Ah, perimenopause—or, as we like to call it, Puberty 2.0. The slew of symptoms during this hormonal fluctuation are so all-encompassing that it’s hard to know whether you’re in perimenopause or whether you might be experiencing other, more dangerous health issues. And, of course, there’s the little voice that wonders if it’s all just in your head…
Enter: Peri by IdentifyHer, a wearable sensor designed to offer insights on symptoms linked to perimenopause, launching this fall. Specific details are still TBA, but the company claims Peri can accurately track not only the more noticeable symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, but also the more subtle changes in the body (trouble sleeping, increased anxiety) that often get brushed off as regular life stress. The device, reminiscent of a continuous glucose monitor (but without the painful skin prick), adheres to the skin on your ribcage below your breast.
Generally, it’s good to approach wearable tech with a healthy degree of skepticism. It can be hard to strike that balance between monitoring and over-monitoring yourself (see orthosomnia). But in this particular case, a bit of over-monitoring might be helpful—both for the individual and for the greater good.
Tools like Peri could help combat the widespread lack of information and support for menopausal symptoms. Doctors are often either unwilling or unequipped to take perimenopause symptoms seriously, and as such, many women struggle to get treatment. Research from IdentifyHer’s recent Peri Report claims that 44 percent of women in perimenopause had to wait over a year to receive treatment—and 12 percent waited more than five. And women of color face not only worse healthcare barriers, but also (as if the systemic racism wasn’t bad enough!) tend to go through perimenopause earlier, longer, and with more severe symptoms.
FemTech tools in general have actually been shown to help push back against that inherent bias that women face in healthcare. Additionally, a sensor like this could offer tangible, personalized insights to help you keep track of what’s going on with your body and empower you to be an advocate for your own health.
You can now join the waiting list for Peri by IdentifyHer, coming later this fall.
Sofia Lodato (she/her) is the editorial assistant at Oprah Daily. Aside from reading, writing, and wellness, she is a lover of all things media-related, and can usually be found overanalyzing her latest favorite show, album, or video game.