AI-Driven Virtual Reality Program Targets Menopause Symptoms
A new AI-enhanced virtual reality therapy shows promise in managing menopause symptoms, addressing accessibility issues for midlife women.
A study on an AI-VR program, MenoZen VRTM, shows potential in delivering cognitive behavioral therapy for menopause management.
Approximately 80% of midlife women experience vasomotor symptoms, yet only 1.7% use hormone therapy.
The findings will be presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in San Diego.
A groundbreaking study has introduced an innovative AI-enhanced virtual reality program, MenoZen VRTM, aimed at assisting women in managing menopause symptoms. This program, which incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), was developed to address the significant barriers many women face in accessing traditional therapies. The results of this study will be shared at the upcoming 2026 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society, scheduled for October 20-24 in San Diego.
Menopause symptoms, particularly vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, affect around 80% of women in midlife. These symptoms can lead to sleep disturbances, mood changes, and cognitive difficulties, severely impacting quality of life. While hormone therapy is considered the standard treatment, its usage remains low, with only 1.7% of women in the U.S. opting for it in 2023. This has prompted a growing interest in non-pharmacologic options, such as CBT, to alleviate these symptoms.
The study highlights the feasibility and acceptability of the MenoZen VRTM program, which utilizes a Meta Quest 3S headset. Participants aged 45 to 60, who reported experiencing more than 28 hot flashes per week and were not on hormone therapy, engaged with an AI-driven avatar named Maia. This avatar guided them through various therapeutic modules, including mindfulness, talk therapy, and paced breathing exercises, tailored to their specific needs.
Dr. Karisma Suchak, the lead author from Cedars-Sinai Center for Virtual Medicine, emphasized the program's potential to enhance the quality of life for women by providing accessible, evidence-based therapies. The study's qualitative findings indicate a strong interest among midlife women in utilizing personalized, non-pharmacologic options like MenoZen VRTM for managing menopause symptoms.
Looking ahead, further research is necessary to establish the clinical effectiveness of this innovative approach. Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society, noted the challenges women face in accessing evidence-based treatments due to factors like availability and cost. The promising results of this study suggest that AI-enhanced virtual reality could play a crucial role in expanding access to effective therapies during the menopause transition.
