Women will soon have the power to tackle devastating menopause symptoms at the touch of a button through a ground-breaking Irish app.
The Menopause Hub App, the first of its kind in this country, includes the latest information and research about the hormonal changes endured by women in their 40s and 50s.
They can also use the mobile app to monitor their own menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms and receive medication reminders.
Launched by award-winning specialists, The Menopause Hub, the app is the brainchild of the clinic’s CEO and founder, Loretta Dignam.
She opened her first clinic in 2019 after finding out for herself the lack of help available to menopausal and perimenopausal women – and said the data gathered by the app can be used by researchers investigating future treatments.
“The aim is that the data collected will provide a valuable insight into the effectiveness of current therapies, such as HRT and/or cognitive behavioural therapies, and this knowledge can also be used by clinicians when prescribing treatments.
“Combining the latest technology with up-to-date data about female health will not only improve outcomes for women today, but will also improve the range and impact of menopause treatments available to future generations,” said Ms Dignam.
“There is a myriad of menopausal symptoms which women in their 40s and 50s experience in varying degrees, including insomnia, hot flushes, anxiety, depression, and brain fog, to name but a few.
“Every women’s menopause will be vastly different.
“Some will sail through it, while others will struggle to such an extent that they feel they have to give up their careers or their long-term relationships break down.
“It is, therefore, vital that we gather as much clinical data as we can to help medical researchers develop future treatments.
“For far too long, the impact menopause was having on women’s lives was ignored.
“But women are now demanding – and deserve – more help with symptoms.”
The app was developed by medical technology company Zendra Health, which is helping over 80 healthcare services and organisations across the US, UK and Ireland digitalise their care pathways.
CEO, Thomas Coleman, said that the app was co-designed by women going through menopause and clinical experts.
“Hundreds of thousands of lives across Ireland, male and female, are impacted by menopause,” said Mr Coleman, who co-founded the Dún Laoghaire-based tech firm with his twin brother, David.
“So we were delighted to develop this streamlined digital care solution for The Menopause Hub.
“Loretta is one of the thought leaders in this area and we were guided not only by her expertise but by the expertise of her medical team and by the experiences of their clients.”
The Menopause Hub App will be available to download in the second quarter of this year.