MENO! App, a Prescription Digital Therapeutic for Menopause, Validated in New Study
The menopausal symptom and lifestyle management app provides guideline-based CBT principles to augment hormone therapy or even to replace it for some women.
Digital health company Sidekick Health has expanded its women’s health portfolio with the launch of MENO! App, a prescription digital therapeutic (PDT) designed to support women experiencing menopause. The CE-marked application provides evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help women manage vasomotor symptoms, sleep disturbances, and mood changes associated with the transition, including the period of perimenopause.
©Sidekick Health
According to developer Sidekick Health, a 12-week randomized-controlled clinical study is currently underway in Germany to further validate the app’s effectiveness, enrolling women aged 40 to 65 years with moderate to severe menopause symptoms. Participants are assigned randomly into a group using the MENO! App or one receiving standard care. After completion, the control group will also gain access to the app for 12 weeks, the company said in a statement.
Menopause symptoms affect 1 in 4 four women severely enough to impair quality of life and work performance.2 Among the options for nonpharmacologic treatment, the evidence for efficacy of CBT is high, Sidekick observes on the MENO! App website,3 but often the choice is not available in clinical practice, placing women for whom hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is medically contraindicated or who prefer not to use it at a disadvantage. Sidekick notes that the MENO! App is designed to bridge this gap by offering a non-hormonal, digital alternative to traditional menopause treatments.3
The app provides a “multimodal” lifestyle intervention that incorporates evidence-based principles of CBT. MENO! App is targeted toward women whose symptoms are scored as 9 or greater on the Menopause Rating Scale.3
“We invest in innovative digital health solutions that address the individual needs of women at various stages of life,” said Prof. Dr. Pia Wülfing, chief clinical officer for Sidekick Health Group and a licensed OB/GYN. “Our focus lies in combining technology with medical expertise to improve healthcare outcomes.”
Program Overview
The MENO! app is comprised of 12 chapters that build on one another. The first half of the program focuses on building skills in dealing with menopausal symptoms and is followed by chapters focusing on general health related to menopause.
Key Features of the MENO! App:
- Symptom Diary: Tracks menopause symptoms to identify triggers and trends.
- Personalized Feedback: Provides individualized recommendations based on symptom tracking and progress.
- Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Tools to manage stress and improve well-being.
- Holistic Support: Guidance on physical activity, nutrition, and long-term health management.
- GDPR-Compliant Data Protection: Ensures strict data privacy and security.
Sidekick’s broader women’s health initiatives include digital health solutions for maternity care that were developed to improve full-term pregnancy rates, reduce NICU admissions, and stabilize maternal blood sugar and blood pressure, according to the company.
