Menopause symptoms can make it hard to manage work and everyday life<\/a>. Plus, the secrecy and stigma associated with this stage often prevents people from finding the support they need, even if a menopause program exists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While standard benefits packages don\u2019t offer much help, there is a lot that employers and payers can do to help their menopause populations better understand, anticipate, and manage symptoms \u2014 enabling them to be healthier and more productive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s where Ovia Health\u2019s new offering comes in. Ovia has always been about breaking stigma when it comes to women\u2019s and family health \u2014 from periods and fertility to pregnancy and postpartum. As we close out the year, we\u2019re excited to announce our new menopause support program! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read the Q&A below to hear from Ovia\u2019s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Leslie Saltzman, as she explains how Ovia\u2019s expansion can help those experiencing menopause symptoms today, and why investing in a holistic women\u2019s health solution is a must in 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tell us about you and your role at Ovia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I am the Chief Medical Officer at Ovia Health<\/a>. I also oversee Ovia\u2019s clinical team, including their studies and research initiatives, to inform our business and program developments and to ensure Ovia\u2019s solutions are evidence-based. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to my role here at Ovia, I am also a practicing physician. I\u2019m an internist and I focus on women\u2019s health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why is it so important to support advanced women\u2019s health areas like perimenopause and menopause? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, perimenopause and menopause impact 50% of the population. Most women experience symptoms related to the menopause transition and these symptoms often last for years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The average life expectancy for women is 81 years, meaning that on average 40% of a woman\u2019s life is spent in post-menopause. From a risk perspective, we know that the menopausal transition is when cardiovascular disease risk for women increases, so it\u2019s really important to monitor women\u2019s health during midlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What does Ovia\u2019s new solution look like? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our new menopause tool is exciting because it\u2019s an entirely new experience for the Ovia audience. It\u2019s a new \u201cmode\u201d in our namesake app, the Ovia app. This means it\u2019s a completely personalized experience based on an individual\u2019s needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Members can download the Ovia app and select \u201cMangaging menopause\u201d as their goal at sign up. At this point, Ovia customizes their experience to explain their symptoms, deliver relevant resources, and connect them with a member of our Care Team. All the members of the Ovia Care Team are board-certified clinicians who can help members manage their symptoms and find care and treatments based on their needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s this beautiful mix of personalized technology and human care. The hope is that people can find the education and relief they need from a tool that is specifically designed for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a lot of digital health solutions available today \u2014 how is Ovia\u2019s menopause program different and why is that important?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, there are a few things. First, our longevity and market share in terms of audience makes us stand out. We\u2019ve supported 18 million journeys and this year we celebrated Ovia’s 10th birthday. We’ve built our solution based on our experience over the last decade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, as I mentioned before, the new menopause tool is an entirely new experience for the Ovia member, and a completely personalized, and interactive one at that. Most solutions in the market are just an expanded physician network with static content, meaning it looks nice but it isn\u2019t personalized to an individual\u2019s risk factors, experiences, and symptoms. In short, our competitors\u2019 solutions don\u2019t grow with members as their experiences change \u2014 Ovia does. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the things that I love about Ovia (and what is so different about our menopause experience) is the way that members are able to track their symptoms. We anticipate that this tracking feature will allow members to get the treatment they need and easily evaluate if it\u2019s working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This tool is so powerful because it\u2019s personalized, which enables us to be proactive vs reactive. If symptoms start to indicate early warning signs of issues, our Care Team is there to help members see the risk and take action. Any tool that can impact ROI needs to be personalized, proactive, and backed up with a human touch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You mentioned personalized and proactive as two important factors to look for in any digital health tool. Why is that vital to success? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s so much stigma around menopause and many people do not feel comfortable talking about it. There\u2019s also a lot of misinformation, so it\u2019s really important that we take a proactive approach to help destigmatize and normalize this stage of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of our solution, as I mentioned previously, members can interact with the tool and actually track their symptoms. They can start to see trends and understand triggers or treatment options. As they are proactively tracking their health, Ovia Health Coaches will reach out about concerning symptoms to offer support and connect members to resources. When tools are generalized \u2014 and not personalized based on an individual\u2019s experience or risk factors \u2014 they\u2019re generally less effective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Ovia\u2019s tech serves up info in a personalized feed \u2014 so members can easily ingest what they have time for at the moment. And Ovia grows with the member, so every time they open their app they\u2019ll find new information. Ovia\u2019s solution is learning and helping guide members on an educational journey vs acting as a static list of documents and resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When can we expect to see the new menopause program?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve had some menopause content for a while, but this new expansion really provides more breadth and depth. It includes deep educational content, comprehensive clinical modules, more specific health tracking, and an entirely new experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s live now! So when members download or log into the Ovia app, they can select \u201cManaging menopause\u201d as their goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What outcomes are you hoping to see among those using the tool? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For those that are highly symptomatic \u2014 we hope that they are able to recognize their symptoms and seek out treatment, rather than suffering in silence or getting evaluated\/treated by the wrong specialists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We also hope that by supporting women through menopause transition \u2014 we can positively impact their careers \u2014 decreasing absenteeism and presenteeism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why is preventative health or longitudinal, whole-person health, so important? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The menopause transition is where risks really accelerate for women. Cardiovascular disease starts about 7-10 years later in women, with menopause we see changes in lipids, body fat, blood sugar and blood pressure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s really important that these risk factors are identified, monitored, and treated appropriately. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in American women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, women need regular screening for cervical cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a provider, what\u2019s one piece of advice you\u2019d give people experiencing menopause today?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t be ashamed. What you\u2019re going through is natural. If you\u2019re experiencing symptoms that are uncomfortable, don\u2019t be afraid to take action. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms, you don\u2019t have to suffer. Get a second opinion if needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also take a look at your employer-sponsored benefits, and check to see if you’re offered help through a menopause program. If so, ensure you\u2019re taking advantage of every opportunity to get treatment and manage your symptoms. You\u2019re in charge of your health and there are things you can do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, what advice would you give employers and payers considering adding a menopause program or more support for women\u2019s health?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, if you haven\u2019t already, start talking about menopause when you talk about health and wellness, and include men in the discussions. Being open and talking about it will help reduce the stigma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, you can show your workforce or members that you care by investing in holistic women\u2019s health tools, like Ovia, that help them manage symptoms and improve outcomes \u2014 not just for menopause, but for any range of women\u2019s health issues and conditions. This way they\u2019re covered at every stage of life and across all areas of women\u2019s health, from conditions like PCOS and endometrosis all the way to advanced women\u2019s health conditions, like menopause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, if you\u2019re offering these types of benefits, your populations won\u2019t just be happier, they\u2019ll be healthier and more productive. This can help you contain medical costs, improve overall experience and satisfaction, and drive productivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In past years, payers and employers have started to invest more deeply in women\u2019s health benefits and solutions. The fem-tech industry, as it\u2019s been coined, has already garnered more than $2.5 billion in funding<\/a> and that number is only expected to grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, despite this growth, too many organizations are delaying women\u2019s health investments. Time and time again, investments have been made in favor of more generalized wellness or conditionary-specific areas (like mental health or musculoskeletal benefits) over a women\u2019s health solution. Some have even called women\u2019s health \u201cniche.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, it may be unwise to push investments much longer. Women make up approximately half the workforce, and many are suffering from women\u2019s health conditions, like severe menopause symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent study, three out of five said they\u2019d had to deal with difficult symptoms while on the job \u2014 and one in three actively worked to hide symptoms from their colleagues and managers. Almost half said they were afraid they\u2019d be stigmatized if people knew they were going through menopause. What\u2019s more, another study concluded that nearly 20 percent of people with menopause in the U.S. have quit or considered leaving a job due to their symptoms. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The burden isn\u2019t just on women suffering from menopause symptoms, it\u2019s also a pain that can be felt by employers and payers. Those suffering from untreated symptoms typically see <\/p>\n\n\n\nInterview with Dr. Leslie Saltzman, Ovia Health CMO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why employers and payers can\u2019t afford to wait on women\u2019s health <\/h2>\n\n\n\n