Major survey by femtech pioneer Clue reveals huge knowledge gap about perimenopause
70% of respondents are not sure what perimenopause is; it is not openly discussed among 70% of families
Clue, the female-founded and led menstrual and reproductive health platform, reveals shocking results from its major survey of the public’s knowledge of perimenopause - the transitional phase leading up to menopause.
The large-scale survey polled 26,500 Clue users - revealing a huge knowledge gap about perimenopause, due to a lack of education. Those who do learn about it, mostly do so through social media or internet research.
Survey highlights
90% do not feel well-informed about perimenopause; 70% are not even sure what it is;
84% of respondents in the age group 35-45 had not yet received any information from their healthcare provider about perimenopause;
Only 6% of respondents have received information from a healthcare provider, while 32% heard about it via social media, and 15% through internet search.
Perimenopause is not openly discussed among 70% of families
The survey also identified differences between countries, with UK users more likely to say they know what perimenopause is as compared to those in the USA or Germany. However, Clue’s UK users were often the least likely to have received information about perimenopause from a healthcare provider (depending on age group).
Audrey Tsang, Co-CEO of Clue, said: “Perimenopause is an incredibly personal and challenging experience which all women and people with cycles will inevitably experience in their lives.
“As with so much of the female menstrual and reproductive health experience, our survey shows there is a lack of understanding and a culture of silence when it comes to Perimenopause. A lack of education and support means too many women and people with cycles don’t even know what’s happening in their own bodies. The feedback from our survey as well as months of user interviews and research has consistently reiterated how people – and even healthcare providers – feel ‘clueless’ when it comes to navigating the physical and mental changes that come with perimenopause.
“Just as Clue’s evidence-based, data-driven period tracking has helped millions of people around the world better understand their bodies and cycles, we hope our new Perimenopause mode will help provide much-needed insight into individual patterns and cycle changes, to help inform better care and support in this life stage.
“Clue Perimenopause is built to support anyone going through this transitional time. We are also thrilled to be partnering with the “What the Menopause” community, to make September ‘Perimenopause Awareness Month’ to help raise awareness and understanding.”
Jessica Barac, Founder of "What The Menopause”, said: “While October is officially Menopause Awareness Month, we are delighted to partner with Clue in September to drive much-needed awareness and education around perimenopause. In our community of over 500,000 women, we hear time and again of women going for months and even years not realising the symptoms they’re experiencing are actually related to perimenopause – let alone that there’s anything they can do about it to improve their quality of life. By drawing more attention to the experience of perimenopause, when symptoms can be most disruptive and can start anywhere from mid-30s to 50s, we hope more people will be able to get the support and care they need.”
Clue Perimenopause mode puts science-based symptom tracking, analysis, and information at users’ fingertips. By having a self-tracked cycle history that highlights significant changes, and a health record to help navigate those changes, Clue helps empower users to take charge of their health and navigate perimenopause.
Audrey Tsang added: “Clue Perimenopause is an important extension of our Clue Plus portfolio, addressing all life stages for women and people with cycles. As the gender health gap persists, we know that self-tracked data is a powerful tool in turning otherwise invisible, hard-to-articulate experiences into quantifiable observations that you can use to take control of what can otherwise feel like a very confusing and overwhelming time in your life.
Clue Perimenopause is part of the Clue app – a CE-marked, class 1 medical device, regulated according to the European Medical Device Regulation – meaning users can trust it is built to medical-device-grade standards.
The mode includes a new Cycle View, so users can see cycle comparisons rather than just being told ‘Your period is X days late’ as typical period trackers do. It includes 14 new perimenopause-specific tracking options including hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, HRT, vaginal dryness, and much more.
Dr Michelle Griffin, Strategy Advisor for the Women's Healthcare and Healthtech Sector, and Clue Board Member highlighted: “As a gynaecologist and women's health expert, I am thrilled to witness the arrival of a groundbreaking perimenopause mode within the Clue app, enabling women to seamlessly track their menstrual cycles and perimenopausal symptoms. This innovation empowers women with knowledge, control, and confidence during a pivotal phase of their lives, ensuring they are well-informed and in charge, rather than overwhelmed. This contributes to a shift in women's healthcare as a whole.”
Over a decade of deep community insight and relationships built with over ten million monthly active users based on trust has informed and enabled an evolving, growing product portfolio supporting Clue users to ‘live in sync with their cycle’ through all menstrual and reproductive changes and choices. Aside from Clue Perimenopause, the Clue app includes Clue Period Tracking, plus Clue Period Tracking Plus, Clue Conceive and Clue Pregnancy - which form part of the Clue Plus premium subscription offering.
Clue’s users are part of a global movement. The de-identified data tracked within the Clue app (currently 15 billion data points), contributes to important scientific research helping to close the gender-data gap, improve societal understanding of menstrual and reproductive health.
About Clue
Founded in 2012, Clue is the pioneer of Femtech, serving over 10 million people globally in 190+ countries and 15 languages. Clue regularly partners with universities, researchers, and clinicians contributing to important research to help close the gender-data gap and improve societal understanding of menstrual and reproductive health. Incorporated in the EU, users’ data is protected by the world’s strictest data laws (EU GDPR).
Clue’s App is free to download and includes its signature data-driven Period Tracking feature. With a premium subscription “Clue Plus”, subscribers get more evidence-based features, advanced insights and access to additional modes like Clue Conceive or Clue Pregnancy.
For more, visit helloclue.com.