It’s a Long and Winding Road for Older Women in Search of Health Care

WASHINGTON — Nearly 60 years ago, James Brown told us, “This is a man’s world,” and sadly, it appears as true today as it was when the song first became a hit.

Despite the efforts of hundreds of thousands of women, and men, not enough has changed in the intervening years. In fact, we have seen women losing rights believed to be untouchable since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The disparity is especially troubling when it comes to health care where inequities are not only disturbing but dangerous. Women seeking help for mid-life health issues are often told, “It’s all in your head,” especially women who are experiencing perimenopause, or older women already dealing with menopause.

According to a recent survey from The Menopause Society, only 31.3% of responding obstetrics and gynecology program directors reported menopause education was included in their residents’ training. Almost 20% stated menopause curriculum was limited to a rotation block.

A study from the World Health Organization found older women are negatively impacted by both their advanced age and their gender with far-reaching consequences for their health and well-being. Such ageism often renders older women largely invisible and is embedded in contemporary culture and social and economic policies.

And, as First Lady Dr. Jill Biden pointed out at a recent meeting on Alzheimer’s and women’s health issues, “If you ask any woman in America about her health care, she probably has a story to tell. You know her,” she said, adding, “She’s the woman going through menopause, who visits her doctor and leaves with more questions than answers, even though half the country will go through menopause at some point in their lives.”

It was her own experience dealing with the dearth of information or assistance for women in mid-life and beyond that led Joanna Strober to found Midi Health, a virtual clinic focused on treating women navigating midlife hormonal changes, in 2021.

Midi Health recently announced the close of a $60 million Series B funding round led by Emerson Collective, bringing the company’s total funding raised to date to $100 million. The company claims to be the fastest-growing virtual care clinic for women navigating perimenopause and menopause.

“Historically, women’s health care has been neglected, with perimenopause and menopause having significant unmet needs,” said Fern Mandelbaum of Emerson Collective in a press release. “Midi is providing expert, empathetic care coupled with comprehensive insurance coverage, finally addressing this gap and ensuring that all women receive the support they need and deserve.”

Prior to co-founding Midi, Strober founded Kurbo, the first digital weight loss platform for kids. Strober grew Kurbo into a successful subscription business that caught the interest of Weight Watchers, where she became a senior vice president.

Then, Strober says, when she reached her mid-40s she began having hot flashes and difficulty sleeping.

“I was still getting my period regularly, so I didn’t connect what was happening to my hormones, or even think of going to a doctor about it.

“I spent a solid year looking for solutions. My primary care doctor gave me sleeping pills, but said they were addictive and to use them only rarely. I also tried CBD and melatonin, but nothing helped. Then I read about a hormone specialist doing online visits. She didn’t take insurance, but I was curious and pretty desperate, so I booked time with her. Our conversation changed everything.

“She started me on an estradiol pill and progesterone, and one morning about two weeks later, I opened my eyes and realized I had slept through the entire night! I could barely believe it.”

Strober found she was not alone. “My friends — amazing, ambitious women going full speed ahead — were getting derailed in their lives and careers. They were downsizing rather than upsizing, because they felt worn out from dealing with symptoms. Now I realize this lack of care is an issue of equity.”

Strober’s hope is for Midi “to become the biggest company in the women’s health space and to truly transform the way women in midlife and beyond receive care.”  

She says she is “thrilled at the success we have had in growing Midi over just the past few years, but I’m not surprised that the concept — expert midlife care, covered by insurance and available via telehealth — resonated with so many women.”

While there are no specific plans to expand into other areas of female health, younger women or those past menopause, Strober points out that Midi’s “specialization is hormones, and women can have hormonal problems at any age. So if our expertise can help in the area of hormonal health, we’re there for you.”

She doesn’t expect a transition to a brick-and-mortar location as Strober feels “telehealth appointments … are the most effective and convenient for our patients.”

Midi’s patients seem to agree. According to a press release from the company, the quality of Midi’s care is validated by a recent survey of 2,200 patients, in which: 

• 91% report overall symptom improvement within two months of their first Midi visit. Broken down for several symptoms:
  • 94% report improvement of hot flashes and night sweats within three months.
  • 93% report improvement of insomnia within five months.
  • 92% report improvement of moodiness, anxiety and/or depression within two months.
  • 89% report improvement of brain fog and memory lapses within five months.

When asked what her single piece of advice for all women would be, she answered, “Know that you don’t have to suffer. There is truly great, effective care available and treatments that can help you live happy, productive lives, along with specialists who can help you navigate all of these hormonal changes.”

In a piece of good news for all women, President Joe Biden recently signed an Executive Order aimed at advancing women’s health research and innovation, with a specific focus on menopause, and a groundswell of corporate employers have added menopause benefits.

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