Women’s health start-up expands its hormonal services into menopause

A US birth control delivery start-up has announced its expansion into hormonal treatment for menopause.

California-based Pandia Health aims to improve women’s lives by providing a “one-stop solution” for prescription birth control, acne treatment and menopause treatment.

The platform, backed with funding from Precursor Ventures, Stanford’s StartX Fund, Backstage Capital and Allectus Capital, offers online doctors’ visits for prescriptions and medication delivery, as well as access to expert women’s hormonal care.

The company’s expansion into menopause care comes at a time when the US has insufficient certified providers to service the 50 per cent of women over the age of 52 who experience painful or discomforting symptoms.

Every day in the US 6,000 women hit menopause, which is defined as starting 12 months after a woman’s last period.

On average, they reach menopause at 51, but perimenopause can occur much earlier. This lead-up period, when hormones can fluctuate wildly and symptoms may be at their worst and most unpredictable, lasts four to seven years, although in some cases it can extend as long as a decade.

Symptoms, which may include hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety, depression, brain fog, memory loss and genitourinary problems, have a significant impact on women’s quality of life and career growth.

A recent Mayo Clinic study found that 15 per cent of women cut back on hours or missed work entirely due to their symptoms, costing them about US$1.8bn a year in lost wages.

Pandia Health’s new menopause services, led by two of the approximately 1,000 MSCP-certified practitioners in the US, aim to better equip women to navigate midlife. 

With its expansion into menopause, the start-up also announced its new CEO, Alice Eweida, who previously led growth and brand marketing at several Series B digital health companies.

Sophia Yen, co-founder and chief medical officer, said: “We’re excited for Pandia Health’s next phase with Alice as CEO to bring expert, evidence-based women’s hormonal healthcare to the over two million women going through menopause each year and to reduce the average three-month wait time for menopause treatment to a few business days.

“With her extensive background in healthcare marketing and expansions, we appreciate her expertise to take Pandia Health to the next level.”