20 Companies Innovating in the Menopause Space
Blog written by Jessica Hobbis, edited for clarity by Anja Streicher
There are three stages of menopause: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. Perimenopause is the time just before menopause, in which your body starts to transition towards such. Menopause is defined as ‘having no menstrual period for one year’; and while the age of this can differ, it usually occurs in your late 40s or early 50s. Once this has occurred, you have entered into postmenopause. This is a normal part of the life cycle in which women undergo hormonal changes, most notably the decrease in levels of estrogen. While this happens to most women, the symptoms experienced and when they occur vary hugely between individuals; therefore, it should be recognised that, like there is no “normal” woman, there is no “normal” menopause.
There is a huge lack of both understanding and appropriate treatment for menopause and associated symptoms. For example, less than 10% of women in the UK say they are happy with the menopausal care they receive. This systemic issue goes beyond healthcare, impacting women’s lifestyles and livelihoods with the CIPD finding that three in five menopausal women were negatively affected at work, while BUPA found that almost 900,000 women in the UK had left their jobs due to associated symptoms.
However, the companies below are starting to disrupt this - so keep reading if you want to see the solutions they are presenting to help change the way we think about, understand and treat menopause.
1. Vira Health
Vira Health combines data, clinical best practices, and behaviour change to solve the health and quality of life problems that affect billions of women worldwide. Their intelligent and personalised digital therapies will evolve to become the perfect human and AI-driven treatment – ready to help women get relief for the health issues that are unique to them. Their core product is Stella – an app that supports women through menopause. Stella combines evidence-based treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, pelvic floor exercises, and diet and lifestyle changes into a tailored 12-week treatment plan.
2. Thermaband
Ever wondered what’s happening to your body when your temperature changes? The Zone’s health technology monitors your body 24/7 to get to know your unique “normal” temperature to pick up even the smallest changes. The more you use it – the smarter it gets. Unlike other wearables, the Zone analyses key vitals and self-reported logs to provide personalised insights. The Zone automatically detects your “moments” and delivers battery-powered cooling or warming based on your needs. Based on your preferences, it can activate automatically or manually. Currently only available to pre-order in the US.
3. Kindra
Kindra offers plant-powered, estrogen-free essentials that do what they promise. They have a nuanced approach to clean ingredients and intuitive design, and an online community, filled with resources and shared stories. Kindra is science-backed support, made by women and tailored to you.
4. Alva
Alva is building a healthcare platform to support women through their menopause. They want to give all women information about their options for menopause – so that every woman gets the support they deserve. Currently, they offer a free assessment service to deliver personalised menopause advice; HRT prescriptions, delivered to your door in days; and straightforward information about menopause in their library. What’s coming next; other treatment options for menopause symptoms, including cognitive behavioural therapy programmes; and developing their support app, so that you can keep track of your experience.
5. Joylux
Joylux is a leading menopausal platform company offering high-tech home-use medical and wellness devices, digital tools, and products that address menopause-related intimate health concerns such as incontinence, vaginal dryness, sexual function, hot flashes, and other common symptoms. Their hero product is the vFit/ vSculpt device – the first home-use device clinically validated to improve the genitourinary syndrome of menopause using photobiomodulation technology. Joylux products are sold in over 10 countries around the world under the brands Joylux, vFit, vSculpt, Cooling Care, and HER Intimate Care. Its mission is to help women find delight in their lives, through all phases of menopause.
6. Gennev
Gennev is the #1 virtual care provider for women in menopause. Their integrated care team of Board-Certified Ob/Gyns and Health Coaches provides prescription and lifestyle care. 94% of their patients report an improvement in their menopause symptoms
7. Feminapause
Working in a male-dominated environment, the founder of Feminapause found herself feeling anxious as the symptoms of menopause unfolded in front of her, making every day feel increasingly difficult. From breaking out in hot sweats during a presentation in the male-dominant working environment to feeling sudden anxiety and fatigue she had never experienced before. The effects were truly debilitating. As an ex-professional dancer, she experienced severe joint pain in her late 40s. After research, she turned to CBD oil to help ease her joint pain but found out that it helped to ease her hot sweats and helped her sleep better. The missing link was a deficiency in B Vitamins which gave her a boost of energy she didn’t realise was initially down to a very common deficiency during menopause. This powerful combination led to the birth of Feminapause. Feminapause has created thus a natural supplement for menopause, including ingredients of CBD Oil, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12 to help to alleviate common symptoms.
8. BiaCare
Bia Care is an award-winning clinic revolutionising menopause treatment with the UK's leading menopause experts. Their team of Healthcare Professionals has helped thousands of people get the menopause treatment they need. Bia Care was created by a group of NHS Healthcare Professionals, who saw first-hand the challenges women face when searching for menopause treatment. Their goal is to make excellent menopause care available to everyone without waiting lists or expensive private clinics. They offer group sessions for women at various stages of menopause, focusing on a holistic approach. This involves one-hour conversations each week, together with a personalised treatment plan.
9. Attn: Grace
Attn : Grace realised that as women we entered their 40’s and 50’s, they were increasingly nobody’s “brand darling”. They studied the category, and went to industry conferences where personal care aisles for older women are shamefully referred to as “the aisle of death.” The reality was grim. The more they learned, the more they realised how little is understood about women’s changing needs or how to thoughtfully address them. Attn: Grace believes in a world where women are seen and celebrated as they age. They are working to bring this vision to life with sustainably designed wellness products that are thoughtfully tailored to women’s changing needs, such as incontinence pads.
10. Tabu
Tabu believes that sexual health is about more than pleasure – and that it doesn’t come with an expiration date. Therefore, Tabu is working toward a future where our sexual health as women isn’t defined by where we are in our reproductive years, but by our unique journeys, meaningful connections, individual experiences, and above all, our quality of life. They invite you to join their movement and prioritise your well-being – now and always. Tabu has created a ‘Dignified sexual wellness kit’, which includes everything you need to start and maintain your sexual wellness routine – such as their Aurem Lubricant, a water-based, organic lubricant, rich in omega-6 essential fatty acids to protect from dryness.
11. Astinno
Hot flushes affect around 1.5 million women in the UK alone. They are uncomfortable, embarrassing, and above all inconvenient, striking day and night. Choosing a solution can be confusing and difficult. Those days could soon be gone. Enter Grace, the world's first automated tracking and cooling bracelet, ready to detect and fend off your flushes 24 hours a day. Grace aims to detect a hot flush before you know you're going to have one. At that point, a cooling patch is activated on your wrist, aiming to reverse the effects of a flush. With full automation, Grace can also be worn while you're asleep to combat your night sweats. Once launched, you will be able to download the GraceApp for your smartphone to understand your hot flushes in more detail than ever before.
State of Menopause was founded to make the state of menopause easier for women: to manage and understand, to endure and enjoy, to transform and transcend who you were to become who you are. This is a personal care organisation focused on women going through menopause, providing a range of products including a cooling spray for hot flushes.
13. Elektra Health
Elektra’s mission is to smash the menopause taboo by empowering women with evidence-based education, care, and community. They provide deep expertise and science-backed solutions alongside community support and guidance to give you agency over your hormonal health. Their approach is holistic and integrative, and it starts with education from trusted experts. Elektra’s platform includes; unlimited virtual coaching from an Elektra Guide, personalised learning, and access to a supportive community.
14. Maryon Stewart’s Natural Menopause Solution
Maryon Stewart's Natural Menopause Solution introduces diet, exercise, relaxation, and science-based, standardised supplements as a comprehensive programme to eliminate menopause symptoms naturally. Their offerings range from one-to-one consultations to self-help programmes (14-Day and 5-Day Plans) to their guided Six-Week Natural Menopause Solution. Maryon Stewart BEM, with more than 28 years of experience in study and expertise, is known as the pioneer of the natural menopause movement. She has written 28 self-help books and was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2018. She and her expert team help women understand and manage their menopause symptoms without hormones. The Six-Week Natural Menopause Solution program she offers through Femmar is based on the latest medical research and motivational techniques.
15. Embr Labs
Embr Labs is a Boston-based technology startup with patented wearable technology that goes beyond sense. Their wearable thermal technology provides heating and cooling at the touch of a button and is already helping tens of thousands of people live better lives through personal temperature control. They are a science-driven team of interdisciplinary, collaborative, and compassionate people on a mission to harness the body’s natural response to temperature to enhance human wellbeing.
16. Lisa Health
Lisa Health has launched the app Midday – an app leveraging AI and sensor technology to provide maximum support for menopause and healthy aging, tailored to your body, evolving with every stage. Midday provides end-to-end management of your menopause journey, illuminating what is happening physically and emotionally, and bringing to light the right intervention at the right time to manage symptoms and promote healthy aging.
17. B-wom
B-wom was created to empower women to take control of their own health and well-being. They offer the tools and the support so that you can create preventative and self-care habits for your health. B-wom started with intimate health because it is surrounded by many taboos that can create insecurity and loss of confidence. However, they argue that we can overcome them with the power of information. They believe in using technology to create a positive impact on a global scale. B-wom’s app allows women to get personalised daily content, track their symptoms and feelings, and reach personal goals with the coach feature.
18. Fizimed
Fizimed has created the Emy Kegel trainer by TENA, accompanied by an app, which helps you to strengthen your pelvic floor. This combines 4 types of Kegel-style exercises to tone all the muscles of the pelvic floor. Features include; medical-grade materials for outstanding hygiene, being designed for all body types, made with low-energy Bluetooth for your safety, and a long-lasting battery. This helps to improve bladder control by strengthening your pelvic floor from the comfort of your home.
19. Femilog
With there being very few digital solutions for women in menopause, women’s midlife journeys have been completely overlooked. Femilog has taken the step forward and created an app which is a Menopause Health Tracker to support women in their menopause journeys. They understand that menopause can be a turbulent period in life with physical and mental changes. They want you to take control over your body back and achieve a higher quality of life, peace of mind, and decreased stress-level with the use of Femilog. The app allows you to log your symptoms, keep an eye on physical and mental changes, share knowledge with your doctor, and discover information directly related to how you are feeling.
GenM is collectively uniting & supporting the most responsible and progressive companies to understand and serve in a purposeful way, what is currently an underserved audience of 15.5 m women in the UK alone. GenM recognises that menopause is not a gender, medical, workplace, or government issue per se but the sum of all parts. It is a societal issue that brands and organisations have a role to play in changing. Their key focus is “Making the menopause experience better for all” by encouraging brands to look to better signposting, marketing, merchandise & product development, campaigns, and menopause policies and support to an audience who we believe deserve better right now. Helping raise awareness of the 48 symptoms of menopause and normalising the conversation of this taboo subject that impacts all directly or indirectly .. their work colleague, consumer, client, supplier, partner, loved one, or friend alike
Thank you for taking the time to read this article – and whether you are currently going through perimenopause, menopause, or just want to know more, we hope that this helps to provide you with greater information and thus agency over your own body.
Of course, this is not a comprehensive list and we would love to hear from you if you think that we have missed any other great companies!
Join us on October 19 for our FemTech Untapped event “Better menopause - Are we there yet?” to to hear and learn from some of these companies.
Jessica Hobbis is a recent graduate from the University of Oxford. In her position working as a Marketing Volunteer for WoW, she has loved the opportunity to learn more about the expanding world of FemTech, while developing a wide array of skills. She has a passion for healthcare, building relationships and making a positive impact, and is excited to put these to use in her future career.
Anja Streicher is a Chief Marketing Officer at Women of Wearables. Anja is passionate about improving women’s health and wellness and supporting women in business, education, and children’s literature.