During their lifetime, 43 percent of women will experience some issue with their sexual wellness. As women, we’ll spend 40 percent of our lives in some menopausal state. Working with her sister, Dr. Somi Javaid, West Orange mom of two Komel Caruso is addressing this head on with HerMD, which recently opened its first NJ location in Millburn. Here, Caruso tells us what sets it apart and how we can best advocate for ourselves.
New Jersey Family: What is HerMD and what sets it apart from other medical practices?
Komel Caruso: HerMD is a female-founded physician-led women’s health provider committed to revolutionizing women’s healthcare. We operate within an insurance-based system and ensure all of our providers are trained in menopause and sexual health, which nationwide only 20 percent of providers are.
In 2023 we opened our fourth location nationwide right here in Millburn!
NJF: It’s inspiring to see sisters partnering in something so meaningful. What inspired you to launch HerMD together and how do your backgrounds complement one another?
KC: It is a joy to be on this journey with my sister, Dr. Somi Javaid, as we continue to build the movement behind our mission to bring women the healthcare we all deserve.
HerMD is inspired by our mother who at age 45 was rushed into emergent quadruple bypass surgery with a condition so severe that if the heart attack had come, she would not have survived. In the time leading up to it, she was repeatedly dismissed by doctors despite her obvious symptoms of cardiac disease and a family history of both cardiac disease and sudden cardiac death. Doctors attributed the pain in her left arm and chest and shortness of breath to anxiety. They suggested that the demands of motherhood were stressing her out and recommended that she cut back on her caffeine consumption. At that time Somi was 20 and was pre-med, I was 15, and our brother was 14.
For Somi and me, that experience led us directly to HerMD and has deeply influenced our drive to ensure women are no longer dismissed and to deliver women the health care they truly deserve. That means being treated by providers who are trained in sexual health and menopause. 43% of women will experience some issue with their sexual wellness and all women will go through menopause. In fact, we will spend 40% of our lives in some menopausal state. Yet, nationwide only 20 percent of providers are trained in menopause and sexual healthcare.
NJF: Your areas of focus include sexual health, menopause, gynecology, and medical aesthetics. What other areas do you cover and at what age do you recommend women begin coming to HerMD?
KC: We treat the whole woman. Our patients come to us for their annual gynecological exam, menopause, sexual health and wellness, and aesthetics and then we go from there depending on their symptoms and issues of concern. Our providers often see both mothers and daughters from the same family and provide services that go well beyond traditional gynecological care. We have a phlebotomist onsite, where labs can be drawn, and we offer ultrasound and imaging as well as minimally invasive surgical procedures.
We also offer survivorship care, for those who have or have had cancer, as well as weight management and treatment for PCOS, fibroids, and endometriosis.
We recently launched HerMD Aesthetics in Millburn, which nicely rounds out our approach to whole-body care. So many of our patients in perimenopause or menopause experience symptoms that affect their appearance, and as a result affect how they feel. We empower women to understand what their options are to treat those symptoms and for those who choose to receive cosmetic treatments, we’re happy to provide them.
NJF: You’ve spoken about how little time we get as patients with our doctors. How is HerMD trying to solve that?
KC: Our patients are treated in appointments that range from 20 minutes to 40 minutes depending on how much time the patient and the provider need. We’re able to do so in an insurance-based system thanks to the cash-based aesthetics business model, which is a revolutionary model for a healthcare company and one we’re very proud of.
Not only is this critical in terms of delivering to the patients the care they deserve but it’s very important when it comes to the mental health of our medical professionals. They need the time to do the work they’re passionate about, treat our patients, and avoid burning out.
NJF: Menopause is an area that has traditionally gotten so little attention so when it does come it can hit women like a Mack truck! What do you feel are the biggest misconceptions about menopause?
KC: I think the biggest misconceptions are around symptoms and treatment options. For so long, menopause has been whittled down to “just” a hot flash when in reality there are so many symptoms that impact us from head to toe. They include brain fog, dryness, joint pain, incontinence, insomnia, low libido, anxiety and depression–the list goes on. And for so long, women were told to just “grin and bear it,” but that advice is at best unhelpful and at worst dangerous. There are so many safe and effective treatment options for menopausal symptoms. Hormone therapy, prescription medications, minimally invasive procedures, lasers, and many over-the-counter options exist making it possible to thrive during menopause and beyond.
Women spend a large portion of their lives in a menopausal state, it’s so important to know that those years can be full, happy, and vibrant.
NJF: How long does menopause typically last and what is your approach to treating women during this stage?
KC: Symptoms can last up to 10 years before menopause(during perimenopause) and can last for up to 20 years post-menopause. We treat each individual specifically. We have an initial 40-minute consultation with each patient to review their symptoms and their impact on their daily life. From there our providers craft an individualized treatment plan in partnership with the patient.
NJF: What about perimenopause? When does that typically begin and what is your approach to helping women with this transition?
KC: During perimenopause, we can experience all the head-to-toe symptoms of menopause. I am a proud perimenopausal woman myself and it can last for up to 10 years prior to menopause. Our approach here is the same: We have a consultation with each patient to understand what they are experiencing so that we can then craft a treatment plan together.
NJF: What about cost? Are most insurances accepted?
KC: We accept most major medical insurances as well as Medicare.
NJF: What do you like best about living in West Orange?
KC: I love the community I live in! We have South Mountain Reservation and the zoo. We also are close to so many other neighborhoods in NJ, including Summit, Maplewood, South Orange and Montclair. We love being close to the city, but living in a beautiful suburb. I often say NJ is the best-kept secret in America. We have great food, parks, the beach and proximity to NYC.
NJF: What are your favorite things to do in NJ as a family?
KC: We love food, trivia, and sports! We feel very lucky to live near so many fantastic restaurants including Artie’s, Summit House, Turtle and the Wolf, Boschetto – the list goes on! You will often find us on Thursday nights at Pineapple Express Barbeque for trivia nights and during football season you can catch us at the the Jets home games!
NJF: You have 4 locations now. What’s next for HerMD?
KC: We have so many things on the horizon! We plan to continue expansion and open additional locations. We also will continue with our mission of education, advocacy and empowerment. We do this through events within the community and often in partnership with other health and wellness brands!
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