Menopause is a strange thing. If you are a human female, you are born with all the eggs you will ever have in your ovaries. By the time you reach your 50s, all your eggs are gone. Your period will stop coming. Changes in hormone levels can cause symptoms ranging from hot flashes to loss of bone density. We don’t know much about it because only humans and some whales experience it. There are also gaps in research specific to women’s health.
A number of recent initiatives by both the public and private sectors are attempting to change this situation. Last year, First Lady Jill Biden launched the White House Initiative on Women’s Health to fill research gaps in diseases such as menopause. Additionally, if you have an Apple Watch, you can opt in to contribute your data to the Apple Women’s Health Study, which aims to improve understanding of the menstrual cycle.
Yesterday, smart ring maker Oura published its first menopause report. This report aggregates longitudinal data from 100,000 anonymized Oura ring wearers to understand how menopause and menopause affect daily life.
coming-of-age ceremony
Photo: Adrian So
The term “perimenopause” refers to the years leading up to menopause, when menstruation stops. The range of physical symptoms is so wide that some refer to this as a “second adolescence.” It usually lasts about four years, but can last up to 14 years in some women. It’s amazing to think that 50% of humanity experiences sleep problems for more than 10 years due to night sweats, memory problems, and weight gain (or loss, which affects everyone differently).
As Oura reports in its data, only 28% of women know what happens during perimenopause. This is a huge information gap considering that all middle school students take health classes in preparation for menstruation. The first step is recognizing that it’s happening. To that end, Oura recently added 17 new tags, including hot flashes, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and spotting, so users can start noticing trends across their timelines.
One of the most important findings in Oura’s report is that sleep is significantly affected around menopause. Hot flashes increase dramatically during perimenopause and early postmenopause. Hot flashes can last from 30 seconds to 10 minutes, and 69% of hot flashes are associated with waking up during the night. As anyone who has cared for a baby can attest, waking up too many times during the night can affect your ability to live the next day.
Acne, bloating, and migraines are some of the most common symptoms reported by women in Oura’s perimenopausal age group. Most concerning to me is that perimenopausal women report a 20-30% decrease in heart rate variability. A high HRV means your nervous system is more responsive and resilient. It allows you to cope with changing situations, cope with many physical activities, and manage stress. Decreased HRV is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events.
Community insights
Even if you know you have perimenopausal symptoms, knowing what to do about them can be a little difficult. Menopausal hormone therapy is a common, although somewhat controversial, option. But large-scale solutions like health-based employers are outside of our control. Still, if you notice a decline in your sleep quality and HRV as you enter perimenopause, it may be helpful to reduce your alcohol and caffeine intake or increase your regular aerobic exercise.
As both public and private organizations learn to harness the power of smart rings and other fitness wearables, they can begin to shed light on this uniquely human condition. It’s not just your imagination. You don’t have to find a solution yourself.
