An AI-powered virtual reality program called MenoZen VRTM is being developed for menopause symptom management, addressing gaps in treatment accessibility according to research to be presented at The Menopause Society Annual Meeting.
In Plain English: The Clinical Takeaway
- What it is: MenoZen VRTM is a developmental software program running on Meta Quest 3S headsets that pairs users with an artificial intelligence avatar named Maia to deliver structured behavioral therapy.
- The clinical target: It aims to help patients manage vasomotor symptoms—such as bothersome hot flashes occurring more than 28 times per week—alongside sleep disruptions and mood changes without relying solely on hormone therapy.
- Why accessibility matters: With hormone replacement utilization sitting at just 1.7% in the U.S. as of recent tracking data, nonpharmacologic interventions face widespread distribution hurdles due to a lack of conveniently located clinical providers.
Delivering Behavioral Intervention Through Meta Quest Headsets
Cognitive behavioral therapy is recognized for reducing the severity of hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, and depressive symptoms associated with the menopausal transition. Yet, finding a trained behavioral health specialist near a patient’s home remains difficult for many midlife women. To combat this constraint, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Center for Virtual Medicine and Health System Transformation designed MenoZen VRTM to fit the specific biopsychosocial needs of patients aged 45 to 60. Study participants experiencing high-frequency hot flashes interact with an AI avatar named Maia. The virtual guide leads users through psychoeducation, mindfulness techniques, and paced breathing exercises directly inside a headset environment.
Dr. Karisma Suchak, lead author of the study from Cedars-Sinai, noted that the initial qualitative findings demonstrate early feasibility and acceptability. According to the research team, delivering evidence-based therapies digitally can successfully lower symptom burdens while bypassing traditional geographic hurdles. Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society and a co-author on the study, emphasized the wider implications of these innovations. “Many women struggle to access evidence-based nonpharmacologic treatments for menopause symptoms because of barriers such as availability, cost, and convenience,” Dr. Faubion stated, pointing out that virtual reality could expand treatment reach while larger clinical trials evaluate ultimate therapeutic efficacy.
The challenge of managing menopause extends beyond single-modality treatments into how healthcare systems handle multifaceted patient histories. Speaking at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit, Paula Schneider, CEO of the Institute Advancing Women's Health, noted that women experiencing perimenopause and menopause visit an average of five or six different doctors to address their symptoms in isolation. Schneider observed that future medical providers receive minimal specialized training during medical school, leaving a major void in holistic midlife care. Reshema Kemps-Polanco, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of pharmaceuticals company Novartis US, argued on the same panel that artificial intelligence can eventually help connect these diagnostic dots much sooner across fragmented medical specialties.
Simultaneously, commercial platforms are attempting to bridge the daily information gap for women experiencing symptoms outside of standard clinic hours. Empress Health launched an AI-powered menopause companion on World Menopause Day to provide daily symptom tracking, a 3-minute preliminary assessment, and a conversational AI beta tool called Ask Empress. Elizabeth Koshy, founder and CEO of Empress Health, stated that the platform was built so no woman has to go through the transition alone or arrive at a doctor's office without structured language to describe her experience. The platform combines automated check-ins with Health Intelligence assessments covering 120 health markers across ten body systems to generate printable reports for clinical visits.
| Platform or Study | Core Technology | Target Demographic | Primary Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| MenoZen VRTM | AI-enhanced Virtual Reality (Meta Quest 3S) | Women ages 45–60 with >28 hot flashes/week | Delivers CBT, mindfulness, and paced breathing via an avatar |
| Empress Health Companion | Web-based AI tool and digital assessment | Women in perimenopause and menopause (ages 35–65) | Symptom tracking, AI chat, and clinical consultation reports |
References
- News-Medical.
- Fortune. “Women see multiple doctors to figure out menopause symptoms—exec says AI could connect the dots.” Reporting from the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit.
- Fitt Insider. “Empress Health Launches AI-Powered Menopause Companion on World Menopause Day.” Industry release and platform specifications.
