Phenology’s menopause study reveals new insights that could transform care

Summary

• Phenology, a pioneering women's health brand under healthtech leader Hologram Sciences, has conducted a comprehensive survey of more than 32,000 women to delve deeper into their menopause experiences across different stages.
• The study findings paint a vivid picture of the diverse experiences women have of this complex transition and reveal new insights that can transform care.
• These findings challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for personalized solutions in menopause care.

Comprehensive study yields groundbreaking results

Phenology, a pioneering women's health brand under healthtech leader and dsm-firmenich-backed venture, Hologram Sciences, has conducted a comprehensive survey of more than 32,000 women to delve deeper into their menopause experiences across different stages. As featured in Forbes, the study findings paint a vivid picture of the diverse experiences women have of this complex transition and reveal new insights that can transform care.

Most astonishing was the discovery of more than 15,000 unique menopause symptom signatures in the data set. In other words, among the 32,000 women surveyed, very few were likely to be experiencing the exact same set of symptoms out of a total of 16 symptoms measured.

A unique symptom signature for every individual

"It's comparable to a gene sequence for menopause – each woman has a unique symptom signature," says Nate Matusheski, PhD, Chief Science Officer of Hologram Sciences and the study author. "This underscores the absolute need for personalized solutions tailored to individual experiences."

Further, the study revealed that timing of menopause can vary just as much as symptoms, with marked differences in the age at which women enter each stage. Age 50 was in the 25th-75th percentile range for four different stages: early perimenopause, late perimenopause, early postmenopause and late postmenopause. That means that at 50, some women are starting their journey in early perimenopause while others are already in late postmenopause. This finding illustrates that there is no standard timeline for the menopausal transition, which can last between 7 and 14 years.

On average, women reported experiencing 9 different symptoms at the same time. This count increased from 8 in the late reproductive stage to 11 during late postmenopause. Surprisingly, the early perimenopause stage was dominated by emotional symptoms, with 72% of women reporting mood swings, 70% feeling anxiety, 67% experiencing irritability, and 60% indicating a depressed mood. By contrast, only 49% reported hot flashes in this stage. It's essential to understand that these emotional changes might be caused by hormonal shifts so that women can seek proper care.

While menopause is technically defined as the point in time 12 months after a woman's last menstrual period, the Phenology study found that women in late postmenopause had the highest incidence of hot flashes (73%), night sweats (68%), brain fog (77%), and insomnia (70%). Sexual issues also intensified in this phase, with 62% of women reporting low libido and 52% noting vaginal dryness, which can lead to painful intercourse. Given the severity of symptoms in this stage, the term "post" doesn't adequately describe women’s actual experience.

Rethinking menopause care with personalized nutrition solutions

These new findings call for a comprehensive rethinking of menopause care, with an emphasis on the kind of real-time personalization that today’s technology enables.

“It’s clear that a one-size-fits all approach can’t adequately address the dynamic journey of menopause,” said Sarah Montante Garcia, Hologram’s Chief Marketing Officer. “That’s why it’s so important to arm women with insights about their individual hormones and symptoms, and to provide personalized care, exactly what Phenology was designed to do.”

Phenology encourages every woman to educate herself about the menopausal transition and to actively communicate with healthcare providers for optimal relief. Releasing this study underscores the brand's dedication to enhancing the scientific understanding of menopause, paving the way for meaningful innovation.