For decades, women have been underserved, overlooked, and outright dismissed by an American healthcare system designed around male bodies. From being excluded in clinical trials to receiving inadequate care during critical life stages like menopause, women have paid the price for systemic neglect. The result? Millions of women navigating hormonal changes in isolation, without answers or support. JumpstartMD is shining a light on these long-standing failures, and doing something about it.

"Women’s health has been an afterthought in medicine for far too long. At JumpstartMD, we believe women deserve answers, and practical solutions, not dismissals. They deserve personalized care, not a one-size-fits-all model. We're here to change that," states Parham Javaherian, CEO of JumpstartMD, which has 14 locations throughout California. 

The shortcomings in women’s healthcare are not new… they are the result of decades of systemic bias. Until the 1990s, women were largely excluded from clinical trials, creating a vast blind spot in understanding how diseases and treatments affect half the population. This knowledge gap becomes especially dangerous during menopause, when symptoms are frequently brushed off as “just stress” or “part of aging.” Instead of support, and hormonal balancing options, women receive platitudes.

The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study, published in 2002, caused widespread fear about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by suggesting it significantly increased the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. However, in the years since, experts have pointed out several major flaws and misinterpretations in the study:

Medical education hasn’t kept pace either. Shockingly, 70% of OB-GYNs in the U.S. report receiving little or no training in menopause care during their residency, according to a research study published in the October 2023 issue of the journal Menopause. This lack of preparation leaves doctors unable to recognize or treat a wide range of symptoms - from mood changes and fatigue to weight gain and insomnia - symptoms that impact quality of life both mentally and physically. Layer on systemic gender bias, and the problem deepens: women, particularly women of color, face higher rates of medical gaslighting, misdiagnosis, and under-treatment. The structure of healthcare itself compounds the issue. Fragmented systems force women to juggle multiple specialists, repeat their story endlessly, and often self-diagnose through online forums or chat rooms. There's little continuity, personalization, or trust.

Here is how the healthcare system is failing women:

• : Women, especially those of color, face higher rates of medical gaslighting, delayed diagnoses, and under-treatment, particularly in areas of chronic pain, mood disorders, and hormonal health.
• : The current system offers limited resources and solutions for perimenapausal and menopausal women. That is where JumpstartMD steps in and is redefining how perimenopause and menopause are addressed in this country.

JumpstartMD’s comprehensive program combines in-depth hormonal assessments, personalized Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), expert medical oversight, and holistic support for lifestyle, nutrition, and weight management. With a science-backed, personalized approach, they treat current symptoms, help prevent future health risks, and improve long-term outcomes, because every woman’s journey is unique. It’s time to end the silence around menopause and transform how society views this pivotal stage of life.

“Menopause is real. Women deserve real solutions,” said JumpstartMD Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Sean Bourke, MD.

To learn more or book a consultation, visit www.JumpstartMD.com or follow @JumpstartMD on Instagram for wellness tips, transformation stories, and more.