LSN : News : The Viewpoint: HerMD is driving the future of women’s health

The Trend: Deep Sea Wellness

Seaspire, US

The beauty and wellness industries are looking to the ocean as a new research and innovation hub for skincare and hydration solutions. Vying for differentiation and enhanced efficacy in a saturated market, deep sea ingredients offer unique high-performance benefits derived from natural sources.

Unlike products which are derived from or tested in space (the industry’s other favourite extreme frontier), those using marine ingredients such as Seaspire’s biomimetic Xanthochrome deliver proven efficacy while maintaining environmental integrity. As companies innovate with sustainable deep sea minerals, the ocean is becoming an exclusive yet renewable source for high-performance formulations.

Large-scale natural ingredient mining will not be sustainable, however, so in order to create these products for a wider audience, responsible extraction and biomimicry will be essential.

Our Deep Sea Wellness microtrend report spotlights the beauty and wellness brands pioneering research and innovation in the deep sea space.

The Big Idea: Wellrooms in 2035

As explored in our Home States Futures: Residential Retail macrotrend report, a shift is under way in the home. Where the pandemic forced us to embrace boundaryless living as our homes morphed into a gym, office and sanctuary under one roof, the return to normalcy has brought with it a renewed interest in sectioned homes with spaces demarcated by function.

The bathroom, the most private room in the house and often the only one with a used lock, is the focal point of this shift.

Since the flushing toilet was invented in 1596, the bathroom has been a space of innovation and a hub of health within the home (source: Science Museum). But, as health, wellness and longevity weigh heavier on consumers’ minds than ever before, the true potential for this household room is being realised.

The bathroom is evolving into the wellroom, expanding in size, intelligence and function to meet consumers’ health and wellness needs.

In Wellrooms in 2035, we explore three speculative futures for the wellroom in health-centric homes, based on emerging technologies and sciences.

Sprig by Kohler, US

The Campaign: LG unveils AI-activated Menopause Mode air conditioning units

Menopause Mode campaign by LG

LG is beta testing Menopause Mode, a new initiative aimed at alleviating the intense hot flushes experienced by menopausal women. Developed by Brazilian creative agency AlmapBBDO, the feature combines artificial intelligence, ThinQ connectivity technology, smartwatches and LG air conditioning units. With nearly 29m menopausal women in Brazil, one-third of whom suffer from moderate to severe hot flushes, this technology addresses a significant yet often taboo issue.

The innovative app monitors body temperature, heart rate and blood oxygen levels in real time via data provided by a smartwatch. When it detects a hot flush, it signals the LG Dual Inverter +AI air conditioner to rapidly cool the room. After 10 minutes, the unit reverts to the user’s preset temperature. ‘Menopause Mode is taking the smart home to the next level, reacting to the body’s vital signs,’ said Lilian Cavallini, head of creative technology at AlmapBBDO.

In Tech-powered Perimenopause, we analyse how the femtech industry is expanding to cater for later women’s life stages, creating AI-driven solutions that will empower individuals with greater choice and transparency as they approach the perimenopause.

The Viewpoint: HerMD is driving the future of women’s health

HerMD, Ohio, US

For years, Dr Javaid, a board-certified OB GYN, had observed invisible patients: women who were desperate to discuss topics that were considered taboo – think sexual health, menopause and gynaecology – but were met with providers who were poorly trained in the specificities of women’s health while attempting to attend to 50 patients a day.

In 2015, HerMD – a centre providing virtual and location-based healthcare services tailored specifically to women’s needs, emphasing empathy, communication and personalised treatments – was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Nine years later, and with £23.7m ($30m, €27.7m) in seed funding, HerMD has three more clinics in Franklin, Tennessee; Carmel, Indiana; and Millburn, New Jersey, with many more in the pipeline.

This wasn’t the plan, but according to Dr Javaid there were women trekking from 35 states and three countries, and waiting lists of up to 1,200 women per site. To her, the need for more patient-centric care that is insurance-based, with specialists in menopause and sexual healthcare, is irrefutable.

In March 2024, Dr Somi Javaid, founder and chief medical officer of HerMD, told LS:N Global how its clinics can help fix a broken healthcare system and close the gender health gap. Read the full interview here.

The Space: The Emory opens longevity and wellness members’ club Surrenne

Surrenne at The Emory, London, UK

In April 2024, Surrenne at The Emory, Belgravia, opened its doors, promising a holistic approach to wellness and longevity in a luxurious setting.

The venue spans four floors and includes a wet zone comprising a 22-metre pool, one of the UK’s first snow showers and a café menu curated by nutritionist Rosemary Ferguson. The fitness floor contains a gym with wellness sessions led by Earth and Sky and Fitbox, enhanced by electrical muscle stimulation technology. On the longevity floor, users will find a range of spa facilities in partnership with plastic surgeon Dr Lara Devgan, facial sculpting specialist FaceGym and fashion designer Stella McCartney. The UK’s first Tracy Anderson fitness studio is located on the fourth floor.

Surrenne is available to guests staying at The Emory and to members. The service is backed by Surrenne’s scientific advisory board, which includes Dr Andrew Huberman, Dr David Sinclair and Dr Shauna Shapiro.

In our Longevity Lifestyles macrotrend report, we discussed the growth of human optimisation centres and how people are increasingly craving science-backed, high-efficacy beauty and healthcare products.

Download the Future Forecast 2025 report

Now that you know what shaped 2024, discover what’s on the horizon. Download our Future Forecast 2025 report comprising 50 new trends across 10 key consumer sectors, insights from our analysts and interviews with global innovators.

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