Why You Should Consider a Menopause App

You’ve likely heard the expression, “There’s an app for that.” Whether it’s finding restaurants and the best travel deals or apps for childcare advice, there’s an app out there somewhere that covers almost every aspect of your life. There are now apps to help individuals manage menopause. Menopause apps can provide valuable information, tips, and tools to help you through your own personal menopause journey. The following information provides several specific reasons why you should consider a menopause app.

What is a Menopause App?

A menopause app is a mobile application that you can download to help you manage perimenopause and menopause symptoms and provide an abundance of useful information. These types of programs and software applications are easy to find and normally run on mobile devices. Most apps are self-explanatory and easy for people to use.

Menopause is the time 12 months following a woman’s last period. While symptoms may vary considerably among women, it is a condition that affects millions of individuals. According to Fast Company, approximately 27 million women will experience menopause every year. This is affecting 20 percent of the U.S. workforce. Many individuals struggling with menopausal symptoms may feel isolated and alone. Menopause is still something that isn’t always easy to talk about. These are just a few of the reasons you should consider trying a menopause app.

What are the Benefits of a Menopause App?

There are several advantages of using menopause apps. While each app is a little different regarding what it will provide for the user, most will have some combination of the following features:

• Monitor and Manage Symptoms— A menopause app will often feature a journal where users can track from how often a period may occur to hot flashes and other types of menopausal symptoms. They can keep track of what they eat and how much they exercise. This will make it easier to see any correlations between personal activity and symptoms.
• Access Expert Information— Most menopause apps provide an abundance of useful information. You’ll receive access to articles and insights from leading experts in the healthcare field, and in particular, those who specialize in the area of menopause.
• Connect with other Individuals— Communicating with others who are going through the same things is important not only for having support but for finding solutions to menopausal symptoms and health problems. With apps, you can share your story, read treatment reviews, and take solace in knowing you’re not going through this journey alone.
• Provide Proactive Healthcare— You may not realize that something potentially serious occurs unless you’re tracking and monitoring various symptoms. It’s often easy to dismiss occasional abdominal pain, irregular bleeding, or other symptoms if you’re not seeing them on a chart or graph. This may help your doctor more quickly recognize any abnormalities.

How Many Types of Apps are Available?

There are several apps available on the market. The following are a few that are currently available and prominent information about each.

• Menopause View— This is a free app available from the App Store. A few of the things it provides are symptom tracking, graphing, and a glossary. According to Health Navigator, a few of the positives of this app includes tracking the user’s symptoms, medication use, and blood pressure. It also shows if and when an individual is most fertile. Drawbacks include evidence claims that provide no references, and no Android version is available.
• MySysters System Tracker — The basic app is free, with upgrades costing $15.99 each month. This provides symptom tracking and a variety of useful information. It also has a social forum. MySystersput extra emphasis on lifestyle issues, relationships, and self-care.
• My Luna— My Luna features symptom tracking, and specifically a hot flash tracker and timer. It’s free and available from both the App Store and Google. Luna also provides reports that you can share with your physician. A few drawbacks currently include no weight or temperature tracking, and much of the medical language doesn’t include explanations.
• MenoLife — This app helps you track both perimenopause and menopause symptoms. It specifically enables tracking of menstrual cycles, weight, ovulation, sleep cycle, and mood. The app features trend lines, changes, and progress for 7-, 30-, and 90-day segments. MenoLifewill also provide new research findings regarding your specific symptoms and healthcare needs using a process for personalized reporting.

How Should You Choose the Best App?

There are a few questions you’ll want to ask when selecting a menopause app. Is it important to find an app that provides social forums and networking opportunities? Not every app offers this or offers it in the same way. If connecting with others is important, you’ll definitely want to find an app that provides an adequate social connection. Society of Behavior Medicine provides several tips for choosing a healthcare app. A few of these tips include the following:

• Is it Doctor Recommended? Your gynecologist or family physician is often familiar with the different resources that are available online. You’ll want to talk with your doctor and look for doctor reviews online when choosing a menopause app.
• Are You Willing to Pay for an App?Most of the menopause apps available are free. However, some offer upgrades with more features if you’re willing to pay a monthly fee. If you’re not willing to pay for an app, you may need to do more extensive research to make sure the free app you choose has all the features you’re looking for.
• Are You Willing to Do Some Testing?The best way to know which app is for you is to jump in and test them out. If you’re willing to put in the time to try more than one at a time, you’ll get a better idea of what you like and what you don’t. Just delete whichever apps aren’t working for you.

If you’re struggling with menopause or are unsure what’s happening with your body as changes occur, you’ll want to consider using a menopause app. There are several great apps currently available. Science is making significant progress in the areas of perimenopause and menopause. A good menopause app is one more tool you can use to help improve your health and well-being.