A new Irish app hopes to help researchers develop future treatments for the effects of menopause by enabling women to track their own symptoms.
The Menopause Hub App, which launches next month, will include 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 app is the brainchild of the clinic’s CEO and founder Loretta Dignam.
She opened her first clinic in 2019 after finding there was a lack of help available to menopausal and perimenopausal women.
Ms Dignam 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,” she said.
There are a range of symptoms which appear at varying degrees, including insomnia, hot flushes, anxiety, depression, and brain fog.
But Ms Dignam said every woman’s experience with 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,” she added.
“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.
Thomas Coleman, who co-founded the Dun Laoghaire-based tech firm with his twin brother David, said that the app was co-designed by women going through menopause along with clinical experts.
“Hundreds of thousands of lives across Ireland, male and female, are impacted by menopause,” said Mr Coleman.
“So we were delighted to develop this streamlined digital care solution for The Menopause Hub.”
The Menopause Hub App will be available to download through themenopausehub.ie next month.
