ARTICLE BY KAMILI WILSON - OCTOBER 22, 2023

Tapping into AI to Make Menopause Better

This is your guide to understanding menopause, recognizing first symptoms, & managing them well.
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Menopause is a natural and complex phase in a woman’s life, marked by hormonal changes that can lead to various symptoms affecting physical and emotional well-being. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a potentially significant player in diagnosing and treating menopause, offering a range of benefits to healthcare professionals, researchers, and, most importantly, the women experiencing this transition.

A self-described comprehensive guide and support system, Amira leverages AI to revolutionize the menopausal sleep and life experience. Derived from the Arabic word for “treetop” and the Spanish word for “sight,” Amira takes a holistic approach to women’s health during menopause.

By combining natural cycles with cutting-edge technology, Amira’s menopause support offering is two-fold: 1) a personalized touchpoint through an AI coach called “Amy,” which guides women through essential steps to navigate menopause with ease and 2) Amira’s smart cooling wearable device, “Terra,” designed to provide relief from nighttime hot flashes, addressing the most disrupted aspect of women’s menopausal lives.

Amira aims to integrate technological innovations into women’s health, empowering them to take control of their well-being through insightful data. Success for Amira is defined by well-informed women approaching menopause equipped with the knowledge to navigate this phase confidently.
 The founding story of Amira is rooted in personal experiences, particularly that of CEO Loewen Cavill’s Aunt Kate, who faced severe sleep deprivation during menopause. This experience inspired a commitment to making a difference in women’s lives during this significant life transition.

“Despite maintaining a perfect health record, my Aunt Kate endured severe sleep deprivation for four years due to menopausal hot flashes,” says Cavill, “ultimately leading to hospitalization.
 Faced with desperation, she spent upward of $10K on risky, unregulated, and ineffective products, one of which exacerbated her condition,” Cavill continues.

Watching her aunt suffer inspired Cavill to pull together a women-led MIT team of AI researchers and nuclear fusion engineers dedicated to the quest of re-inventing the reality of menopause. The Amira team believes AI is revolutionary for enhancing women’s menopause journeys. By leveraging individual health data, AI provides personalized guidance tailored to unique needs. Offering evidence-based treatments and medical insights, AI ensures continuous monitoring and educational support for empowered menopause navigation.

“The technology bridges information gaps swiftly, prioritizing data privacy and security to instill trust in healthcare technology,” says Cavill.

Even so, there’s a great deal of skepticism among the public and some businesses about the credibility and intent of AI. Because of this, Amira prioritizes transparency and user trust in its engagements with customers.

“We prioritize keeping our users’ data safe. Personal information is encrypted in transit and in the database,” said Sam Stowers, an AI engineer on the Amira team.  “Additionally, we use anonymization measures, restrict who can access data, and ensure that no language-model-based attack can reach data belonging to someone else.”

A disclaimer also emphasizes the importance of consulting certified medical practitioners for recommendations that may require further medical care, reinforcing a responsible approach to user well-being.
 To ensure that customer’s personal information and privacy concerns are adequately addressed, Amira retains information in a secure database, focusing on maintaining user anonymity.

“Information is encrypted throughout the user journey, ensuring the safety of user data,” emphasizes Stowers.

Amira’s privacy policy also underscores that user information is never shared or sold to third parties, addressing concerns and prioritizing user privacy.
 
The integration of AI in menopause care, as Amira exemplifies, represents a transformative approach to women’s health. By combining technological innovation with personalized support, these advancements aim to empower women to navigate menopause with confidence, knowledge, and improved well-being.
 
Amira acknowledges that AI still has limitations regarding ensuring culturally competent insights and eliminating bias and prejudice in its queries. But they also point out that doctors don’t always get it right either.

“Large Language Models (LLMs) are typically rated better than human doctors when it comes to cultural competence and understanding as part of medical practice,” says Cavill. “We lean into this ability as part of Amy’s structure.”