About 50 million people in the U.S. are affected by autoimmune disease, and about 80% of them are women. When women give birth, they often experience significant hormonal changes that can trigger new diagnoses or symptoms of autoimmune disease.
That’s why WellTheory, a platform focused on autoimmune disease, launched a new program last week aimed at supporting women in the postpartum period.
Atherton, California-based WellTheory treats autoimmune conditions such as Addison’s disease, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis and lupus. Using a collaborative care model, it partners with patients’ physicians to deliver personalized plans focused on nutrition, stress, sleep and movement. The company offers video sessions, unlimited expert messaging and diagnostics. It serves both employers and health plans.
The new postpartum program includes personalized care plans and one-on-one support with autoimmune and hormonal health experts. WellTheory also provides advanced hormonal testing if appropriate, including assessment of sex hormones, cortisol levels and metabolites. This helps identify root causes of conditions like postpartum depression.
“We kept hearing the same thing from our own patients — they were experiencing brand new symptoms after giving birth,” said Wallace Torres, co-founder of WellTheory. “Which makes sense: pregnancy and childbirth are one of the three major hormonal shifts during a woman’s life that can lead to the onset of autoimmune symptoms. But traditional postpartum care ends abruptly, even though those changes and symptoms can last much longer.”
Other companies that offer postpartum support include Maven Clinic and Pomelo Care. WellTheory’s program, however, differs by focusing on how the postpartum period affects autoimmune conditions, Torres added.
The creation of the postpartum program is personal for Torres, he stated.
“My wife has an autoimmune condition and since our son’s birth 10 months ago has struggled with new symptoms and unexpected flare-ups — it made those gaps in care impossible to ignore,” he told MedCity News. “This program exists to make sure women like her aren’t left without support during an already vulnerable period of their health.”
The announcement comes shortly after WellTheory raised a $14 million Series A round in October. About a year ago, it also launched a program to support those battling hormonal conditions like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothyroidism and menopause. The postpartum program builds on this hormonal health program.
“Our focus now is expanding access through employers and payers and continuing to invest in areas of autoimmune care where the healthcare system consistently falls short,” Torres said.
Photo: oatawa, Getty Images
