Suus Stadshouders, 53, from Baarle-Nassau developed a game with her friend Jeroen and an app developer to encourage women to talk about menopause. She said she experienced sudden mood changes about two years ago and felt that an existing game did not suit her generation. The app, Playfly, has been available for about a month and lets invited friends answer questions on their phones about symptoms and experiences, including hot flashes, emotional changes and reduced libido. It also has a “spicy” round and can be played with partners.

Stadshouders said the game was intended to help women share how they deal with menopause, recognize each other’s experiences and sometimes laugh about them. She said misconceptions remain, including the idea that women should simply get through it, and noted that symptoms such as hot flashes can last for years. She hoped the game would help women feel less alone.