Menopause Education Wholly Inadequate for Physician Associates, According to New Survey Results

A new survey highlights widespread educational gaps among physician associates (PAs) in menopause care, with nearly all respondents reporting insufficient training to confidently manage the medical, psychological, and lifestyle complexities of the menopausal transition.

The findings, presented this week at The Menopause Society’s 2025 Annual Meeting, underscore the urgent need to integrate comprehensive menopause education into PA curricula and continuing medical education.

The Provider Experience Survey on Menopause Education collected responses from 150 PAs over one month, primarily working in outpatient settings (80%) and serving suburban (44%) or urban (26%) populations. Primary care was the most common specialty (36%). Only 3% of respondents reported receiving more than five hours of menopause-related training during their professional education, while 40% had received a single hour and 19% had received none. Overall, 97% indicated their training was inadequate.

Among the 49% of PAs who currently manage peri- or menopausal patients, just 17% felt adequately prepared to personalize care. Confidence scores were low for key clinical topics, including hormone therapy (HT) management (mean 2.56/5) and social determinants of health (2.59/5). Respondents identified critical areas for further education, with 16% citing HT dosing and monitoring, 15% highlighting sexual health, and 13% focusing on cognitive changes as priorities.

PAs indicated that online continuing medical education courses (19%) and clinical guidelines (17%) would be the most effective resources for improving menopause care. Half of respondents preferred hybrid learning formats. Barriers to accessing menopause-related education included limited time for professional development (23%), lack of menopause-specific resources (20%), and uncertainty about where to locate reliable information (20%).

“This survey demonstrates a striking gap in PA education, leaving providers underprepared to address the multifaceted needs of patients navigating menopause,” Aleece Fosnight, MSPAS, PA-C, CSC-S, CSE, NCMP, IF, HAES, founder of the Fosnight Center for Sexual Health, in Ashville, NC. “Integrating targeted educational initiatives—such as online CME programs, clinical algorithms, and structured menopause modules—will empower PAs to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered care with confidence and compassion.”

The findings reinforce the authors’ objective that PAs play a vital role in menopause management but require comprehensive, standardized training to meet the growing needs of a menopausal population. Embedding menopause-focused content into PA education and continuing education programs is presented as a necessary evolution to ensure future providers are equipped to lead in this domain.