Femtech Marks PMDD Awareness Day with Unusual Mix of Art and Memes

Munich, October 2, 2024 – Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, which affects millions of people worldwide, is the focus of an online campaign that challenges common misunderstandings and perspectives surrounding the condition. Launched today, the “Re-Visit” was created by Belle Health, an innovative femtech startup.

Re-visit to Re-cognize

By interweaving often overlooked information with classic works of art, and a new layer of humor, this campaign encourages society to reconsider its views on female health disorders. This creative dialogue between the past and present serves as a call to action—urging the public to engage with the reality of PMDD with greater awareness and empathy.

PMDD Impact: Far From a “Just” Issue

PMDD is a severe mood disorder recognized in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) that is associated with a heightened sensitivity to normal female hormonal changes. However, the lack of understanding, even within the medical community, is often hidden in phrases like “That’s just PMS,” “It’s just an emotional reaction,“ or “It’s just something every woman has to put up with.“ But the data tells a much more serious story:

• PMDD Affects 3-8% of women and AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth) individuals: This means that around 62.4 to 166.4 million lives are impacted globally by severe emotional, mental, and physical symptoms every month during their reproductive years.
• 1 in 20 have PMDD: It’s as common as diabetes in females.
• Suicide Risk: 34% of those affected attempt suicide, and 72% experience suicidal thoughts – highlighting the seriousness of the condition.
• Diagnosis: On average, it takes 12 years for a correct diagnosis, as PMDD is often misidentified as other disorders such as depression or anxiety.
• Impact: The average time lost in healthy life years due to PMDD is 3.8 years.

Highlighting the importance of this campaign, which marks PMDD Awareness Day in 2024, Victoria Schoeffel, Co-founder and CEO of Belle Health, states:

“Sometimes we just need a new angle to fully see a piece. In others, it changes the whole framework. And that’s what we’re aiming for with this campaign. PMDD needs to be treated as seriously as it is. As a society, we can’t do this without information, data, research, and funding. Female health has been historically neglected as if our bodies didn’t have completely different needs. Well, they do. And this lack of recognition has caused serious repercussions that urgently need to be discussed and changed. We strongly believe that creating this unexpected fusion in the ‘Re-Visit’ is a powerful way to bring this to the forefront on this important day for our community.”

The Four Pillars of the “Re-Visit”

The “Re-Visit” campaign features a curated selection of 36 iconic paintings, each reimagined through the lens of PMDD. The collection is divided into four key sections:

1. “The Facts”: Comprehensive fact sheets on PMDD symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and statistics, designed to inform and educate.
2. “The Myths”: Evidence-based explanations debunking common misconceptions and stigmas surrounding PMDD.
3. “The Relationships”: Resources and guidance for loved ones on how to support those experiencing PMDD.
4. “Could it be PMDD?”: User-friendly templates that outline PMDD symptoms, empowering individuals to recognize potential signs in themselves or others.

Each series is crafted to be shareable, allowing visitors to download and distribute the materials freely, both in physical and digital spaces. The campaign also includes a curated selection of studies, further enriching public understanding of PMDD.

Join the Movement

Belle Health’s “Re-Visit” campaign is more than just an artistic endeavor; it’s a movement to foster understanding, compassion, and change. By revisiting and reinterpreting the past, we can pave the way for a future where PMDD is recognized, understood, and treated with the seriousness it deserves. To explore the “Re-Visit” collection and join the conversation.

Get the Booklet

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About Belle Health

Founded as a University of Cambridge spin-off by Victoria Schoeffel and Rafael Schaider, Belle Health is dedicated to developing precision medicine solutions for female health, beginning with premenstrual disorders. Belle Health remains at the forefront of offering transformative healthcare solutions that enhance mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

Press Contact

Leticia Kreling
📩 E-mail: press@bellehealth.co
📲 +55 54 993635537

Our founders are also happy to connect: Victoria Schoeffel & Rafael Schaider