Menopause platform Elektra Health expands advisory group

The US women’s health platform Elektra Health has announced the expansion of its advisory group to tackle inequality in menopause care.

The digital platform offers virtual care, education, and peer support to women over the age of 40 as well as those struggling with early onset of menopause.

The menopause transition negatively impacts quality of life for four in five women. Three-quarters of this population fail to receive appropriate care in the traditional health system.

Furthermore, Elektra’s 2022 Menopause in the Workplace survey of 2,000 female professionals found that one in five women has left or considered leaving a job because of her menopause symptoms.

Women of colour are especially neglected. Research has found symptoms are often more severe and yet, treatments are less likely to be offered.

Elektra will expand its advisory group with the joining of a number of physician leaders, academics, researchers, and activists to “advance gender and health equity”.

Omisade Burney-Scott, one of the new members, is a social justice advocate focused on reproductive, gender, and healing justice.

She is the founder of the multidisciplinary culture and narrative shift project, Black Girl’s Guide to Surviving Menopause (BGG2SM), which engages in culture and narrative shift work through centering the menopause stories and realities of black women, women-identified, and gender-expansive people.

Dr Tina Opie is an associate professor of management at Babson College and she provides organisations with strategic direction on how to create more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplaces.

“Our advisory group has been instrumental in our success to date,” said Alessandra Henderson, co-founder and CEO of Elektra Health.

“The group brings together expertise in medical research, clinical care, digital health, and consumer technology and we are thrilled to leverage the insights of our new advisors in these key areas.”

Jannine Versi, Elektra’s co-founder and COO, said: “Elektra’s new advisors also reflect the company’s commitment to advancing health equity in menopause care and for women in the workplace.

“We are honoured to work with this dynamic group of experts who share our vision for advancing women’s health beyond the reproductive years.”

Last year, Elektra became the first menopause solution offered by health plans. In November, the platform announced that its menopausal education and support services would be provided to EmblemHealth employees as part of a new partnership.