Menopause
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to offer digital programme for menopause
The programme includes a digital app to help women identify menopausal symptoms and explore treatment options
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network have announced a digital programme to support women going through menopause.
Included as part of the family building and women’s health support solution with Maven Clinic that Blue Cross launched last year, the new component includes a digital care app to help members identify menopausal symptoms and explore treatment options, consult with experts and connect with peers for communal support.
In addition to their primary care provider, the programme serves as a safe space for women to receive counsel, support and care during a time that can oftentimes feel isolating and disheartening.
The initiative also offers virtual clinical guidance from providers who specialise in menopause, such as OB-GYNs and pelvic floor therapists, as well as personalised mental health care and guided education.
“We’re pleased to extend our family building and women’s health support solution to include not only maternity and family-building support, but guidance for women throughout the aging process,” said Kathryn Levine, president and CEO of Blue Care Network.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to women’s health, we look forward to shining a light on the far-reaching symptoms and challenges of menopause, one of many age-related occurrences that are often left unaddressed.”
Following enrolment, members can indicate symptoms during the onboarding process and are assigned a care team including a dedicated care advocate.
Since 90 per cent of menopausal women in the workforce have symptoms that negatively affect their productivity, career coaches are also available to assist members.
More than one million women in the US experience menopause each year and 6,000 women reach menopause every day.
Bridget Hurd, vice president of inclusion and diversity for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, said: “Blue Cross is committed to addressing women’s health concerns and providing convenient solutions for more women whose health care needs, like the impact of menopause, are often overlooked and not discussed.
“These solutions will inform, educate and increase access to resources.”
The menopause programme will be available from July 1.
Women with ADHD are nearly twice as likely to experience perimenopause symptoms compared with women without ADHD, new research has revealed.
The study reported 54 per cent of women with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder had perimenopausal symptoms, compared with 30 per cent without the condition.
Among perimenopausal women with ADHD, 59 per cent reported psychological symptoms such as anxiety, low mood, irritability and fatigue.
Physical symptoms, including hot flushes, headaches or palpitations (a rapid or irregular heartbeat), occurred in 30 per cent with ADHD versus 14 per cent without.
Published in 2025, the research also found symptoms tended to start earlier for women with ADHD, peaking around ages 35 to 39, while those without ADHD reported their most severe symptoms around age 45.
The study suggests two explanations for the increased burden among women with ADHD.
Firstly, anxiety and lower socio-economic status are known risk factors for perimenopausal symptoms; both are more common among women with ADHD and chronic stress may amplify risk.
Secondly, oestrogen helps modulate ADHD symptoms.
Women with ADHD are at higher risk of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and other cycle-related issues because ADHD symptoms can intensify when oestrogen levels fall.
During perimenopause, oestrogen naturally declines, so women with ADHD may experience both typical perimenopausal symptoms and a worsening of ADHD symptoms at the same time.
The research also found a higher prevalence of lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among women with ADHD.
When this factor was accounted for, women with ADHD who did not have PTSD still faced increased risks, though both risk and symptom intensity were reduced.
These findings suggest that interventions which reduce chronic stress and inflammatory responses could help women with ADHD navigate perimenopause more effectively.
Midi Health has closed a US$100m Series D, lifting the menopause care provider to a valuation above US$1bn and achieving unicorn status.
The company, originally focused on virtual menopause care, says it will expand to what it calls lifelong care, adding cardiology, obesity management, autoimmune survivorship and longevity services.
Joanna Strober is co-founder and chief executive officer of Midi Health.
She said: “This is validation for the movement we’re leading.
“Women’s health has been treated like an afterthought for too long.”
Midi reports it now sees more than 25,000 patients per week and has insurance coverage reaching 45 million women nationwide.
To support scale, the firm is rolling out a proprietary artificial intelligence engine intended to slot into clinical workflows.
It analyses patient charts before virtual visits to help personalise care, automates triage and documentation, and reviews data on midlife women to refine protocols.
The company has also strengthened its leadership. Jason Wheeler, formerly in senior finance roles at Tesla and Google, has been appointed chief financial officer. He joins chief marketing officer Melissa Waters, previously at Meta and Lyft, and chief commercial officer Matt Cook.
Each year, about two million women in the US enter menopause.
Untreated symptoms are estimated to cost the economy US$25bn annually.
IBSA UK has introduced Hyaluxelle, a non-hormonal menopause treatment for vulvo-vaginal atrophy, easing vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse.
Hyaluxelle is given as deep intradermal injections to the vulvar vestibule, the area at the vaginal opening, in two sessions one month apart, followed by clinical reassessment.
IBSA UK is the UK subsidiary of Swiss pharmaceutical company IBSA.
Vulvo-vaginal atrophy is a key feature of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, a long-term condition caused by low oestrogen that affects genital, urinary and sexual health.
At least half of post-menopausal women are affected, yet many do not seek help, often assuming symptoms are part of ageing.
The condition stems from thinning and drying of vaginal and vulval tissues linked to low oestrogen, leading to symptoms such as dryness, discomfort, altered pH and pain during intercourse.
Hyaluxelle combines high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, a moisture-retaining substance found naturally in the body.
The company says this creates a lower-viscosity injection at what it describes as the highest concentration available in the UK, supporting tissue hydration, firmness and elasticity.
The formulation is said to rehydrate the vulvar vestibule and create conditions for restoring tissue structure through collagen and elastin production.
Clinical studies indicate Hyaluxelle improves several vulvo-vaginal symptoms, including reductions in discomfort and pain during intercourse.
Studies also report gains in sexual function domains and a positive trend in some aspects of health-related quality of life.
Histological analyses suggest increased epithelial thickness, enhanced tissue regeneration and reduced inflammatory infiltration after the procedure. In studies, the treatment was well tolerated with no reported major complications.
Joanna, a 59-year-old woman living with severe symptoms, described the personal impact of delayed diagnosis.
She said: “I lived for years with pain, UTIs, cystitis and a loss of sensation, but every visit to my GP, even a female GP, was treated as a bladder issue.
“Nobody suggested it might be linked to the menopause or joined the dots, and none of the treatments I was given helped. Without the right information or support, I became desperate for answers.
“The symptoms affected everything, what I wore, how I exercised, how I slept, but the hardest part was the impact on intimacy with my husband.
“I withdrew from our relationship because I was scared sex would hurt, and the loss of closeness was devastating, and I no longer felt like myself.
“Women deserve clear explanations and real options when their symptoms are not getting better.”
IBSA says Hyaluxelle offers clinicians an option for women whose symptoms persist despite first-line therapies, or for those who cannot receive or choose not to receive hormonal treatments.
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