Melinda French Gates has spoken about how difficult it was to get a proper diagnosis for perimenopause, revealing that she had to consult three different doctors before her symptoms were correctly identified and treated. She shared her experience on journalist Norah O'Donnell's new podcast "Healthful", highlighting a broader issue around the recognition and treatment of menopause-related symptoms in medical practice.

French Gates, now 61, said she began experiencing symptoms in her early 40s and admitted she "kind of couldn't believe it" when she realised what was happening to her body. The philanthropist and former wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates has increasingly used her public platform to raise awareness of women's health issues, and her account underscores concerns that perimenopause is frequently misdiagnosed or overlooked by healthcare providers.