Women-Run Healthcare Practice In Millburn Aims To Erase Stigma Around Menopause

Caruso is one of the co-founders and the chief growth officer of HerMD, a new healthcare practice opening in Millburn at 241 Millburn Ave. next week. HerMD was started and is run by women, focusing on their healthcare needs that are often not covered by other practices. 

Doctors at HerMD have an expertise in menopause and sexual health care, which Caruso said sets them apart from other health care professionals. HerMD also provides patients with 20 to 60 minute patient appointments. 

"That's unheard of in the health care system," Caruso said. 

The Millburn location is the company's fifth, having opened practices in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. Caruso, who lives in West Orange, said she has seen firsthand the demand for a practice like this in Northern New Jersey and everywhere else.

"Only 20 percent of OBGYNs are trained in menopause and sexual health care," Caruso said. "Unfortunately, 93 percent of residents out of medical school said they don't feel comfortable treating menopause. By 2025, 1.1 billion people will be in menopause. That is not a number to be ignored."

Caruso said many of their patients going through menopause said they feel dismissed by their doctors.

"Patients said they feel ignored post child bearing," Caruso said. "Their doctors are focused on patients having babies and they feel they are not being taken care of."

Going through menopause herself, Caruso said she knows how helpful it is to meet with a provider who can spend time with her and walk her through what to expect. 

"These topics are just not discussed," Caruso said. "There's a lot of shame and stigma around perimenopause and menopause."

Having been empowered by HerMD, Caruso said she can talk to her friends, husband and daughter about menopause and what she's going through.

"It's really improved my physical, mental and emotional health so much," Caruso said. "Our patients are seen and heard and educated. They know what is going on with them."

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