About 50 million folks within the US are affected by an autoimmune illness, and about 80% of them are ladies. When ladies give start, they usually expertise vital hormonal modifications that may set off new diagnoses or signs of an autoimmune illness.

That is why WellTheory, a platform centered on autoimmune illnesses, launched a brand new program final week geared toward supporting ladies within the postpartum interval.

Atherton, California-based WellTheory treats autoimmune illnesses similar to Addison’s illness, celiac illness, a number of sclerosis and lupus. Utilizing a collaborative care mannequin, it really works with sufferers’ physicians to ship customized plans centered on diet, stress, sleep and train. The corporate presents video periods, limitless skilled messages and diagnostics. It serves each employers and medical insurance corporations.

The brand new postpartum program contains customized care plans and one-on-one help from autoimmune and hormonal well being specialists. WellTheory additionally presents superior hormonal testing as wanted, together with evaluation of intercourse hormones, cortisol ranges and metabolites. This helps determine the basis causes of situations similar to postpartum despair.

“We saved listening to the identical factor from our personal sufferers: They had been experiencing model new signs after supply,” mentioned Wallace Torres, co-founder of WellTheory. “That is smart: Being pregnant and childbirth are one of many three main hormonal shifts throughout a girl’s life that may result in the onset of autoimmune signs. However conventional postpartum care ends abruptly, although these modifications and signs can final for much longer.”

Different corporations that provide postpartum help embrace Maven Clinic and Pomelo Care. Nevertheless, WellTheory’s program differs in that it focuses on how the postpartum interval impacts autoimmune illnesses, Torres added.

The creation of the postpartum program is private for Torres, he mentioned.

“My spouse has an autoimmune illness and has been coping with new signs and sudden flare-ups for the reason that start of our son 10 months in the past – it has made these gaps in care unattainable to disregard,” he advised MedCity Information. “This program is to make sure that ladies like her aren’t left with out help throughout an already weak interval of their well being.”

The announcement comes shortly after WellTheory raised a $14 million Sequence A spherical in October. A couple of 12 months in the past, it additionally launched a program to help folks combating hormonal situations similar to endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothyroidism and menopause. The postpartum program builds on this hormonal well being program.

“Our focus now’s on increasing entry by means of employers and payers and persevering with to put money into areas of autoimmune care the place the well being care system constantly falls brief,” mentioned Torres.

Photograph: Oatawa, Getty Photographs