About 50 million women in the United States are navigating the challenges of menopause, yet the healthcare system often falls short in addressing their needs. Digital health entrepreneur Alessandra Henderson, MBA, co-founder of Elektra Health, is determined to change that.
With fewer than 20 percent of OB/GYN residency programs offering menopause training, Electra Health’s virtual care platform aims to provide the education, support, and evidence-based treatments women deserve. Speaking at a December 2024 Tuesday Talk hosted by Cure, Henderson highlighted the urgent need for accessible menopause care and the innovative solutions like those offered by Elektra Health.
To establish Elektra, Henderson leveraged her expertise in helping create the early-stage consumer businesses Artsy, the MIT NYC Startup Studio, and Human Ventures. As Elektra’s CEO, Henderson helped raise more than $7 million from investors including University of Pittsburg Medical Center, Flare Partners and 776 Fund. Her vision to establish Elektra as a category-defining company resulted in it securing the first menopause-focused commercial partnership with a health plan, including Mass General Brigham Health Plan, Emblem Health, and others.
Elektra Health offers telemedicine from board certified clinicians, education, 1-to-1 support and a private community for women living with menopause so they can live lives that are healthier, more comfortable and more productive, an approach that could address the 70 percent of women who currently report not receiving proper care from their physicians.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Cure: What made you decide to create Elektra Health?
Henderson: I was coming out of my first treatment for IVF about seven years ago, and I noticed that my vision was blurry. My doctor said that sometimes hormones can impact your vision, and that really stuck with me. I started to do some research on hormonal health and its impact on women, and I realized just how much hormones truly impact a woman from the top of her head down to her toes.
I realized there was a lot of conversation around maternity or fertility-tracking apps, but very few people were talking about menopause, which is experienced by 50 percent of the population. This was a group of women who was underserved and experiencing unmet medical need. So, I took the plunge and co-founded Elektra Health in 2019 as a virtual care clinic for women in menopause.
Cure: How can menopause affect a woman's life?
Henderson: In addition to the menopause symptoms we know — hot flashes, libido changes, mood changes, vaginal discomfort and effects on weight and sleep, to name a few — there are co-morbidities such as hypertension, joint pain and cardiovascular disorders.
Women may also become less productive in the workplace, and some will leave jobs in senior ranks. A Mayo Clinic study reported that this results in $1.8 billion annually in lost productivity, but I think it's much larger.
Employers are leaving money on the table by not addressing their menopausal population, and women are suffering as a result. For women to succeed in the workplace, supporting them during menopause is not only the right thing to do — it makes complete business sense.
Cure: What services and treatments does Elektra Health provide?
Henderson: We understand that menopause care is not just about a doctor's visit. It's about supporting women through that seven-to-10-year menopause journey and beyond.
We offer evidence-based care to women navigating perimenopause and menopause. They can receive a 30-minute video visit with a board-certified clinician who specializes in menopause, a personalized care plan with prescriptions and lab work as needed, follow-up messaging and visits with the care team and access to evidence-based educational information, members-only virtual events and one-to-one support from an Elektra guide who serves as a "menopause doula."
Elektra follows an integrative, evidence-based approach closely adhering to guidelines set forth by The Menopause Society, including the use of FDA-approved hormonal and non-hormonal medications. Our providers are also versed in evidence-based integrative approaches, such as supplements and lifestyle interventions.
Cure: Does insurance pay for these services?
Henderson: Elektra is in-network for select health plans. We partner directly with those health plans to offer Elektra's services to their patient populations. We also take Medicare and Medicaid. Other members pay for fee-for-service care.
We currently service women in three states, but are looking to expand to all 50. Our goal is to make sure that menopause care is accessible to all, not just those who can pay out of pocket.
Cure: Do you think healthcare for women during menopause has growth opportunities?
Henderson: Yes. Women are desperate for solutions. They’ve been underserved for so long. I welcome all founders of companies targeting menopause to look at every aspect of where we can better support women. I think there are going to be multiple billion dollar companies in this space. Sometimes investors like to think there can be just one "winner takes all." But I fundamentally believe this market is so big.
Cure: Is menopause having its moment?
Henderson: There's a lot of opportunity in Washington and in legislative conversations to make real change and achieve potential wins in women's health. Institutions are prioritizing women's health, and it's massive. But I don't think it's just a moment — I think it's a movement.
Cure: What does "cure" mean to you?
Henderson: It ensures that women are leading their happiest, healthiest lives because they've received the treatment and support that they deserve.