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Dr. Yoshigata Reimi gave a presentation on Femtech for menopause management at the general meeting of the Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine
Dr. Yoshigata Reimi, special advisor to Midtown Clinic (chief of women's medical research) and obstetrician-gynecologist, gave a lecture titled "Femtech for menopause management" at the president-planned symposium of the 2022nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine held on Sunday, June 6, 19.
Five doctors and experts, including Dr. Yoshigata Reimi, gave presentations on their respective areas of expertise at the symposium titled "Femtech and Anti-Aging in the 5-Year Lifespan."
Presentation by Dr. Reimi Yoshigata
●The global Femtech industry and overseas Femtech
According to the 2021 “Femtech Industry Landscape Overview,” menopause management accounts for approximately 4% of the rapidly expanding global femtech industry.※ 1The topics covered include "menopause care," "mental health," "healthy longevity," and "women's wellness." Femtech, which is particularly attracting attention in the "menopause care" field, is focused on menopausal disorders, GSM, and other related issues.※ 2"Telemedicine for menopause" is presented, which covers self-care for lifestyle-related diseases and osteoporosis.
Among overseas Femtechs that are more advanced than those in Japan, "online assessments" that propose personalized responses, "online clinics specializing in HRT (hormone replacement therapy)," and even "online clinics for integrative medicine (which, in addition to HRT, also provide lifestyle guidance on diet, exercise, mindfulness, and other aspects, as well as necessary supplements)" have already been put into practical use. Furthermore, there are also an increasing number of "products and devices" for which evidence for healthcare is being built.
*1 Menopause management: Menopause management
*2 An abbreviation for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, which in Japanese is translated as "menopause-related urogenital syndrome."
Femtech for Menopause Management
One of the important points in menopause management is self-assessment through various tests.
Among them, "Equol※ 3It is important to understand your individual condition, constitution, and characteristics through tests such as "Menopause Diagnostic Tests," "Various Menopause Diagnostic Tests," and "Intestinal Bacteria Tests," and to know what measures are necessary for you. These tests can be considered preemptive medical care*4, and the results of the tests will tell you what actions you need to take.
From Dr. Yoshigata's presentation slides
*3 A substance that is produced when soy isoflavones are ingested. It is known that only one in three Japanese people can produce equol in their bodies.
*4 Preemptive medical care = Taking appropriate measures in advance to prevent diseases that an individual is susceptible to based on their individual characteristics.
Below are some of the tests performed at our group clinics.
Menopause diagnosis pack(Original test by our group clinic)
Based on the results of 10), XNUMX), XNUMX), and XNUMX), we will propose menopause management that is suitable for each individual. (Also available as an optional test for health checkups and medical examinations.) XNUMX. "Equol test" to check how much equol is produced in your body XNUMX. "Simple menopausal diagnosis" (XNUMX questions to check the presence and severity of menopausal symptoms) XNUMX. "Arteriosclerosis test" XNUMX. "Bone density test."
Vaginal Microbiome Testing
By precisely testing the balance of vaginal bacterial flora at a genetic level, the "types of bacteria in the vagina," "the ratio of good bacteria," and "the ratio of bad bacteria that require caution" can be understood. By correctly understanding your own vaginal environment, you can know the need for proper care of your delicate zones, and it can also be useful for preventing the risk of gynecological diseases and trying to get pregnant.
●GSM-compatible Femtech
[Research presentation] Research into the effectiveness of delicate zone care in improving GSM
In this lecture, Dr. Yoshigata's group conducted a study on Lactobacillus-containing materials in 2021.※ 5Some research results were also presented on the effect of a delicate zone care intervention using this product on improving GSM and the vaginal microbiome.
- *Excerpts from research results
- Four weeks after the intimate zone care intervention, 4% of cases who had some subjective symptoms (odor, itchiness, dryness, urinary incontinence, frequent urination, etc.) saw improvement. Even among cases who reported no symptoms before the intervention, 64% saw an improvement in their symptoms.
- Overactive bladder, which is common after menopause, occurs in approximately 3% of all menopausal cases, including those suspected of having it, and in these cases symptoms were significantly improved with intimate zone care intervention.
From Dr. Yoshigata's presentation slides
The results of this study show that intimate care using materials containing Lactobacillus improves reproductive and urinary symptoms in a wide range of age groups, and the product is also effective in evaluating urinary symptoms, making it likely to contribute to the improvement of GSM.
*5: Lactobacillus-containing products used in this study
Estoll® Delicate Soft Wash | Estoll® Delicate Soft Gel Cream | Estoll® Inner Gel with Lactobacillus lactic acid bacteria
Dr. Yoshigata concluded his lecture as follows:
"In my opinion, femtech for menopause management should combine and utilize four elements: (4) 'self-medication' using products based on medical evidence, (XNUMX) 'self-checks' to understand your own condition, physical condition, and constitution and find out what measures are necessary, (XNUMX) 'remote assessment' to obtain accurate information and receive a judgment on the need for medical treatment, and (XNUMX) 'remote medical care' to connect with a specialist wherever you are.
Furthermore, I am convinced that the paradigm shift in the medical system brought about by the entry of FemTech into the fields of menopausal care and preventive medical care for women will contribute to improving the quality of life (QOL) of a wide range of women."
*The content of this page is current as of July 2022, 6.