The Women’s Health Revolution: Innovations in Gynecological Care and Technology
To ensure the best outcomes, it is essential to learn how to become an educated, empowered patient before you visit your women's health care provider to have the best chance at receiving high quality, comprehensive care. Modern advances are shaped by what is known as the women’s health revolution. Specifically, women’s health technologies are products that improve healthcare for women, especially in relation to health issues where women are affected disproportionately or differently.
Addressing Gender-Specific Health Disparities
Biological differences play a significant role in medical diagnosis and treatment. For example, osteoporosis is four times more common in women than in men, and women often experience heart attacks differently, with symptoms such as indigestion and shortness of breath. Women’s bodies, biology and health concerns have unfairly been considered to be stigmatized topics in many cultures, but new technologies are changing this narrative.
Women’s health tech businesses are opening up conversations about women and their bodies by addressing and providing support in areas such as menstrual health, sexual health, pelvic care, and menopause. Additionally, products such as digital wearables, health trackers and home diagnostics can also provide women with more information about their health.
The Emerging Market of Women’s Health Technology
The women’s health technology market overall is a newly emerging market with strong growth, addressing a wide range of product types and focus areas. According to industry analysis, the women’s health tech market size 2020-2025 is expanding with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.3%.
The following table illustrates the distribution of women’s health tech companies by their primary focus areas:
| Focus Area | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Pregnancy & Nursing | 21% |
| Reproductive Health & Contraception | 17% |
| Menstrual Health | 14% |
| General Health Care | 14% |
| Pelvic & Uterine Health Care | 9% |
| Women’s Wellness | 6% |
| Sexual Health | 10% |
| Mental Health | 7% |
| Menopause Care | 2% |
While the majority of women’s health tech companies aim their services or products towards the areas of reproductive health and pregnancy, long-neglected areas such as women’s sexual health have also started to receive attention. For instance, online services such as direct-to-consumer prescription services and virtual clinics offer women more options to get the support they need, in spaces that can be more comfortable and convenient.
Lybrido: A Unique Product for Women's Sexual Health
Arletta Pharma is addressing some of these unmet needs with its product, Lybrido. This innovation is aimed at improving the sexual health of women suffering from hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) or female sexual interest/arousal disorder (FSIAD).
The pharmacological approach is highly specialized:
- It has been developed as a tablet containing two different components, each of which are taken up by the body at different times.
- This two-step process is necessary for Lybrido’s effectiveness, as the effect from the first component (testosterone) is necessary for the action of the second (sildenafil).
- This dual-component tablet is unique amongst sexual dysfunction treatments, and novel in pharmaceuticals in general.
Scientific Research and Economic Impact
The industry acts as a catalyst for deeper medical understanding. The existence of women’s health tech is a driver for scientific research into women’s health. Today, clinical diagnostic companies are now financing serious health concerns such as endometriosis and preterm birth. Furthermore, a movement of women-centered design and sex and gender-specific research has sprung from the establishment of the women’s health technology industry.
This revolution also impacts the professional landscape. The majority of women’s health tech companies are owned and run by women, and in addition they often recognize and promote talented female scientists and technicians, giving them more employment opportunities. This shift ensures that solutions tailored for specific groups such as black women, LGBTQ+ people, and women in developing countries continue to emerge.