What Is Women's Healthcare and Why Is It Essential?
One question that those working in the women’s healthcare industry are often asked is why a separate field for women’s healthcare is necessary. Many seem to feel that the entire concept is far too niche and that there doesn’t need to be a separate field for our unique health concerns. Recently, however, these conversations have been happening less often as investors have begun to realize the importance of this field of medicine. This is due, in part, to a growing understanding of what women’s healthcare is and its importance.
Defining the Scope of Women's Health
It may surprise you that there isn’t an accepted definition of women’s healthcare. Broadly speaking, one could define it as “that branch of medical science focusing on the treatment and diagnosis of health concerns impacting the emotional and physical well-being of women.” However, this only scratches the surface of what this field of medicine covers. Is women’s healthcare caring for health needs related to our gender identity as a woman? Or the biological and physiological characteristics typical of those classified as female?
The Growing Investment in Specialized Care
From 2020 to 2021 alone, US Digital Health Startups focusing on women’s health saw significant growth. Here is a breakdown of the investment data:
| Metric | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment Dollars | $700 million | $1.4 billion |
| Number of Deals | - | 23 |
With the latest changes in how women’s health care is perceived, the future is mostly looking positive. There are still challenges ahead, but together we’ll be able to work for positive change and bring about a future where all the needs of all kinds of women are met with respect and care.
The Role of Women as Healthcare Consumers
Women are the major consumers of healthcare services in the United States and are 76% more likely to have visited a doctor than our male counterparts in a given year. Even when we aren’t personally consuming healthcare services, we are responsible for 80% of the decisions regarding healthcare services for our families. This includes appointments for our family members and picking up prescriptions from the drugstore. In most families, we fill the role of Chief Medical Officer.
Beyond Reproductive and Gynecological Health
One major struggle facing women’s health has been a myopic focus on reproductive and gynecological health. Most women experience reproductive health concerns that most men do not, such as:
- Menopause
- Pregnancy
- Menstruation
However, this cannot serve the entire scope of women’s health. Women are also more likely to become disabled through the course of their lives, develop heart disease 20% more often, become obese more frequently, and are more likely to die within 5 years of their first heart attack. Clearly, reproductive health isn’t the only thing women have to worry about.
Accessing Professional Women's Healthcare
In service in Montgomery since 1987, Capital Women’s Care in Rockville, MD is part of an expansive network of clinics providing women’s health care in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware. Our patients get the benefit of an immense amount of experience provided by some of the most respected women’s healthcare providers in the area. If you’re eager to discover more about the state of women’s health care today and what the future holds, reach out to your provider today. They’ll keep you updated on the latest information and how it may affect your care moving forward.