By Dr. Jacinta Anyaoku, MD, Founder of Hibiscus Aesthetics & Wellness in Katy, TX
For too many women, menopause is something that happens to them, not something anyone helps them through. They notice the changes: sleep that no longer restores them, a body that responds differently to the same food and exercise, moods and memory that feel unfamiliar, a shift in how they feel in their own skin. And when they bring these things to a doctor, they’re often told it’s simply age, or handed a prescription with little explanation, or, worse, left feeling like they weren’t really heard.
I’ve seen this too many times. So I decided to do something about it in my own practice.
I’m proud to share that I’ve earned my certification as a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP), awarded by The Menopause Society. I want to explain what that credential actually is, why I pursued it, and, most importantly, what it means for the women I care for here in Katy and across the states where I practice virtually.
The gap in menopause care is real
Here’s something most people don’t know: most physicians receive very little formal training in menopause. A national survey of U.S. residents in family medicine, internal medicine, and OB-GYN, published in 2019, found that about one in five had received no menopause lectures at all during their training, and fewer than 7% felt adequately prepared to manage menopause. It’s not that your doctor doesn’t care. It’s that the system simply hasn’t prioritized this stage of women’s health.
That gap has consequences. Women get inconsistent advice about hormone therapy. Symptoms that are very treatable get brushed aside. Outdated fears, some based on research that has since been re-examined and better understood, still shape how care is delivered. The result is a lot of women quietly navigating something that deserves real, informed medical attention.
I didn’t want to be part of that gap. I wanted to close it.
What the MSCP credential actually is
The Menopause Society Certified Practitioner credential is a certification dedicated specifically to menopause care. It isn’t a weekend course or an online badge. It requires passing a competency examination that tests a clinician’s knowledge across the landscape of midlife women’s health: hormonal changes and how to evaluate them, the current evidence on hormone therapy and its alternatives, bone and heart health, sexual health, and mood and cognition, and how to tailor all of it to the individual woman in front of you.
It also has to be maintained. The credential requires ongoing education and periodic recertification, which means an MSCP clinician is committed to staying current in a field where the science genuinely keeps evolving. When you see those letters after a clinician’s name, you’re seeing evidence that menopause care isn’t a side interest for them. It’s a proven area of focus.
For me, earning it was a natural extension of the work I already do. I’m board-certified in Family Medicine and in Obesity Medicine, and so much of what affects women in midlife, weight that won’t budge, metabolic shifts, energy and sleep, sits right at the intersection of hormones and overall health. The MSCP credential deepens my ability to care for the whole picture.
What this means for you as a patient
A credential only matters if it changes the care you actually receive. Here’s what specialized menopause care looks like in practice.
It starts with being taken seriously. Your symptoms are real, they have a physiological basis, and they are worth investigating properly rather than dismissing. That alone is something many women tell me they’ve never experienced.
From there, it means a thorough evaluation, understanding your symptoms, your history, your risks, and your goals, rather than a rushed, one-size-fits-all response. It means an honest, evidence-based conversation about your options, including hormone therapy where it’s appropriate and safe for you, and thoughtful alternatives where it isn’t. Every woman is different, and the right plan for your neighbor may not be the right plan for you.
And it means ongoing partnership. Menopause isn’t a single appointment; it’s a transition that unfolds over years. The right care adjusts with you as your body and your needs change.
Menopause and hormone care at Hibiscus
At Hibiscus Aesthetics & Wellness, caring for women through midlife is central to what we do. Our hormone and menopause care sits alongside our work in medical weight loss, longevity, and aesthetics, because in real life, these things are deeply connected. The same hormonal shifts that affect your sleep and mood also affect your metabolism, your skin, and your long-term health. Treating them together, with a physician who understands how they interact, is the whole point.
I see patients in person at our clinic in Katy, TX, serving the surrounding West Houston communities including Cinco Ranch, Fulshear, Richmond, and Cypress. For women elsewhere, I also provide virtual care across the states where I’m licensed, with the same comprehensive intake, evaluation, and personalized planning that in-office patients receive.
If you’re navigating this transition
If any of this sounds familiar, if you’ve felt unheard, or you simply want a clearer, more informed approach to menopause, I’d genuinely welcome the conversation. This stage of life shouldn’t be something you endure alone or in confusion. With the right support, it can be a time of feeling informed, cared for, and like yourself again.
Menopause deserves real medicine, and real attention. That’s exactly what earning this certification was about, and it’s the care I’m committed to providing. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
Dr. Jacinta Anyaoku is a board-certified Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine physician and a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP), and the founder of Hibiscus Aesthetics & Wellness in Katy, TX.
This information is not a medical diagnosis. A consultation with Dr. Anyaoku will confirm your treatment options. Individual results may vary.
