Report on the Launch of “Flo for Perimenopause” and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

On July 17, 2025, Flo Health, a leading global women’s health application with over 420 million users, announced the launch of “Flo for Perimenopause.” This new feature is designed to provide personalized support and educational content for women navigating perimenopause, directly addressing critical gaps in women’s health and aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Addressing Global Health Disparities in Alignment with SDG 3 and SDG 5

The initiative targets a significant global health challenge. By 2025, over one billion women worldwide will be experiencing perimenopause or menopause. However, a significant information gap persists, with a 2024 Flo Health survey revealing that 54% of women feel inadequately informed about this life stage. This lack of knowledge contributes to negative health outcomes and diminished well-being, a direct concern of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Furthermore, as this is a uniquely female health issue that has been historically underserved, providing tools and information is a crucial step toward SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by empowering women to manage their health effectively.

• The Problem: A 2024 study indicated that 72% of perimenopausal women report that symptoms limit their life experiences, affecting self-esteem, sexual health, and social engagement.
• The Solution: “Flo for Perimenopause” aims to close this knowledge gap, providing medically-verified information to help women understand and manage their symptoms, thereby improving their overall quality of life.

Core Features and Contribution to Health Literacy (SDG 4)

The new feature provides a suite of tools designed to enhance health literacy, a key component of SDG 4 (Quality Education), by giving users actionable insights into their health.

1. Perimenopause Score: A scientifically validated digital assessment tool to help users evaluate and understand the impact of their symptoms.
2. Cycle Irregularity Tracking: Provides a predictive window for menstrual cycles, helping users prepare for and understand changes in their bodies.
3. Symptom Tracking and Education: Allows users to log symptoms such as hot flashes, mood changes, and fatigue. The application delivers daily, personalized, and medically-verified tips and educational content based on logged data.
4. Symptom Management: Offers personalized content and symptom reports to help users identify trends and find solutions to manage their symptoms effectively.
5. Expert Access: Connects users with insights from OB-GYNs and medical experts, empowering them to have more informed conversations with their healthcare providers.
6. Community Support: The “Secret Chats” feature provides an anonymous, supportive community for users to share experiences, fostering collective well-being and reducing feelings of isolation.

Commitment to Research and Reducing Inequalities (SDG 3 & SDG 10)

Flo Health’s commitment to advancing women’s health is substantiated by scientific research. A study published by its science team in the npj Women’s Health journal revealed that perimenopause symptoms can occur earlier than traditionally understood, highlighting the need for proactive educational tools. This dedication to research supports the advancement of global health knowledge under SDG 3.

Moreover, Flo Health’s “Pass it on Project” actively works towards SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by aiming to provide up to 1 billion women in need with free access to Flo Premium, ensuring that critical health information is not restricted by economic status.

Conclusion

The launch of “Flo for Perimenopause” represents a significant contribution to female health and well-being. By providing accessible, expert-backed information and personalized tools, Flo Health is directly supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 5, and 10. The feature empowers women with the knowledge to navigate a complex life stage, promotes gender equality in healthcare, enhances health education, and works to reduce information inequality on a global scale. The feature will be available to all users from July 21, 2025.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The article directly addresses SDG 3 by focusing on a new digital health tool, “Flo for Perimenopause,” designed to improve women’s health. It highlights a significant gap in health literacy and support for a specific life stage, perimenopause, which affects a billion women. The app aims to provide “personalized guidance and support,” “expert-verified content,” and tools for symptom management, all of which contribute to promoting health and well-being.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The article is fundamentally linked to SDG 5 as it centers on empowering women by addressing a historically “misunderstood and underserved” area of female health. By providing accessible information and a supportive community, the app aims to “close the perimenopause knowledge gap” and help women feel more confident and in control of their bodies. The article explicitly mentions that the goal is to “empower the 1 billion women who experience perimenopause without the support they deserve,” directly contributing to gender equality in health outcomes and knowledge.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

This SDG is relevant because the solution presented is a technological innovation. The article describes the launch of a new feature within a mobile app (“Flo Health, the #1 women’s health app worldwide”). This represents the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to create new services and enhance access to health information, aligning with the goal of fostering innovation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.7: “By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education…” The article directly supports this target by providing a platform for information and education on perimenopause, a crucial stage of a woman’s reproductive health journey. It aims to improve “health literacy” for a condition that “more than half (54%) of women…don’t feel adequately informed about.”
   • Target 3.8: “Achieve universal health coverage, including… access to quality essential health-care services…” While not a direct healthcare provider, the app provides access to quality health information (“medically-verified tips,” content from “100+ medical experts”), which is a critical component of comprehensive health services. The “Pass it on Project,” which donates subscriptions, also touches upon improving access.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.6: “Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights…” This target is addressed by the app’s mission to provide women with the knowledge they need about their own bodies. The article notes that the lack of information leaves many women feeling “confused, isolated and misinformed,” a problem the app directly seeks to solve by providing access to information about perimenopause.
   • Target 5.b: “Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.” The entire article is an example of this target in action. It describes how a mobile app (ICT) is being used to “empower women through this life stage” by giving them knowledge, tools (“Perimenopause Score”), and community support (“Secret Chats”).

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.c: “Significantly increase access to information and communications technology…” The article discusses a leading global health app with “over 420 million” users, demonstrating a significant increase in access to health information via ICT. The company’s “Pass it on Project” which has “donated 20M subscriptions to date” further supports the goal of providing wider access to these technological tools.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can measure progress:

• Proportion of women with adequate health knowledge: The article provides a baseline indicator by stating, “more than half (54%) of women in a recent Flo Health survey said they don’t feel adequately informed about perimenopause.” Progress could be measured by a decrease in this percentage among users and the general population.
• Access to and use of ICT for health: The article provides clear metrics on the app’s reach, including being “chosen by over 420 million people” and having “76 million monthly active users.” Growth in these numbers would indicate progress.
• Access for women in need: The “Pass it on Project” has “donated 20M subscriptions to date.” This is a direct indicator of efforts to provide access to those who might not otherwise afford it.
• Development of quality health tools: The creation of the “Perimenopause Score,” described as the “first digital assessment tool specifically designed and scientifically validated for perimenopause symptoms,” is an indicator of the quality and innovation of the service provided.
• Availability of expert-backed information: The fact that the content is “created in collaboration with its team of 100+ medical experts” serves as a qualitative indicator of the reliability and quality of the health information being disseminated.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: finance.yahoo.com