Brittany Barreto, Ph.D., is a podcaster, an entrepreneur, and a molecular and human geneticist. (In other words, she’s really smart.) Read her column to learn about what’s happening in the world of technology and innovation in women’s health.
October is Menopause Awareness Month.
Is perimenopause gaslighting you? You can spend an entire afternoon wondering why you’re suddenly sweating through your shirt, forget the whole thing by dinner, and then sit across from your clinician three weeks later saying, “I don’t know why, but I’ve just been feeling off.”
That’s part of what makes this transition so frustrating. Hot flashes can appear out of nowhere. Sleep can unravel. Anxiety may spike. Words that normally roll off your tongue can suddenly feel like they’re hiding behind a locked door. But, unlike a blood pressure reading or a broken bone on an X-ray, many menopause symptoms depend on us noticing them, remembering them and describing them later.
What if technology could pay attention when we can’t?
Four emerging products are approaching menopause symptoms from very different directions: one measures them, one tricks your temperature-sensing system, one cools your bed before you wake up, and one is listening for patterns in your voice.
These tools are consumer wellness products, not FDA-cleared treatments for menopause. Research supporting them also varies widely, so think of them as technology that may complement, not replace, evidence-based menopause care or conversations with your clinician.
The information about products and/or services in this column does not constitute any form of endorsement or recommendation by HealthyWomen. Links are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. This column may occasionally cover companies in which Brittany Barreto is an investor.
