Apple announced menopause and perimenopause tracking for its Health app at WWDC 2026, with symptom logging and cycle alerts for some users.

The update expands the app’s cycle tracking beyond fertility and menstrual periods.

If logged cycle patterns suggest a user may be experiencing perimenopause, the app will send a notification prompting a conversation with a doctor.

However, this perimenopause-specific cycle deviation notification is only for users aged 40 and over and is not intended to replace a doctor’s diagnosis or treatment.

Stacey Ford, Apple’s vice-president of OS management, said users will also be able to log menopause and perimenopause symptoms in the Health app.

Educational content will also be available to help users learn more about these life stages and understand changes in their bodies.

Every year, about 2 million women enter perimenopause, the stage before menopause when levels of the hormone oestrogen decline.

According to a February 2025 survey involving 4,432 participants aged over 30, more than half of women aged 30 to 35 experienced moderate or severe perimenopause symptoms.

The findings suggest perimenopause does not affect only older adults.

About 6,000 women in the US enter menopause every day, according to the Society for Women’s Health Research.

Given the number of women affected by perimenopause and menopause, the update broadens the Health app’s scope.

The app launched in 2019, meaning it has gone seven years without these women’s health tracking features, which could help users better understand their bodies and prepare for informed conversations with doctors.

A new free menopause toolkit has been launched to help UK employers respond better to menopause at work, improve wellbeing and retain experienced staff.

Wellbeing of Women has launched MENO-Kit in partnership with Lancaster University, which it describes as the UK’s first evidence-based menopause workplace toolkit.

The online resource translates more than a decade of academic research into practical guidance for employers.

It is designed for managers, human resources and occupational health teams, equality, diversity and inclusion leads, trade unions and employees.

Its four modules cover menopause awareness, symptom management, menopause champion training and cognitive behavioural strategies.

These are techniques that help people spot and change thought or behaviour patterns that can make symptoms harder to manage.

Amanda Griffiths, emeritus professor of occupational health psychology at the University of Nottingham, said: “I am so pleased the Wellbeing of Women’s toolkit is now available.

“It presents the culmination of many years’ research by Claire Hardy, Myra Hunter and myself at our three universities.

“It’s a clear story: women represent nearly half the working population and menopause is a normal event in their lives.

“Those who experience difficulties appreciate understanding and support. And it’s not difficult to provide.

“I really hope that the next generation of working women, their colleagues and their managers will find the toolkit helpful.”

MENO-Kit was informed by research studies conducted by Lancaster University, the University of Nottingham and King’s College London.

This included the UK’s first large-scale study of women’s experience of menopause at work, carried out at the University of Nottingham, which identified fatigue, poor concentration, low mood and hot flushes as symptoms affecting working life.

It also highlighted the kinds of employer support working women said they would find helpful.

The toolkit has been tested in eight UK organisations across the public, private and charity sectors.

A total of 2,162 people, mostly women in their mid-40s and 50s, contributed across the studies.

The launch comes at a time of growing urgency for employers.

Research from McKinsey & Company highlights the economic opportunity of closing the women’s health gap, estimating it could unlock up to £11bn a year for the UK economy.

The NHS Confederation has also highlighted the economic case for investing in women’s health, linking better support to improved workforce retention and reduced pressure on employers and public services.

Alongside this, research has continued to show the impact of menopause at work.

Separate polling by Benenden Health found that 28 per cent of women had considered leaving work because of symptoms, while 31 per cent reported reduced productivity.

MENO-Kit has been developed to help organisations respond with practical, evidence-based tools that build confidence, reduce stigma, improve wellbeing and help retain experienced staff.

The launch is being marked by an online event featuring a keynote from the Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson, minister of state for employment, a live demonstration of MENO-Kit by Dr Abigail Morris, and a discussion on practical approaches to creating menopause-supportive workplaces.

Janet Lindsay, chief executive at Wellbeing of Women, said: “Too many women still struggle in silence during menopause at work, with many employers lacking the tools to respond effectively.

“MENO-Kit addresses this gap, offering practical, evidence-based ways for organisations to better support their people.

“It helps women stay working, thrive, and realise their potential at work.

“We’re hugely grateful to the research teams whose expertise has made this possible.”

Dr Abigail Morris, lecturer in workplace health and wellbeing at Lancaster University, said: “We’re delighted to launch Meno-Kit which represents an important step forward in supporting organisations across the UK to take a proactive and informed approach to menopause in the workplace.

“By providing practical tools, evidence-based guidance and a structured framework for action, the resource will help organisations develop effective menopause action plans, foster more inclusive and supportive workplace cultures, and better support women experiencing menopause to remain healthy, engaged and thriving at work.

“We believe Meno-Kit has the potential to drive meaningful organisational change while improving the everyday working lives and wellbeing of women across the UK workforce.”

Davina McCall, Wellbeing of Women ambassador, said: “Menopause shouldn’t be something women hide or struggle with alone at work or anywhere.

“It’s a normal life stage, not a personal failing.

“By talking about menopause openly and putting the right support in place, workplaces can make a huge difference to women’s wellbeing, confidence and careers enabling them to thrive at work.”