Need some help kicking those pesky menopause symptoms to the curb? Well, check out our round-up of some cool gadgets that will help you not want curl up into ball. In our world of tech, it should come to no surprise that there is a gadget for everything–including menopause. So, let your curiosity get the best of you and check out the latest tech advancements in women’s health.
Tackle Hot Flushes with Cool Tech
Have you tried the Embr Wave Bracelet? It allows you to take control of your comfort and cool down at the touch of a button. With this type of technology, you’ll always be in control.
Early or premature menopause occurs when the ovaries are no longer making certain hormones. Therefore, menstrual periods stop at a younger age than expected.
There is also another bracelet that promises to be better, but it’s not quite available yet, but the Grace wristband is already making waves in menopause circles. The device tracks your body temperature to detect and fend off hot flushes and night sweats, using localized cooling on your wrist. Grace learns how your body temperature changes using different sensors, so it can respond and cool you down before you’re even aware – let alone uncomfortable. It’s being made in the UK, but should be available in the U.S. shortly after its UK release.
Clothing That Keeps You Cool
Instead of taking clothes off, try putting some on! Check out Soma’s cool to the touch, wildly comfy pajamas that vows to keep you nice and cool for the “best sleep ever.” Bonus: they are super cute!
Become menopause clothing uses fabric technology to help fight hot flushes and night sweats. According to their experts, the lightweight materials channel heat away from your skin and wick sweat away to keep you cool. The clothes – including vests, tops, knickers and leggings – also absorb and store heat during a hot flush, then release it during the following chills to help maintain a stable body temperature. Everything is tested by scientists, as well as on real women at different stages of the menopause.
No More Fighting Over the Thermostat
If you can’t face another fight over the temperature at home, or your desk fan is no longer cutting it, you need some personal air-conditioning. The Menopod, which looks a bit like a computer mouse, could relieve a hot flush in seconds – by placing it on the back of the neck, it’s said to cool you down exactly where the nervous system senses and regulates your body temperature. Designed by husband and wife team Patricia and Steve Copeland, it won an international Red Dot Design Award for Best of the Best Medical Devices in 2014, while a 2015 clinical trial showed that more than 70% of women experienced cooling relief after using Menopod.
An Empowered App
Feeling informed and in control is a powerful tool when it comes to managing your menopause. The Meno Pro is a free mobile app from The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) to help you and your clinician work together to personalize treatment decisions on the basis of your personal preferences (hormone vs nonhormone options), taking into account your medical history and risk factor status. The app has two modes, one for clinicians and one for women, to facilitate shared decision making. MenoPro is available for iOS (iPhone, iPad).
The MenoPro app has several unique features, including the ability to calculate your 10-year risk of heart disease and stroke, which is important in deciding whether a treatment option is safe for you. It also has links to online tools that assess your risk of breast cancer and osteoporosis and fracture.
Better Bedding = Deeper Sleep
It may seem counterintuitive to sleep under wool when you’re battling night sweats, but it’s much more effective at regulating your body temperature than normal bedding. Researchers from Leeds University in the UK found that wool duvets were more efficient than feather, down or polyester at keeping people at the right temperature while they slept.2 Wool helps maintain a micro-climate around each person, so there are no more blanket wars with your other half! Wool is also said to absorb 33% of moisture, as opposed to 10% for cotton or 5% for down, and allows 67% more moisture to escape during sleep, so you don’t wake up shivering hours later in damp bedding.