Menopause is as old as humanity yet it is only now coming to the forefront of women’s health. Consequently, more women are leading innovations in the treatment of symptoms through a variety of startups that are attracting investor interest.
What is Menopause
Menopause begins 12 months after a person’s last period, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). However, years prior to that, a woman may experience disruptions in her menstrual cycle, hot flashes, and other symptoms. That time is known as perimenopause.
Sometimes called menopausal transition, perimenopause usually begins between the mid-forties and mid-fifties. It typically lasts around seven years. However, it can run for as long as 14 years.
During perimenopause, the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone begins to fluctuate. As a result, a woman may experience a change in weight retention, bone health, and heart health.
Other issues may arise from menopause because symptoms can vary. As a result, several misconceptions have arisen.
Hormone Therapy
Perhaps the largest misconception about treatment was the idea that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) could fix all problems.
Beginning in the 1960s, HRT became the standard for treating menopause. However, a 2002 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found potential links between the therapy and health risks, including cancer and heart disease. As a result, the treatment has declined.
Menopause Taboo
Aiding the misconceptions about menopause is the awkwardness many people feel about discussing it.
Only just over half of Americans (53 percent) in an Ipsos survey late last year say they are comfortable talking about menopause.
“This makes menopause the least comfortable of the 11 topics of conversation measured.” noted the report. “Fewer people are comfortable discussing menopause than are about their financial situation, cancer, or politics.”
In the same survey, 48 percent of Americans admitted they were not very knowledgeable about menopause.
Another study by Women’s Health Network found that over 60 percent of women who went to their doctor for help dealing with symptoms were not able to have a “ supportive, honest discussion about menopause options”.
Menopause is such a taboo that until recently, Meta (Facebook) rejected ads for products dealing with it along with other issues of women’s sexual health.
Market
The need to physically, mentally, and emotionally equip women for meeting the challenges of menopause is growing along with the female population.
Today, over half of the total female population is over 40, according to the U. S. Census Bureau. However, due to increased longevity and an aging population, more than 1.1 billion women will be menopausal by 2025.
The rising demand by women consumers is projected to push the market size for femtech products to $1.19 trillion globally by 2027, according to the FemTech Landscape Report 2021.
Of that, $600 billion could be spent on menopause products and services, according to Female Founders Fund, a venture capital firm.
Startups Leading the Way
Investment in companies addressing menopause is primarily limited to a small but growing group of startup companies.
HerMD operates women’s health clinics. It received $10 million in funding last month to expand those clinics and its telemedicine arm.
Among startups attracting funding recently is Vira Health. It obtained $12 million last week in second-round funding for its AI-driven digital menopause health program.
Midi Health treats menopause through virtual visits. It received $14 million in funding last year to expand nationwide.
Elektra Health Services also offers telemedicine, plus its proprietary “Meno-Morphis” program. It got $3.75 million in funding in 2021.
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