Melinda opened up during an appearance on Norah O'Donnell's podcast, Healthful. The former wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates recalled experiencing her first perimenopause symptoms in her early 40s. “My journey started when I was just turning 40... And to me, it was just mind-boggling: even in my position, where I have access to the best care in the world, I had to go through three doctors to finally get diagnosed and get the help I needed,” Melinda admitted.

French Gates added that she was fortunate to have a circle of older female friends with whom she regularly went on walks. Hearing their experiences from 8 to 9 years prior helped her recognize her own body's early warning signs.

When the diagnosis was confirmed, Melinda was shocked, having only recently given birth to her youngest child (the couple shares three children: 30-year-old Jennifer, 27-year-old Rory, and 23-year-old Phoebe). “I couldn’t believe it, because I had just had a baby in my late thirties. I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’”

The podcast host was stunned by the revelation, noting: “If even Melinda Gates couldn't get timely, qualified care, what hope is there for everyone else?”

Melinda explained that the issue isn't negligent doctors, but a systemic problem: only about a third of OB-GYNs in the US receive specialized training in menopause care.

She strongly believes that undiagnosed perimenopause symptoms are a hidden barrier keeping women from reaching executive leadership roles and advancing their careers. “One in ten women leaves the workforce or steps back from her career during perimenopause and menopause specifically because of debilitating symptoms she can’t manage,” she emphasized.

In June of this year, French Gates called for a "menopause revolution" in an op-ed for The New York Times, stating that women's health has been treated as an afterthought for far too long.

As part of her advocacy, Melinda pledged an additional $215 million through Pivotal Philanthropies, bringing her total funding for women's health initiatives to over $600 million over the past two years.