Women over the age of 45 represent 45% of women in the U.S. workforce. Each year, two million of these women reach menopause, the effects of which can be felt in the female body for a decade. According to a newly-released report from Evernow – a digital concierge health platform that supports women through perimenopause and menopause with personalized care and treatments – this means that American companies face menopause-related losses of $26.6 billion annually.
Evernow surveyed 2,000 female workers between the ages of 45 to 60 for their research. They found that 85% of women have felt an impact on their work productivity or satisfaction due to menopause. Nearly 60% have tempered their career ambitions as a result of symptoms – passing on promotions, retiring and quitting earlier than otherwise planned.
The vast majority of the women surveyed said they would consider using a corporate menopause benefit, as almost half already have paid out-of-pocket for care. And yet 65% feel their needs are overlooked in the workplace. They’re concerned about experiencing ageism if they speak with colleagues, managers or HR representatives about their menopausal symptoms.
Most women are seeking more than just a sympathetic ear in order to talk to about menopause. They want comprehensive, affordable, quality care and symptom management. Evernow addresses these issues head-on, offering expert consultations, personalized care plans, and whole health solutions to women over 40.
“Employers, it is time to take action,” says Evernow CEO and Founder Dr. Alicia Jackson. “Ignoring the impact of menopause in the workplace is no longer an option. You have both a financial and ethical imperative to offer a menopause benefit that truly supports your female employees. This problem can’t be solved fast enough.”
Part of the issue is the complexity of menopause. A stunning 40% of women experience symptoms for an entire decade starting before their mid-40s, which range widely from the physical to the emotional. During this timeframe, the vast majority of women, 70%, rate at least one symptom as “severe” or “very severe.” The most common symptoms include fatigue and tiredness, sleep issues, headaches and joint pain. Half of women report that brain fog or an inability to focus due to menopause has impacted their performance at work.
Jackson says it was her background as a researcher conducting PhD studies and working at the U.S. government’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that drove her desire to forge a new path in women’s health, particularly at the intersection of healthcare and consumer experience. “I believe that when healthcare is designed around the consumer rather than payors, transformative changes can occur,” she said in an exclusive interview with me.
Her interest in menopause began while Jackson was working in fertility. She was shocked to learn about the severe health consequences for women when menopause is left unaddressed. “What stunned me even more was the lack of preparedness among both women and their healthcare providers,” she says. “A staggering 75% of women seeking care are turned away, largely because most doctors are ill-equipped to handle the complexities of menopause. This was a call to action for me.”
When she founded Evernow, Jackson had two primary goals in mind. First, she aimed to establish a healthcare service focused on women aged 40+ that offered affordable, world-class care. Second, she wanted to close the research gap in the field. Over the past four years, Evernow has built the largest database on perimenopause and menopause, aiming to drive better outcomes and elevate the standard of care for all women.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been committed to leveraging advances in science and research to drive meaningful change,” Jackson says. “With Evernow, I’ve found a unique opportunity to apply this ethos to women’s health. We’re using cutting-edge research to create a better future for women navigating perimenopause and menopause, a life stage that has been historically overlooked and under-researched.”
The most significant challenge Jackson has faced in building Evernow has been the lack of comprehensive research and funding in the field of menopause. “The standard of care has been woefully inadequate, often reducing a complex life stage to just ‘hot flashes.’ The fact is, the current standard of care for menopause is essentially a lack of care. With Ob-gyns receiving as little as six hours of menopause training during their four-year residency, we knew we had to create a new standard,” she says.
Jackson has the following advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and change makers: Surround yourself with the right people. “Your team, board, and advisors should not only believe in your vision but also bring the expertise and experience needed to make that vision a reality. Leadership is about orchestrating collective expertise toward a common goal. In the end, it’s all about the people you have on your journey with you,” she says.
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