Doctors, Coaches, and Influencers (Oh, My!)
May 15, 2026
Unfortunately, with the explosion of the menopause industry, knowing who to trust is rarely obvious. Today, we have doctors that are influencers, coaches with proper training trying to compete with influencers disguised as coaches, and if your feed looks like mine, every other post is an influencer with the subscription solution to all our problems.
But, before you click on that affiliate link or a hit purchase on that TikTok shop, think about who is telling you to make that purchase and what their motive is.
Today, we’re gonna take a look at the three most common groups of people you’ll see, particularly on social media, and what their role is in your health care team, but if you only take away one thing from this post, let it be this: doctors treat, coaches guide, and influencers profit.
Doctors Treat
Doctors diagnose and treat medical conditions. That is their one job regardless of specialty.
It’s important to note that if you are buying supplements from their website or Amazon store, that does not create a doctor-patient relationship. If they are trying to sell you supplements or over the counter hormones, they aren’t diagnosing or treating you. That sales pitch is just that, a sales pitch, even if they have good intentions behind the products they sell or recommend.
Doctor Training and Qualifications
Many gynecologists and primary care doctors are not trained in menopause, and a good many don’t care to be. Which is fine. There is nothing wrong with that as long as those doctors are upfront about their lack of knowledge and will gladly refer you to someone that is.
In fact, only 31% of OB/GYNs have a proper menopause curriculum in their residency program. Which means there are a lot of doctors falling through the cracks that might actually want to be able to treat their menopausal patients properly but are unable to because they never had the opportunity to receive training during medical school or residency.
I can’t help but think that a lot of the reason for that lack of training goes back to some of the historical things I mentioned in last week’s blog about “menodivorce.” Even today, once a woman can no longer reproduce, she becomes invisible in society, so the field of medicine has never been pressured to focus on menopause research or management.
I mean, there were many times where I didn’t think I’d see my 50th birthday, and I almost didn’t, because both my primary care doctor and gynecologist at the time were just entirely inept when it came to menopause. I eventually ended up firing them both because I was literally dying from their limited, outdated, and in some instances, just straight up incorrect knowledge of menopause.
I finally found a gynecologist that at least admitted she had NO training on menopause and clearly stated she didn’t feel comfortable handling that part of my medical management. Which is why I have two gynecologists now. One handles everything but my menopause care and the other is actually certified by the Menopause Society and handles only the menopause piece. So far, it’s the best care I’ve had yet and I started perimenopause in 2019.
My experience isn’t uncommon and given the fact that menopause isn’t even part of the curriculum that almost 70% of gynecologists go through, it’s no wonder we have taken to social media to get answers about what is happening to us. And it’s also no wonder that those with few scruples have also taken to social media to prey on that desperation.
I already addressed this a few weeks ago in my post on the menopause industry so I won’t rehash that here, but the main thing to remember is that if being a board-certified OB/GYN doesn’t automatically make them trained in menopause care and menopause hormone therapy then being a chiropractor sure as fuck doesn’t make them qualified.
Again, I have a lot of tips on how to properly vet a content creator that claims to be a doctor in my menopause industry blog post so if you haven’t read that yet, go do that as soon as you’re done with this one. But if you are looking for a doctor with menopause training, a great place to start is the Menopause Society’s provider list. You can search by country, zip code, and if in the USA, telehealth options.
How a Menopause Trained Doctor Can Help You
Having a doctor that knows the ins and outs of menopause and has their patient’s interests, rather than their bottom line, at heart has a significant impact on how you experience the menopause transition and beyond. Bonus points if that doctor has actually gone through the menopause transition themselves.
A doctor that has been trained in menopause can prescribe menopause hormone therapy and/or non-hormonal alternatives to help deal with symptoms and keep tabs on any emerging health conditions that might impact the efficacy and safety of continuing with medical treatment.
I had zero help until about nine months ago and my quality of life improved a hundred-fold as a result. The rage I felt at the injustice of going through six years of perimenopause before I found someone that could, and would, help me has cooled a little, but only a very little. Especially since I am now closing in on my Day 365 celebration. But the silver lining in all this is that it helped me find my calling by becoming a coach.
Coaches Guide
Coaches guide, educate, and empower their clients. Again, regardless of specialty, this is their one job.
Coaches do not, in any way shape or form, diagnose or treat medical conditions. That is well above our pay grade, and any coach that does so is practicing medicine without a license (that’s a felony) even if they have the best intentions.
Yes, we are trained to catch potential early warning signs of disease, but that is only so we can refer clients to medical professionals for timely care. For example, if you tell me you are having urine dribbling, I may say something like “there are a lot of things that could be causing that, but it could also be something more serious” and I would then recommend you make an appointment with your doctor to investigate further.
Since diagnosing and treating is not in our wheelhouse, we have more time to listen to our clients’ concerns and help them set goals that are specific to their lifestyle and resources. Coaches do not replace your medical team. We're here to help you make informed decisions about your care and become a better advocate for yourself.
Coach Training and Qualifications
Coaches come from a diverse background. And unfortunately, there is not a unified certification authority to ensure specific standards are met. Some coaching programs are just a few weeks long while others are fully accredited and take 6-12 months to complete.
Specifically for menopause coaches, a reputable program will typically cover the physiological changes during menopause, holistic symptom management, effective coaching techniques, and ethical practices. Some well-known menopause certification organizations include The Menopause Society, The Integrative Women's Health Institute, Girls Gone Strong (GGS), and the National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA).
This is why it’s important to check the credentials of someone claiming to be a coach because the program I went through is fully accredited, but I myself have seen many people, particularly in Facebook menopause groups, that claim to be coaches but when you dig into their credentials, they got certified from attending a four hour bootcamp that was streamed over social media. We are not the same.
Not to keep beating the same drum, but I also have tips on how to properly vet a content creator that claims to be a coach in my menopause industry blog post. Coaches can truly help people, but just as with doctors, there are grifters among us.
How a Menopause Coach Can Help You
Research shows that personalized support during menopause significantly improves quality of life. A 2022 study found that women receiving individualized lifestyle coaching reported significant positive changes in menopause symptoms and overall quality of life compared to those who didn't receive coaching.
As coaches, our goal is to help you understand your options and create a plan that helps you achieve your goals, both during and long after the menopause transition.
Influencers Profit
Influencers are salespeople. Selling something to earn a commission is their one job.
Doesn’t matter if they are selling you a subscription for access to their life or whatever supplement diet culture has come up with this month, their goal is to make money. Influencers might have a certification of some sort, but if their content is sales heavy, that credential is likely more of a prop to lend credence to their claims.
That said, influencers are not inherently bad.
We need salespeople to get the word out about goods and services that can actually help us and social media is the fastest, most efficient way to do that. The problem lies in those that do not care if what they are selling is actually a good product ethically made and will gladly exploit the parasocial relationship they’ve developed with their follows to make a buck.
Even if you’ve been following them for years and you really like them. Please, please, please do not let that parasocial relationship blind you to the fact that they are making money on your purchases, even if their commission for the sale isn’t directly added to the cost of the product for you.
This is why I have made the decision not to do any type of affiliate marketing or work with companies to sponsor product posts. I’m just getting started in my business, but my plan is to be fully listener and client funded. So, if you ever hear me talk about a specific product, it’s because I am using it and relaying my actual experience with the product. Maybe not the best financial decision, but it’s the only option that doesn’t give me the ick.
Final Thoughts:
The menopause space has exploded, and we are constantly being bombarded by ads and talking heads recommending the new best thing. It’s overwhelming, especially if perimenopause is taking the stuffing out of ya.
When money clouds judgement, it’s the consumer (us) that suffers so before you fork over your hard-earned money for any product, Google the company. Read reviews from people that were not paid to leave those reviews. See if you can get it locally. Always remember that an influencer is PAID to recommend this to you unless they have specifically said they are not an affiliate.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. The menopause industry thrives on blurred boundaries because it's profitable. My best advice is to follow the money. Before clicking add to cart, ask yourself who is profiting from that sale and do their values align with yours. If not, and it’s something you really want to try, then find a different supplier that does or talk to your doctor or coach about alternatives.
Alright folks, that’s it for Doctors, Coaches, and Influencers (Oh, My!). I’m just getting started on social media so the best way to get updates is to subscribe to my email list (scroll down just a bit more for the form).
Have a great week and may your estrogen patch stay sticky ❤️
References and Further Reading
Most OB/GYN residency programs in US lack dedicated menopause curriculum – Healio
Effects of health coaching on menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal and perimenopausal women – Menopause Journal
What Doctors Don’t Know About Menopause – AARP
92% of Ob-Gyn Programs Lack Menopause Curriculum – Physicians Weekly
