Female Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) members aged 35 to 70 can enjoy free access to Stella, a support app offering evidence-based tools to help women through the symptoms of menopause.
• Qualifying Discovery Health Medical Scheme members now have free access to Stella – a globally recognised menopause support app, available in South Africa for the first time.• Stella delivers clinically grounded, app-based support for people experiencing the symptoms of perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause.
• Among support channels offered, Stella offers symptom tracking, coaching, behavioural and lifestyle change plans and virtual consultations with trained GPs, with 75% of app users reporting symptom improvement.
• Approximately 73% (just over 800,000 individuals) of the female Discovery Health Medical Scheme member base is aged 35 and over, highlighting a valuable opportunity for complementary support, education and personalised care for members through their menopause-associated years of life.
Discovery Health has partnered with UK-based digital health innovator Vira Health to introduce Stella – a globally recognised, clinically validated menopause support app – to South Africa for the first time. From 1 February, female Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) members aged 35 to 70 will enjoy complimentary access to Stella, offering personalised, evidence-based tools that support women through the symptoms of perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. This partnership reinforces Discovery Health’s commitment to holistic health by providing a trusted resource that complements care provided by the member’s healthcare practitioner.
“We are proud to bring global, evidence-based menopause support to DHMS members on an exclusive basis. Looking at our member base, 73% of female members – approximately 800,000 women – are aged 35 and over, showing the relevance of our partnership with Stella to bring members access to a leading digital menopause support platform,” says Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, Chief Clinical Officer at Discovery Health.
Menopause journey can affect up to one-third of a woman’s life, yet is often misunderstood, and under-supportedThe menopause journey consists of three stages: perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause: • Perimenopause begins from as early as 35 years of age. Hormone levels slowly decline over time until menopause is reached (after 12 consecutive months without a period) typically between the ages of 45 and 55. This is followed by post-menopause, when symptoms lessen or ease.
• During these three stages, women may experience physical and emotional symptoms such as hot flushes, fatigue, brain fog and memory or concentration problems, pain in the joints, night sweats, low mood, anxiety, irritability, sleep issues, weight gain, bladder problems, low libido and more. – “A cluster of confusing symptoms that may or may not be adequately treated, leading to diminished quality of life and long-term health risks”
Dr Nematswerani adds, “For many women, the menopause-linked years can mean a cluster of confusing symptoms that may or may not be adequately treated, leading to diminished quality of life and long-term health risks such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and neurological conditions. This natural biological process can affect up to one-third of a woman’s life, yet this important phase remains misunderstood and under-supported within most health systems.”
A 2023 UK-based study of around 1,000 women investigated women’s experiences through all stages of menopause. Survey respondents had an average of 10.7 menopausal symptoms (most commonly sleep problems, hot flushes, forgetfulness and mental health concerns) but only 47% felt they had the knowledge and tools to manage their symptoms. Also, 61% saw a healthcare professional for advice when symptoms escalated but worried that menopause was not a valid enough reason to ask for help.
Perimenopause and menopause also occur when professional women are most likely to be advancing in their careers or moving into leadership positions. In 2023 Mayo Clinic Proceedings quoted insights from a survey looking at the impact of menopause symptoms and work outcomes for 5,000 women aged 45 to 60, finding that symptom severity and negative work outcomes resulted in an annual estimated $1.8 billion direct loss to the US economy alone.
“A supportive work environment is key to normalising what women experience as they go through the stages of menopause – a completely natural process for every woman – and mitigating the risks they may face both personally and professionally,” adds Dr Nematswerani. “Recent highlights that the symptoms of menopause can lead to women being less productive at work and missing work days, indirectly leading to negative career impacts – whether to changing jobs or taking early retirement. These realities affect both the person experiencing the outcomes and the business.” highlights that the symptoms of menopause can lead to women being less productive at work and missing work days, indirectly leading to negative career impacts – whether to changing jobs or taking early retirement. These realities affect both the person experiencing the outcomes and the business.”
– Increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancers and mental health challenges, such as anxiety and depression“While menopause symptoms can cause significant discomfort and distress, they alone are not life-threatening,” explains Dr Nematswerani.
“What truly impacts women’s health, wellbeing and quality of life at this stage – and drives up their healthcare costs – are conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancers and mental health challenges, such as anxiety and depression. These risks contribute to mortality and morbidity among women aged 35 and older, making it essential for women to prioritise regular health screenings beyond just managing their menopausal symptoms.”
“Discovery Health encourages all members to take proactive steps to protect their long-term wellbeing through comprehensive screening and preventive care. Our partnership with Stella aims to give women an accessible, personalised means of support to complement these essential health actions.”
Access to comprehensive, personalised menopause support through the Stella appAndrea Berchowitz, Co-founder and CEO of Vira Health explains: “We built Stella to give women the support they deserve through the years that define the menopause journey. Since our launch in August 2021, Stella has supported women across global markets – with approximately 15,000 members supported by the app and 75% reporting symptom improvement. Until now the Stella app has only been available in the United Kingdom and United States. We are very proud to partner with Discovery Health to offer Stella to Discovery Health Medical Scheme members in South Africa.”
Through the Stella app, eligible DHMS members gain access to:
1. Symptom assessment tools2. Customised behavioural and lifestyle support plans
3. One-on-one coaching
4. A library of menopause content and resources – users can explore menopause-specific articles, recipes, mindfulness meditations, soundscapes, exercise classes.
5. A supportive online community.
6. Virtual consultations with GPs trained on menopause care (depending on the severity of their symptoms)
7. Users can also set habits and track progress as they move through the plans. How do Discovery Health Medical Scheme members access Stella?
Scheme members can access Stella as follows: 1. Log on to the Discovery Health app
2. Click on “My Health” at the bottom of the screen
3. Scroll down to the “Women’s Health” tab
4. Click on “Menopause support” on the top right of the screen
5. Members will be guided to Stella’s landing page to “Create your account” (choose “Sign up with Discovery” and sign in using their Discovery credentials)
6. After creating their account, they will have free access to a Stella app premium subscription for a year
7. From there, they can download the Stella app to complete the menopause symptom assessment and access lifestyle and behavioural change support tools Ensuring Discovery Health’s commitment to advancing women’s health
“We’re thrilled to work with Discovery Health to empower women in South Africa with personalised, science-backed care that truly meets them where they are,” says Berchowitz.
Dr Nematswerani adds, “Our aim is to normalise conversations about menopause, elevate the standard of care and guidance women receive, and ensure our members feel seen, heard and supported through every life stage. Together with Vira Health and Stella, we are proud to take another step forward in our commitment to advancing women’s health in South Africa.”