Menopause Matters: Dismantling Sexist Biases with Tech

RTE published an article this morning about how "The Lancet" reports menopause is being "over-medicalized" . While some people sail through menopause with minimal disruption, for others, it's a period of debilitating symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances that significantly impact their quality of life.

This article takes a different perspective, acknowledging the value of both medical and non-medical approaches while highlighting a crucial yet often overlooked issue: sexism in healthcare research and practice. We can further empower women, transgender people, and non-binary people who have undergone hormone therapy, by integrating innovative health technologies, (eg Femtech solutions) into menopause management.

Beyond the Binary: Sexism Embedded in Healthcare Research & The Promise of Technology

The Lancet series in question, while well-intentioned, may inadvertently perpetuate a pattern of sexism in healthcare research. Some studies on menopause can lack nuance, missing the significant variations in women's experiences due to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background. This bias unfortunately extends beyond research design and into the doctor's office. Women are demonstrably less likely to seek medical care and more likely to under-report symptoms compared to men. This can be attributed, in part, to a historical pattern of dismissing women's health concerns.

Consider endometriosis, a gynaecological condition characterised by tissue growth outside the uterus. For decades, women with endometriosis faced skepticism and gaslighting from medical professionals, often being told their pain was "imagined" or "exaggerated" . The research suggests that the average delay in diagnosis for endometriosis is up to 11 years, a consequence of this historical undervaluing of women's pain.

Now let's consider the role of medical intervention in managing non-gender-specific chronic diseases like high blood pressure. Medication, combined with lifestyle changes like stress management and dietary modifications, can significantly improve patient outcomes. Similarly, for women with severe menopausal symptoms, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be a life-changing option. In both instances lifestyle changes are reported to positively impact outcomes, but why is addressing the symptoms of high blood pressure with medication considered acceptable, but addressing the symptoms of menopause with medication is "over-medicalising"?

The medicalisation of obesity is another relevant comparison. Here too, a multi-faceted approach is crucial. Medical intervention, such as bariatric surgery in some cases, can be a powerful tool, with its effectiveness significantly enhanced when combined with lifestyle changes like exercise and a healthy diet.

The key takeaway is that in chronic conditions like high blood pressure, obesity, and in menopause management, a spectrum of care exists. Medical intervention shouldn't be demonised, and to be fair; rather, it should be seen as a potential tool in a comprehensive treatment plan, alongside crucial lifestyle modifications. Generalising menopause as a singular experience risks overlooking the needs of a diverse population. Here, technology offers exciting possibilities in personalised menopause care.

Femtech: Filling the Data Gap and Personalising Care

The Femtech industry is rapidly growing, addressing long-standing gender biases in healthcare. Femtech companies are developing apps and wearables specifically designed to track and analyse a woman's unique menopausal symptoms. This data empowers women with a deeper understanding of their hormonal fluctuations, enabling them to advocate for themselves and make informed decisions about treatment options, including HRT, when appropriate.

The Power of AI in Personalised Menopause Care

Femtech apps are rapidly evolving, and artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to transform personalised menopause care. Consider the potential of these apps to integrate seamlessly with wearable devices that track sleep patterns. Additionally, in-app symptom journals could capture data on hot flash frequency and mood swings. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, these apps could analyse a woman's comprehensive health data set, identifying patterns and correlations between symptoms and hormonal fluctuations. This data would be translated into actionable insights delivered through personalised reports. Armed with these reports, women can engage in more data-driven consultations with their healthcare providers. These insights empower healthcare providers to tailor treatment plans with greater precision, optimising patient outcomes and improving women's quality of life during menopause.

Optimising Menopause Management for Women: A Spectrum of Care with Tech Integration

Healthcare leaders can take concrete steps to create a menopause management spectrum, empowered by technology:

1. Standardise Comprehensive Menopause Education: Integrate educational modules on menopause management, including the benefits and risks of HRT and the effectiveness of non-medical interventions, into existing healthcare provider training platforms.
2. Promote Shared Decision-Making with Technology: Utilise digital tools to provide women with clear, evidence-based information about all treatment options. eg, interactive platforms that explain the effectiveness of lifestyle modifications, complementary therapies, and HRT in a personalised way.
3. Invest in Personalised Care with Digital Tools: Develop apps and wearables that capture a woman's unique health data and integrate with electronic health records (EHRs) to facilitate communication with healthcare providers. This data can then be used to create personalised treatment plans.
4. Expand Access to Specialists with Telehealth: Leverage telehealth platforms to connect women with menopause specialists, regardless of location.
5. De-stigmatise HRT as One Tool in the Arsenal: Utilise social media campaigns and educational apps to combat the negative perception of HRT by promoting its effectiveness in alleviating debilitating symptoms and potentially reducing long-term health risks. However, it's crucial to present HRT as one option on a spectrum of solutions, not a one-size-fits-all answer.

Conclusion: A Spectrum of Care Empowers Personalised Menopause Management

The "over-medicalisation" debate surrounding menopause overlooks the diverse experiences of individuals. It's time to empower healthcare professionals and leaders with the tools to create a comprehensive spectrum of care for those experiencing menopause.

By working together, healthcare professionals, leaders, and health tech innovators can transform menopause management. Let's create a future where technology empowers personalised care and dismantles the one-size-fits-all approach.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer, any company/institution mentioned in the article, nor LinkedIn. I am not affiliated with any company nor institution named in this article.