PETRA-AI: Interactively Relieving Perimenopausal Symptoms

Perimenopause is the transitional phase before the last menstrual period. It can begin several years earlier and is associated with physical and emotional changes for many women. Hot flushes, sleep disturbances, mood swings or concentration problems can significantly affect well-being and quality of life. Professional performance can also suffer. At the same time, women in this phase often do not receive the support and information they need. Women with low health literacy in particular, or those from social environments where the topic receives little attention, can benefit from low-threshold digital services. This is where the PETRA-AI research project comes in: the aim is to support women in perimenopause individually with an AI-based application and to strengthen their health literacy in dealing with symptoms.

How does PETRA-AI work?

The project is developing an AI-based app that records users' symptoms, mood and health-related behaviours. An artificial intelligence analyses this information and forms the basis for individually tailored content and recommendations. An integrated chatbot supports users with, for example, understandable information about perimenopause and concrete strategies for coping with symptoms. In this way, women receive support that fits their individual situation and needs. Better management of symptoms is intended not only to improve quality of life. Limitations in everyday working life and the associated absences from work may also be reduced.

Developed together for women's needs

PETRA-AI is being developed further together with its future users. The research team continuously examines how understandable, accepted and easy to use the app is, and integrates user feedback into its further development. The focus is in particular on strengthening health literacy. The content should not only be easy to understand but also workable in everyday life. In this way, the app is intended to help women better interpret changes in their bodies, make informed decisions and deal with symptoms in a self-determined way.

Prospects for better perimenopause care

The research results are to be published and anonymised research data made available to the scientific community. The content developed is also to be integrated into an existing app and, in the future, made available free of charge via health insurers. In the long term, PETRA-AI is intended to help create new digital support options for women in perimenopause and to lay the foundation for certification as a Digital Health Application (DiGA). PETRA-AI combines artificial intelligence, individual symptom tracking and understandable health information – for low-threshold, self-determined support for women in perimenopause.

Project information

Consortium coordinator Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE), Kaiserslautern Dr. Theresa Ahrens

Partners Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin - Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - AG Thun Femna Health M.E. GmbH, Berlin Ruhr University Bochum - Faculty of Social Science - Junior Professorship for Health and E-Health TU Dortmund University - Faculty of Social Sciences - Social Research Centre

Volume €2.38 million (90% funded by BMFTR)

Duration 11/2025 - 10/2028

Call for proposals Interactive Technologies for Gender-Specific Health (GeGe)