How will femtech innovations change the menopause in 2025?

Last year, a UCL-led study unearthed that nine in ten postmenopausal women were never educated about it in school, leaving many woefully uninformed until experiencing it first-hand. Another survey found that over 80 per cent of women under 40 either had ‘no knowledge at all’ or just ‘some knowledge’ of the menopause.

Low levels of awareness are compounded by the fact menopause is a complex, multifaceted condition that every individual experiences differently. The array of symptoms – often drawn out over two to eight years during the transition period before menopause, called perimenopause – can leave people uncertain about when they are entering this life phase, what changes to expect, and when to seek diagnosis. This makes it hard for many women to track changes and advocate for their medical care.

And, of course, there’s the historical lack of support at a wider societal level. A recent report spotlighted that budgetary constraints and a limited focus on mid-life women’s health have led to poor UK-wide menopause provision. Meanwhile, a Fawcett Society report uncovered that 44 per cent of women’s ability to work had been affected by menopause-related symptoms and 52 per cent had lost confidence.

The lack of open, public discourse around menopause has clearly resulted in large gaps in awareness and support. But there is cause for hope. Over the course of 2024, a plethora of start-ups have been starting to plug the gap, ushering in a more proactive, empowered approach to the menopause, with personalised solutions tailored to individual needs. Looking to 2025, we can expect digital care to further transform menopause care in several important ways.

Tracking biometric data

Leading the charge in menopause innovation: health management systems that use biometric data to track personal health trends. A wave of companies are starting to bring menopause tracking to wearable tech – including Oura, Clue, Mira Care, Amira and Whoop – and are partnering with research institutions to harness this data. We can expect this to remain a central feature of 2025.

For example, working with research scientists, Oura recently examined aggregated data from over 100,000 female Oura Members on the perimenopause. By identifying how physical, physiological and mental changes impact sleep, mood, energy levels, and cardiovascular health, Oura produced a report which claims to be a step forward in its goal to innovate and evolve its technological solutions. The granularity and breadth of biometric data that new wearable technologies are poised to capture in the next 12 months will allow for even more personalised health insights, real-time monitoring, and solutions born from trend-tracking.

Non-hormonal solutions

Start-ups are also starting to offer more non-hormonal treatments for menopause symptoms. Looking to 2025, wearable technologies are set to expand to treat a larger array of acute menopause symptoms with innovative, non-hormonal solutions.

For example, this year, wellness tech start-up Amira launched ‘The Terra System’: a wearable wrist device that predicts hot flashes before they occur, activating a cooling mattress to help the user stay cool and asleep. Grace, a wearables company, is also developing the world’s first automated tracking and cooling bracelet, yet to be commercially available, designed to fend off hot flushes throughout the day. More non-hormonal solutions for areas like sleep optimisation, anxiety and stress reduction, sexual wellness, and incontinence management are likely to emerge over the next year.

AI breakthroughs

2024 has been a year of AI breakthroughs – which has set the stage for significant changes in menopause care. Take AI-powered virtual assistants. According to a new report, these could serve as an invaluable resource, equipping more women with personalised support and information relating to menopausal symptoms.

One example is Mira Care, which in 2024 launched its AI-powered ‘Menopause Transitions Kit’ for at-home hormone monitoring. It allows users to track four key reproductive hormones, using AI and digital therapeutics to personalise menopause management accordingly. AI-powered solutions like these can not only transform the ease of diagnosis of menopause, but also help people increasingly tailor menopausal treatment to their genetic, hormonal, and lifestyle factors, to maximise effectiveness and minimise side effects.

Increasingly holistic approach

Taking a holistic approach is another emerging school of thought in menopause care. Menopause is just one of the many life stages that women may go through, from puberty and menstruation to pregnancy and postpartum. Women often address symptoms and needs that come with these stages individually, but a holistic approach that considers emotional, mental, and social aspects, and nurtures the whole person, arguably has better long-term impacts.

Start-ups and organisations like The Menopause Charity and Peanut are helping people achieve this by providing tools that support not just symptom treatment, but also emotional well-being, physical health, and community building. Looking to 2025, a holistic approach to menopause care will centre on education and preparation as key tools for empowerment, as well as engaging with those experiencing the menopause during the early stages. Start-ups like NNABI, launched in 2024, have focused their resources on this key stage.

The UK’s National Menopause Education and Support Programme is also partnering with charities, researchers, and clinicians to develop and trial first-of-their-kind courses for those who have and haven’t reached perimenopause.

Privacy and trust in menopause data

Femtech innovations like these hold great promise for transforming the menopause experience. But technology can nonetheless be a double-edged sword. 59 per cent of UK women are concerned about the privacy and security of healthcare tracking apps, with transparency around how companies are using their data emerging as key issues.

These concerns are not unfounded. A UCL study found that only 1 in 20 popular female health apps in the UK and US explicitly addresses data sensitivity in their privacy policies, with 35 per cent contradicting claims of not sharing personal data with third parties, and 45 per cent disclaiming responsibility for third-party practices despite claiming to vet them.

At a time of growing awareness of the risks of personal data being accessed or leaked, businesses need to be more transparent about how data is handled in 2025, and communicate comprehensive privacy policies to drive confidence in emerging technologies.

Privacy policies should be clear, accessible, and presented at the right time during onboarding, with explicit references to how data is processed, stored, and shared. Companies must obtain consent to process data that is not necessary for their operations, such as for targeted advertisements or shared with third parties, allowing users to refuse consent or withdraw it later.

The ICO’s 2025 priorities for health and social organisations also advise organisations to be proactive in developing engaging and regular information updates to users, ensuring transparency in how personal data is used. The standards launched by the British Standards Institution on menstruation and menopause in the workplace similarly acknowledge this.

Ultimately, the journey through menopause is highly personal and complex. However, menopause tech is paving the way for healthcare tools and solutions that help address historic gaps in women’s health in the coming year.

Emerging technologies and start-ups are helping those experiencing the menopause to understand their bodies, proactively track symptoms, find personalised tailor-made solutions, and take a holistic approach to their healthcare.

With the right privacy and security considerations in place, these femtech innovations have the potential to fundamentally improve the lives of millions of women worldwide.

Read the full article at Femtech World.