We’ve been told it’s “normal.”
We go to the doctor with joint pain, stiffness, fatigue, or weakness—and it’s often brushed off as just “part of aging.”
But these symptoms are part of a bigger pattern—one that’s been hiding in plain sight, and one that doctors are only now beginning to recognize.
This isn’t new science. It’s long-standing knowledge that’s been left out of routine care—buried beneath years of research gaps, clinical bias, and outdated assumptions about women’s bodies.
Beneath these symptoms is a bigger story—one of underdiagnosed conditions, hormonal shifts, and a healthcare system that was never designed with women in mind.
This comes at a high cost, as women lose their strength, mobility, and confidence in their own bodies.
For decades, women have been left out of the data that shapes healthcare. The result? Delayed diagnoses. Dismissed symptoms. And conditions like Menopause Musculoskeletal Syndrome (MMS)—which affects millions—flying under the radar.
Doctors rarely name what’s happening, let alone help us navigate it. But you can—and should—advocate for your health.
Why Aren’t Doctors Aware of MMS?
1. It’s newly defined—but not new.
The term Menopause Musculoskeletal Syndrome was only coined in a 2024 medical journal. But the symptoms? They’ve been here all along—just treated separately: osteoporosis here, muscle loss there, joint pain written off as aging. No one connected the dots.
2. Research has historically been male-dominated.
For decades, medical research focused almost exclusively on men. Women of childbearing age were excluded from most clinical trials. Hormones were considered “too complicated.” As Dr. Stacy Sims puts it: “Women are not small men.”
3. Medical training still treats the male body as the default.
In textbooks, case studies, and clinical guidelines, the “standard patient” is often male. Women’s symptoms are viewed through that lens—which means we’re often misdiagnosed, under-treated, or told it’s “just stress.”
4. There’s no time—and no framework.
Primary care visits are rushed. If you mention feeling weak or stiff, you’re likely to get vague suggestions—yoga, stretching, maybe some ibuprofen. Without awareness or guidelines for MMS, they don’t know how to assess or address the bigger picture.
Why Isn’t This Discussed?
1. Because women still aren’t fully believed.
There’s a long history of women’s pain being minimized or dismissed. From “it’s just hormones” to full-on gaslighting, many women walk out of appointments without answers—or worse, doubting their own experience.
2. Because menopause remains taboo.
Society treats menopause like the end of youth, sexuality, or worth. That discomfort carries into medicine—where even saying the word menopause can shut down real conversation about strength, mobility, and long-term health.
3. Because there’s no profit motive.
Let’s be honest: many women’s health issues—like MMS, pelvic floor dysfunction, or perimenopause—don’t come with blockbuster drugs. If there’s no “quick fix” to prescribe or profit from, they often fall through the cracks.
Women Have Been Minimized—Because the System Was Never Built for Us
- For most of medical history, women were excluded from clinical trials—until the 1990s.
- Our symptoms are more likely to be labeled “anxiety” or “normal.”
- Conditions that primarily affect women—like autoimmune disease, endometriosis, chronic fatigue, and now MMS—remain underfunded, under-researched, and widely misunderstood.
- There’s a lingering bias that emotion = exaggeration, especially when women describe pain, fatigue, or cognitive changes.
But This Is Changing—Because Women Are Speaking Up
- The recognition of MMS is part of a larger, patient-driven shift in how women’s health is being understood and addressed.
- Women are asking better questions, advocating for more research, and pushing for change.
- There’s real momentum to lift the veil on menopause, musculoskeletal decline, and metabolic changes after 40—not to scare anyone, but to prepare and empower.
Too often, we’re given vague reassurance—or told to “live with it.” But research is catching up. The concept of Menopause Musculoskeletal Syndrome (MMS) was introduced in a 2024 peer-reviewed publication in Climacteric.
Bring this article to your next appointment:
👉 Download the full MMS research article (PDF)
Bring it with you to your next doctor’s appointment to start a real conversation about your symptoms, risk factors, and options
Pair it the MMS Discussion Guide to advocate for your care to start a real, informed conversation about your symptoms, risk factors, and options.
Be Proactive – Ask for These Tests
These labs and scans can help assess your muscle, bone, metabolic, and inflammation markers—giving you a clearer picture of what’s really going on.
- DEXA scan – evaluates bone density and body composition (muscle vs. fat)
- Vitamin D levels – essential for bone strength and immune support
- A1C + fasting insulin or glucose – screens for insulin resistance or prediabetes
- High-sensitivity CRP or ESR – detect chronic inflammation
- Basic metabolic panel (BMP) – includes kidney function and electrolytes
- Cystatin C – more accurate kidney function marker, especially if you strength train or take creatine
- Urine microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio – checks for early signs of kidney stress
If you’ve noticed joint stiffness, fatigue, muscle weakness, or changes in balance—don’t ignore it.
You’re not behind. You’re ahead of the curve—for noticing, asking, and taking action.
“When women are invisible in research, they’re invisible in care.”
— Women’s Health Equity Movement
Want to Understand the Bigger Picture?
This article is part of a larger conversation about Menopause Musculoskeletal Syndrome (MMS)—a condition affecting millions of women that’s only now being properly named and studied.
Read Menopause Musculoskeletal Syndrome (MMS): What Every Woman Should Know →
Learn how hormonal shifts impact your muscles, joints, and bones—and what you can do to protect your strength and mobility.
