Insight
Why AI in women’s health needs to start with curiosity
By Morgan Rose, Chief Science Officer, Ema
Women’s pain is complex, often overlapping between physical, emotional, and social dimensions.
Chronic pain affects 70 per cent of female sufferers yet is frequently misdiagnosed or dismissed as psychological (Oh, n.d.; UCL, 2021).
Curiosity is the key to addressing this gap.
By asking thoughtful questions and uncovering connections, AI can move beyond surface symptoms to build trust, foster understanding, and uncover root causes.
This curiosity-driven approach ensures earlier diagnoses, more effective treatments, and care that truly resonates with women’s unique experiences—bridging the gaps traditional healthcare often leaves behind.
Understanding Pain as More Than Physical
Pain isn’t just physical; it encompasses emotional and social dimensions that significantly impact women’s health.
Physical Pain: Women often experience conditions like fibromyalgia and migraines more frequently than men.
These ailments are painful and challenging to diagnose and treat, leading to prolonged suffering.
Biological and hormonal factors significantly influence these conditions.
For example, fluctuations in estrogen levels have been shown to exacerbate pain sensitivity, highlighting the need for sex-specific approaches to treatment (IASP, n.d.; PMC, n.d.).
Research Insight: Studies indicate that women’s pain is more likely to be dismissed or misdiagnosed due to gender biases in healthcare (UCL, 2021).
A curious approach can counteract these biases by delving into specific triggers and experiences.
Asking targeted, open-ended questions can help identify patterns that might be overlooked.
Example Question: “You mentioned frequent migraines—have you noticed if they occur more during certain phases of your menstrual cycle or after stressful events?”
Emotional Pain: Chronic pain often coexists with emotional distress, including depression and anxiety.
Women are twice as likely as men to experience these conditions, which can exacerbate their physical symptoms and create a cycle of suffering (Mayo Clinic, n.d.; Kushner, 2024).
The emotional distress associated with chronic pain often exacerbates the perception of pain, creating a cycle that’s hard to break (Dovepress, 2024).
Research Insight: Emotional pain is frequently underdiagnosed or mischaracterised in women, often overshadowing underlying physical conditions (Mayo Clinic, n.d.; Kushner, 2024).
Addressing both dimensions through curiosity fosters holistic care.
Exploring the emotional context of pain through thoughtful questions can uncover hidden contributors to distress.
Social Pain: Social rejection, isolation, and stigma are significant contributors to women’s pain experiences.
For instance, caregiving responsibilities and societal pressures disproportionately affect women, amplifying their vulnerability to social pain (IASP, n.d.; PMC, 2024).
Societal factors, including gender biases, can lead to women’s pain being dismissed or underestimated by healthcare providers.
This dismissal delays appropriate treatment and contributes to feelings of isolation and helplessness (Psychology Today, 2024).
Research Insight: Social determinants, such as poverty and neighborhood conditions, significantly influence pain intensity, particularly in conditions like breast cancer (PMC, 2024).
Curiosity-driven care can help identify and address these factors. Addressing social pain requires understanding the broader context of a woman’s life.
Curiosity in Practice: Improving Diagnosis and Care
Delayed Diagnosis
Women often face significant delays in receiving diagnoses for chronic pain conditions like endometriosis and pelvic pain (Independent, 2024).
These delays are attributed to biases, normalization of symptoms, and limited access to care (MDU, 2024).
How Curiosity Changes the Game
Curiosity goes beyond simply asking questions—it’s about exploring someone’s unique challenges and identifying connections they might not see themselves.
Research shows that curiosity-driven approaches foster trust, enhance engagement, and lead to more accurate diagnoses in healthcare.
They are designed with curiosity at its core, can uncover root causes, and provide meaningful support in women’s health. Here’s how:
1. Asking the Right Questions to Build Trust
A curious approach encourages open dialogue, helping women feel understood and validated.
Studies reveal that patients who feel heard are more likely to share critical information, leading to better outcomes.
- “You mentioned fatigue—do you notice it more after specific activities or during certain times of the month?” This shows attentiveness and opens the door to uncovering hormonal or lifestyle connections.
2. Uncovering Overlooked Patterns
Curiosity allows AI to identify connections that might not be immediately obvious, such as how diet, stress, and sleep interact to affect overall health.
Research highlights that women often present with complex, multifaceted symptoms that require nuanced exploration.
- Example: “Have you noticed whether your skin flare-ups happen during periods of high stress or poor sleep? Let’s explore the potential links.”
3. Encouraging Reflection for Deeper Insights
Curiosity-driven AI doesn’t just provide answers—it helps women reflect on their habits, symptoms, and patterns.
This reflective process empowers patients to take ownership of their health.
- Example: “What impacts your energy most—your diet, stress, or sleep? Why do you think that is?”
4. Creating Personalised, Actionable Plans
When curiosity informs recommendations, they feel more relevant and actionable. Personalized care has been proven to increase adherence to health advice, improving outcomes.
- Example: “Would you like to start adjusting your hydration or exploring sleep routines? Let’s choose what feels manageable for you.”
5. Supporting Holistic Health
Women’s health is deeply interconnected. Curiosity allows AI to address not just the physical symptoms but the emotional and social factors as well.
- Example: “You mentioned stress and skin health—have you noticed any connections between the two? Let’s explore what might be contributing.”
6. Inspiring Confidence and Action
The right questions can help users discover practical, achievable steps. Curiosity creates those “aha” moments that make users feel capable of making meaningful changes.
- Example: “Have you tried syncing your workouts with your cycle? It could boost your energy and help you feel more in tune with your body. Would you like to explore how to get started?”
7. Keeping the Conversation Going
Curiosity also helps AI maintain long-term engagement because users feel their progress matters. They’re more likely to return and keep exploring solutions.
- Example: “Let’s check in next week to see how those hydration tips worked for you. What might you notice after trying them for a few days?”
The Bigger Picture
Curiosity isn’t just a nice to have; it’s essential for addressing the complexities of women’s health.
It builds trust, keeps users engaged, and helps uncover connections that lead to meaningful solutions.
By focusing on the person behind the pain—and asking thoughtful, open-ended questions—AI can bridge the gaps that traditional healthcare often leaves behind.
When AI tools like Ema approach women’s health curiously, they move beyond simply tracking symptoms.
They create a space where women feel seen, heard, and empowered to take control of their health—physically, emotionally, and socially.
Why This Matters
Women’s health has long been underserved, with too many tools and platforms treating it as one-dimensional.
By making curiosity the foundation of AI interactions, we can change that.
Curiosity doesn’t just solve problems—it helps women feel connected to their health in a way that’s personal, honest, and empowering.
That’s the kind of change we need.
Morgan Rose is a Certified Nurse Midwife, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant with over a decade of experience supporting women’s health. As the Chief Science Officer at Ema, Morgan combines her expertise with her passion for empowering women. She lives with her spunky daughter and their beloved dog in New York City.
References
- Dovepress. (2024). The connection between emotional distress and chronic pain. Retrieved from www.dovepress.com
- Independent. (2024). One in Three Women with Female Health Conditions Forced to Wait Three Years for Diagnosis. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/women-health-diagnosis-delay-treatment-b2280080.html
- International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). (n.d.). Pain in Women. Retrieved from https://www.iasp-pain.org/advocacy/global-year/pain-in-women/
- Kushner, D. (2024). How Does Endometriosis Impact Mental Health?. Retrieved from https://www.drdanielkushner.com/blog/how-does-endometriosis-impact-mental-health
- Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Depression in Women: Understanding the Gender Gap. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression/art-20047725
- MDU. (2024). Avoiding Diagnosis Delays in Endometriosis. Retrieved from https://www.themdu.com/guidance-and-advice/latest-updates-and-advice/avoiding-diagnosis-delays-in-endometriosis
- PMC. (2024). Social Disparities of Pain and Pain Intensity Among Women Diagnosed with Early Stage Breast Cancer. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8861323/
- Psychology Today. (2024). How gender bias affects the perception and treatment of women’s pain. Retrieved from www.psychologytoday.com
- UCL. (2021). Analysis: Women’s Pain is Routinely Underestimated. Retrieved from https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/apr/analysis-womens-pain-routinely-underestimated-and-gender-stereotypes-are-blame
Ki-67, a protein used to measure tumour growth, may also help prevent chromosome errors that drive cancer, a study suggests.
The findings could change how scientists view Ki-67, a marker commonly used in breast cancer and other tumours to assess how quickly cancer cells are growing.
Researchers found the protein may help preserve genome stability by maintaining the structural integrity of centromeres, key parts of chromosomes that help ensure DNA is shared correctly during cell division.
The research was led by professor Paola Vagnarelli at Brunel University of London in collaboration with scientists at the University of Edinburgh and the Technical University of Berlin.
Professor Vagnarelli said: “Doctors already measure Ki-67 to see how aggressive a cancer might be. But our results suggest it is actually helping maintain genome stability.
“That means it may be more than a marker. It could potentially also be a therapeutic target.”
The study examined three proteins that attach to chromosomes during cell division and help rebuild the molecular system that tells each new cell what kind of cell it is.
Every human cell carries identical DNA. What makes a liver cell different from a brain cell is which genes are switched on and which are kept inactive.
When a cell divides, that entire system of switches must be rebuilt. The three proteins involved in this process were Ki-67, Repo-Man and PNUTS.
Vagnarelli’s team developed a method that individually removes each protein from a living cell at the precise point of division. Older techniques could not isolate that moment cleanly.
They found that cells rely on all three proteins to reset themselves after division, but each failed in a different way when removed.
Without PNUTS, gene activity spiralled out of control and thousands of genes switched on at once.
Without Repo-Man, cells escaped safety checkpoints that usually stop damaged or abnormal cells from continuing to divide.
“What we didn’t expect was how clean the separation was,” said Vagnarelli.
Each protein fails in its own specific way. There is no redundancy, no safety net. Which means there are three separate points at which this process can go wrong.
“When the system breaks down, cells can emerge with the wrong number of chromosomes. That condition, called aneuploidy, is seen in disorders such as Down syndrome and in many cancers.
“We also found that these chromosome errors can trigger inflammatory signals inside the cell.”
Aneuploidy means a cell has too many or too few chromosomes, which can disrupt normal growth and function.
Inflammatory signals are chemical messages that can make a cell behave as if it is responding to injury or infection.
“These cells behave almost as if they are under attack,” said Vagnarelli.
“The immune response switches on because the genome is unstable.
“That link between chromosome imbalance and inflammation could help explain patterns we see in several diseases.”
The researchers said the findings may help cancer scientists better understand how chromosome instability, loss of gene regulation and cells dividing before they are ready contribute to tumour growth.
They said understanding the normal machinery that prevents these errors may help researchers find ways to push cancer cells into making mistakes they cannot survive.
“We now have a clearer map of the machinery that resets the cell after division,” said Vagnarelli.
“That knowledge gives us a starting point for thinking about new therapeutic approaches.”
After more than a decade of campaigning, doctors around the world have agreed to rename polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
It is hoped the new name, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS, will help end the misconception that the condition is all about cysts, which campaigners say has contributed to missed diagnoses and inadequate treatment.
The condition affects one in eight women, or 3.1m women and girls in the UK, and is linked to hormone fluctuations that can affect weight, mental health, skin and the reproductive system.
The renaming was spearheaded by UK patient charity Verity alongside Professor Helena Teede, director of Melbourne’s Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation.
It followed 14 years of consultation with clinicians and patients around the world.
The new name was published in a consensus statement on May 12 and announced at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague.
The paper states that PCOS should now be referred to as PMOS.
“This is a landmark moment that will lead to desperately-needed worldwide advancements in clinical practice and research,” said Professor Teede.
“It was heart-breaking to see the delayed diagnosis, limited awareness and inadequate care afforded those affected by this neglected condition.”
When doctors first named PCOS in 1935, they thought it was mainly caused by physical changes to the ovaries.
Decades of research have since changed that understanding, with clinicians now agreeing the condition is far more complex.
“What we now know is that there is actually no increase in abnormal cysts on the ovary and the diverse features of the condition were often unappreciated,” Professor Teede added.
“A name change was the next critical step towards recognition and improvement in the long term impacts of this condition.”
The exact cause of the condition is still unknown, though it is thought to be linked to abnormal hormone levels and is associated with insulin resistance and raised levels of testosterone and luteinising hormone.
Insulin resistance means the body does not respond properly to insulin, the hormone that helps control blood sugar. Luteinising hormone helps regulate ovulation.
Common symptoms listed by the NHS include irregular periods or no periods at all, difficulty getting pregnant, excessive hair growth, weight gain, thinning hair, oily skin and acne.
Campaigners have acknowledged that the name change could cause temporary confusion.
“Despite decades of tireless advocacy to improve awareness, we recognised that the risk of change would be worth the reward,” said Rachel Morman, chairwoman of Verity.
“This shift will reframe the conversation and demand that it is taken as seriously as the long-term, complex health condition it is.”
It is also unclear if, or when, the NHS will change the language it uses.
An NHS England spokesperson said: “We routinely review and update content on the NHS website to ensure it reflects the latest clinical advice and will carefully consider these recommendations.
“The NHS will also continue our work to improve women’s healthcare, including for this important group, which involves giving women more choice over their care, bringing down waiting times, and delivering more care in communities.”
Insight
The RESIL-Card tool launches across Europe to strengthen cardiovascular care preparedness against crises
By Women As One
Women As One is proud to have contributed to the development of the RESIL-Card tool as an active Advisory Board member, ensuring that gender equity and the perspectives of women cardiologists were embedded from the outset.
Through strategic input on the project’s design, formal support of its EU4Health funding application, and ongoing participation in advisory activities, Women As One has helped shape both the direction and implementation of this initiative.
By amplifying awareness, facilitating engagement from our global community, and advocating for inclusive representation, we have worked to ensure that RESIL-Card reflects the diverse realities of cardiovascular care and supports more equitable, resilient health systems in times of crisis. Read more about our involvement here.
On the European Day for Prevention of Cardiovascular Risk (March 14), the RESIL-Card consortium proudly announces the official launch of the RESIL-Card tool, a free online resource designed to help hospital cardiovascular professionals and other stakeholders assess and strengthen the resilience of their care pathways — ensuring that lifesaving care remains accessible even during times of crisis.
Available now at https://www.wecareabouthearts.org/resil-card/online-tool/, the RESIL-Card tool offers a structured self-assessment framework for evaluating the preparedness of cardiovascular services and identifying concrete actions to maintain continuity of care when health systems face disruption.
“Cardiovascular care must remain uninterrupted regardless of the challenges health systems face,” said Professor William Wijns, Research Professor in Interventional Cardiology, University of Galway, Ireland, and We CARE – RESIL-Card Coordinator.
“The RESIL-Card tool provides healthcare teams with a practical way to assess preparedness, identify improvement opportunities, and ultimately ensure that patients continue to receive lifesaving care when it matters most.”
Why the RESIL-Card tool was developed
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in Europe, making the continuity and resilience of care pathways a public health priority.
Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, recent crises – from pandemics to geopolitical instability – have exposed the vulnerability of healthcare systems.
In today’s increasingly uncertain health landscape and global environment, proactive preparedness is no longer optional – it is essential.
The RESIL-Card tool was developed as part of an EU4Health-funded initiative to support organisations providing lifesaving cardiovascular care in strengthening their preparedness, improving coordination, and safeguarding patient outcomes in times of disruption.
The initiative focuses on practical resilience strategies to help health systems anticipate challenges rather than simply react to them.
“Healthcare systems today operate in an increasingly complex and unpredictable environment,” said Ariadna Sanz, Health Policy Manager at the Catalan Health Service (CatSalut).
“Tools like RESIL-Card help shift the focus from responding to crises toward proactively building strong, adaptable cardiovascular care pathways that protect patients over the long term.”
A collaborative and evidence-based methodology
The RESIL-Card tool is grounded in a robust, multidisciplinary development process involving cardiovascular experts, healthcare professionals, public health specialists, patient organisations, and policy stakeholders from across Europe.
Its development combined comprehensive literature reviews and analysis of existing preparedness frameworks with extensive stakeholder consultations and co-creation workshops. Real-world insights from healthcare providers and patient representatives were integrated throughout the process to ensure the tool reflects the practical realities of cardiovascular care delivery. The methodology also included iterative testing and validation phases, allowing the consortium to refine the tool and ensure it is both scientifically rigorous and practical for everyday use.
“From the outset, RESIL-Card was co-created with clinicians, patient representatives, and health system experts to ensure it reflects real-world practice,” said Professor Niek Klazinga, Em. Professor of Social Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centre / University of Amsterdam.
“The result is a tool that combines scientific rigour with practical usability, enabling healthcare teams to translate resilience concepts into concrete action.”
What the RESIL-Card tool is and how it works
The RESIL-Card tool is a practical online self-assessment instrument designed for use by a multistakeholder resilience team led by cardiovascular care providers.
Through a structured four-step process, including a questionnaire and guided analysis, users assess the preparedness and resilience of their cardiovascular care pathways and gain a clear understanding of how well their services can maintain care continuity during periods of disruption.
The assessment process helps teams identify existing strengths as well as potential gaps in service delivery.
Based on the responses provided, the tool offers tailored recommendations and examples of best practices to support improvement.
These insights can then inform strategic planning, helping organisations prioritise actions that reinforce care continuity, strengthen patient safety, and optimise the long-term sustainability of cardiovascular services.
Benefits for Key Stakeholders
For healthcare professionals and organisations delivering cardiovascular care, the RESIL-Card tool provides a structured way to strengthen preparedness and crisis-response capacity.
By helping teams assess their existing systems and identify areas for improvement, the tool supports better coordination across services and clinical disciplines.
It also facilitates evidence-based planning and quality improvement initiatives, enabling healthcare organisations to enhance their operational resilience while maintaining efficient and manageable care processes.
“By promoting awareness about strengths and limitations of each system, the RESIL-Card tool will help physicians to understand where improvements are needed and strengthen coordination and planning to face crises,” said Doctor Alfredo Marchese, Chief of Interventional Cardiology Department at Santa Maria Hospital, Bari, Italy and President of the Italian Society of Interventional Cardiology (GISE).
For patients and patient organisations, the RESIL-Card tool contributes to improving the reliability and continuity of essential cardiovascular care.
By encouraging healthcare providers to proactively address vulnerabilities in care pathways, the tool helps promote uninterrupted access to diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up services.
It also supports a more patient-centred and equitable approach to care delivery, encouraging collaboration and transparency in preparedness planning.
Ultimately, these improvements can contribute to better health outcomes and increased safety for people living with cardiovascular disease.
“For people living with cardiovascular disease, continuity of care is not optional — it is essential,” said Teresa Glynn, Senior Executive Strategy & Partnerships at Global Heart Hub.
“By helping healthcare providers strengthen preparedness, RESIL-Card supports more reliable and equitable access to treatment and greater confidence for patients and their families.”
At the European level, the RESIL-Card initiative contributes to a shared effort to strengthen the resilience of health systems.
By providing a common framework for assessing and improving preparedness, the tool encourages cross-border learning and facilitates the exchange of best practices among healthcare providers and policymakers.
It also aligns closely with European Union priorities on health system preparedness, crisis response, and sustainability.
By helping healthcare organisations identify vulnerabilities and implement practical resilience measures, the RESIL-Card tool can support efforts to reduce inequalities in access to high-quality cardiovascular care across EU Member States.
“Strengthening the resilience of cardiovascular care is a shared European priority,” said Rachel Kenna, Ireland’s Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health.
“While the RESIL-Card tool has not yet been tested in an Irish setting we look forward to seeing how it can support the development of more sustainable and prepared healthcare systems.”
Call to Action
Cardiovascular care providers and other healthcare professionals are encouraged to explore the RESIL-Card tool at https://www.wecareabouthearts.org/resil-card/online-tool/.
By using it to assess their cardiovascular care pathways, they will identify areas where resilience can be strengthened and ensure that essential services remain accessible during times of disruption.
Patient organisations also play an important role in this effort. By engaging with healthcare providers and policymakers, they can help promote the use of the tool and ensure that patient perspectives are meaningfully incorporated into preparedness and response planning.
Policymakers and health authorities are invited to support the adoption of the RESIL-Card tool within regional, national and European strategies aimed at strengthening healthcare system resilience.
Integrating the tool into policy frameworks can help safeguard access to essential cardiovascular services and enhance the ability of health systems to respond effectively to future challenges.
Learn more about Women As One at womenasone.org
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