The Menopause Conversation Is Finally Changing—But Is the Healthcare System Ready?

For generations, women have quietly weathered the storm of hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety, weight gain, and mood swings—hallmarks of a life transition so common it’s almost universal. Yet perimenopause and menopause have long remained medical afterthoughts, cloaked in silence, social discomfort, and clinical neglect.

That silence is breaking. Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Halle Berry have recently used their platforms to talk candidly about menopause. Books are being written. Podcasts are multiplying. But in exam rooms across the country, millions of women still walk away from appointments without answers, resources, or even a meaningful conversation.

“For far too long, women have been brushed off on this issue and told to just deal with it, which is simply unacceptable,” said Parham Javaherian, chief executive officer of JumpstartMD. "Perimenopause and menopause deserve the same rigor, attention, and innovation as any other health change or milestone. We aim to break the taboo, cut through the misinformation, and elevate the conversation with compassion and evidence-based care."

“Why didn’t anyone tell me this would happen?” is a question heard more often than it should be.

Now, some clinics are trying to fill that vacuum—not with marketing promises, but with something long overdue: focused, science-driven care for women in midlife.

From Dismissal to Diagnosis

Perimenopause, the years-long hormonal shift leading up to menopause, begins in most women during their 40s. Its effects can be jarring and deeply personal: heart palpitations, brain fog, irritability, joint pain, vaginal dryness, and unpredictable periods. The transition doesn’t announce itself; it sneaks in quietly, often misattributed to stress or aging.

Menopause itself is marked by 12 consecutive months without a period. Afterward, women enter postmenopause, when hormonal shifts may ease but new health risks emerge—osteoporosis, cardiovascular changes, and ongoing metabolic changes, to name a few.

Yet despite its near-universal inevitability, menopause remains one of the most under-discussed health topics in women’s medicine.

“We need a cultural shift so that this issue is not overlooked but is given the consideration and attention it deserves,” said Dr. Sean Bourke, founder and chief medical officer at JumpstartMD. “We are happy to be at the forefront of helping to make it a more comfortable experience for women to transition. We help them look and feel their best to get the most health and life out of those years."

Dr. Sean Bourke, founder and chief medical officer at JumpstartMD

A Different Kind of Clinic Visit

That dynamic is starting to shift. In California and beyond, healthcare groups like JumpstartMD are building programs specifically to support women through perimenopause and menopause with a holistic, clinical lens.

Rather than a rushed annual physical or a dismissive “this is just part of aging,” some clinics are offering deep hormonal assessments, medically monitored hormone replacement therapy (HRT), nutrition counseling, and regular follow-ups focused on midlife health.

Importantly, these programs do not treat menopause like an illness, but as a natural transition that, for some women, brings real challenges that deserve real attention.

That cultural correction is backed by science. The Journal of the American Medical Association recently reaffirmed that hormone therapy—when tailored and monitored—is the most effective treatment for common menopausal symptoms. Yet only a fraction of eligible women use it. Many aren’t aware it’s an option; others have absorbed outdated fears from early studies that have since been reevaluated.

The Risk of Doing Nothing

Doing nothing, however, carries its own risks. Untreated menopausal symptoms can affect quality of life, mental health, relationships, and long-term physical well-being. The cost of silence, both personal and societal, is significant.

“There’s this idea that women are supposed to just power through,” said Dr. Bourke. “But suffering in silence is not strength—it’s an outcome of being overlooked.”

And while the wellness industry is quick to offer supplements and promises, medically guided care remains the missing piece for many women seeking clarity in a time of biological chaos.

Beyond the Exam Room

Of course, better care is only part of the solution. What’s also needed is a broader social shift—a reimagining of menopause not as a decline, but as a complex, deeply human experience that can be met with curiosity, care, and even pride.

In many ways, the menopause movement mirrors earlier women’s health revolutions—around childbirth, contraception, or breast cancer. Each began with women naming their experiences and demanding to be seen.

This time, the ask is simple: listen.

Editor’s Note: JumpstartMD operates clinics across California and offers programs tailored to perimenopause and menopause. For more information, visit JumpstartMD.com.