive Health

When we talk about women’s health, people often jump straight to periods, pregnancy, fertility, menopause. And yes, those are important—but they’re not the whole story.

Women experience:

• Different heart attack symptoms than men (less “Hollywood chest pain,” more jaw pain, fatigue, nausea).

• Higher rates of autoimmune diseases.

• Greater risk for osteoporosis and bone loss.

• A completely different hormonal ecosystem that shifts across our lifespan—not just in midlife.

• Different responses to medications, because historically, drug trials were built around male bodies.

• Disparities in disease outcomes, especially for Black, Indigenous, and Latina women in areas like maternal mortality, cardiovascular disease, and breast cancer.

And yet—so much of the research that shapes guidelines was conducted on men, not women.

One of my favorite summaries of this issue said it bluntly: Women are not just “small men.” Our bodies behave differently, respond differently, signal differently—and the system hasn’t caught up.

So Why Does It Feel So Hard to Get Straight Answers?

Because the science is still catching up.
Because providers don’t always get the training they need.
Because our symptoms often show up “at the margins,” in ways that aren’t seen as classic or textbook.
Because healthcare systems were designed for a male majority.
Because women of color have been historically under-studied and under-treated, leading to even wider gaps in care and outcomes.

And because most of us—especially the high-achieving women in the Alma community—are already:

• leading teams

• running companies

• raising kids

• caring for parents

• managing households

• holding emotional labor at work and at home

• and trying to keep our energy, confidence, and wellbeing intact

We don’t necessarily have the luxury of spending hours tracking symptoms, reading research papers, comparing supplements, or scheduling three different specialists to piece together answers.

Time is a resource we often don’t have.
Clarity is a resource we desperately need.

What I’m Learning (Without Turning It Into a Full-Time Job)

I’m not tracking symptoms. I’m not building spreadsheets. And I’m not trying to become an at-home endocrinologist.

But I am learning a few things:

• Your provider matters. You want someone who actually understands women’s health—and feels confident guiding you. It’s okay to say, “I need a specialist who sees women regularly.”

• Our bodies are signaling earlier than we expect. Many women start experiencing changes years before “official menopause,” even while juggling careers and leadership roles.

• We don’t talk about this enough. So much of women’s health—heart symptoms, fatigue patterns, autoimmune signs, hormonal shifts—gets dismissed as stress or overwork.

• Community helps. When one woman shares, another realizes she’s not imagining things.

This isn’t about turning us into health researchers—it’s about equipping ourselves enough to ask informed questions and advocate for care that actually fits our bodies.

And Honestly? I’m Still Figuring It Out

I’m exploring supplements.
I’m trying to understand hormones.
I’m doing my best to navigate a confusing phase while running a business, raising a son, planning retreats, and helping nonprofits raise millions.

So if you’ve felt confused—or frustrated—or downright ignored—please know you’re not alone.
It’s not “just you.”
It’s a system that hasn’t caught up to the complexity of women’s bodies and lives.

And that’s exactly why Alma exists: to help women have real conversations, share real stories, and bring the right experts into our community.

Your Turn — What Do You Want to Know?

As we plan the next Luminary Conference, I want to bring in a women’s health expert who can actually answer the questions women leaders are asking.

But I want to start with your questions.

👉 What’s confusing you right now about your health?
👉 What do you wish you understood better?
👉 What scares you, surprises you, or makes you wonder if something is “normal”?

Drop a comment below or complete this quick poll.
Your responses will guide which speaker we bring to the Luminary stage—because your voice matters in shaping the health conversations that will support all of us.