Women on GLP-1s and hormone therapy seek better clinical support

• Key insight: Women need access to specialized care when using medication like GLP-1s or hormone replacements therapy.
• What's at stake: Businesses risk seeing negative health outcomes among their midlife workforce if clinical gaps persist.
• Supporting data: Nearly 37% of women using these therapies reported a negative or nonexistent post-treatment experience.
  Source: Bullets generated by AI with editorial review

Women are using GLP-1 and hormone therapy prescriptions to better manage their health, but when it comes to corresponding clinical support, their needs are going unfilled. 

In a recent study of more than 1,500 women aged 30-60 and 520 healthcare providers who treat women in this age group, virtual women's and family clinic Maven found that 26% of the women respondents had tried GLP-1s or hormone replacement therapies, and of those nearly 37% said "the care they received afterward felt limited, inconsistent, or like there was no follow-up at all."

Help with weight is the No. 1 request of women in the clinic's employer and health plan-sponsored menopause program, and assistance with sleep, mood and hormones are also in high demand, said Dr. Neel Shah, Maven's chief medical officer. Because metabolic and hormonal health impact multiple areas of health, improvement in these categories can have a broad positive impact, he said.

"GLP-1s … are game changing, because for the first time ever, we have a medication that's very, very effective at helping people manage their metabolism more effectively," Shah explained. But while online sources make it easier than ever to get medications, individuals shouldn't be left to navigate these conditions on their own.  

"[Alongside GLP-1s,] you want the specific expertise in metabolic health because metabolism is complicated, and when somebody may be gaining weight because there's something wrong with their thyroid, for example, you have to diagnose the problem and address it with the right solution," he said. "Also, GLP-1s have side effects and they need to be titrated. They need to be managed carefully."  

Maven is hoping to close the gap in care with new direct-to-consumer additions to its employer benefits and health plan programs. Three new self-pay offerings give women access to expert healthcare providers in metabolic and hormonal care, along with a virtual clinic with access to more than 30 specialities like mental health, wellness coaching and nutrition. The programs can be used by anyone, whether or not they already have covered access to Maven.

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Patients and providers cite shortfalls in care

Along with lackluster medication support, women survey respondents reported frustration over providers' lack of connecting symptoms, with hormones being especially overlooked during health conversations. Forty-five percent have seen two or more providers regarding their reproductive health in the last year, pointing to difficulty finding comprehensive care in this area. 

Many of the clinicians surveyed pointed out the same issues: 58% said hormonal shifts and 48% said metabolic changes are not adequately addressed, and identified lack of training and time as their biggest obstacles to offering quality care. Only 51% said they were confident in prescribing GLP-1s, and while nearly three in four said they "regularly see women with symptoms spanning hormonal, metabolic and mental health," only 44% said they feel "fully equipped to connect those dots." Thirty-eight percent reported that even when they do think a connection exists, they don't have enough time in one appointment to address multiple areas.

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A direct line to experts

The struggle to find women's healthcare experts is taking a toll: More than half (54%) of the women respondents said their concerns were dismissed and 48% said their experience caused them to lose trust in the healthcare system. Low menopause training rates among physicians and OB/GYNs and long wait times for appointments are ongoing issues for women looking for guidance — something expert-led online platforms can alleviate, Shah explained. 

Those taking part in Maven's GLP-1 program receive ongoing clinical oversight, medication management, and hormone, nutrition and physical strength support. The cost is $50 for the first month and $150 per month afterward. The hormone care option, which is a two-month program with a one-time $150 fee, includes two clinician consultations and a care plan, with any prescribed medication billed separately. The multispecialty virtual clinic is pay by appointment, and prices vary by provider. 

When the surveyed clinicians were asked what 30 to 60-year-old women need most from the healthcare system, their top answer was "a single integrated care model addressing hormonal, metabolic and mental health together." 

When employers can provide this, or at least point employees toward available direct-to-consumer options, they can move one of their key workforce populations toward better care. 

"You can't run a business in America without the engagement of your midlife workforce, and that is a broad period of time," said Shah. "The primary reason we're doing this is because we care about women and we care about supporting our employees, but also, there's real economic costs to not doing it."