Women’s health diagnostics: a market in the midst of transformation

The women’s health diagnostics market is huge. Recent estimates suggest it is worth over US$27b and is expected to grow to over US$50b by 2029.

A number of factors are driving this change notably innovation but also a growing demand for empowerment and the ability for women to manage their own health proactively.

As a contract developer and contract manufacturer of lateral flow rapid tests, Abingdon Health is at the forefront of these changes and Nina Garrett, R&D director of Abingdon Health plc, offers her insight into the female health lateral flow market and what is driving this change.

Did you know?

The first ever lateral flow tests launched commercially were pregnancy tests. They were urine tests that were launched in the late-80s by Unipath in the UK. What is interesting is that it has taken 30 years for the first ever saliva pregnancy test to be launched.

Abingdon Health is proud to be launching Salistick^TM in the UK and Ireland on behalf of its Israeli health-tech partner Salignostics Limited.

Salistick^TM is far more convenient and offers women an improved user-experience, with high accuracy for early pregnancy detection, by way of its revolutionary and patented saliva technology which allows for saliva to be used as a sample rather than the traditional urine tests. The simple saliva sample collection method enables the testing experience to be shared with a partner.

Pregnancy testing seems a hot bed of innovation currently with for example a number of companies developing reusable or recyclable pregnancy tests to reduce the environmental footprint.

One example is UK-based female-founded fertility wellness brand OVUM which has launched the UK’s first fully recyclable pregnancy test to reduce environmental impact.

It’s not just pregnancy. Innovation is happening across a range of female health areas

It’s not only the pregnancy test market that is seeing transformation. We are also seeing new innovative products being developed in a range of other areas of female health. For example, there are a range of diagnostic technology products being developed to support women through the menopause.

Innovative Swedish/UK female-led company Hormona’s mission is to provide women with the tools and information they need to take control of their hormone health.

Hormona is developing a first-of-its-kind system for weekly hormone monitoring to enable women to gain a greater understanding of their hormone health.

US-based Mira Care has also launched the Ovum Wand that “provides lab-accurate detection of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to predict menopause, evaluate fertility and assist in ovulation prediction”.

What is driving this change?

Within the lateral flow market the barriers to adoption of the technology have reduced significantly following the mass-use of lateral flow tests during COVID-19. Everyone is familiar with the technology and how to use it. This is now driving investment in innovation and female health diagnostics is seeing more that it’s fair share of this focus.

Also, the traditional healthcare models are no longer seen as “fit for purpose” (weeks for a GP appointment in the UK) and these models of care are increasingly being replaced by innovative technology-driven approaches which allow women to manage their health in their own time and in their own way.

We’re also seeing major retailers driving this change, within the UK leading retailers Boots and Superdrug both offering online menopause consultations and HRT treatment and monitoring and support.

Female empowerment is a major catalyst of change

However, within women’s health, there are other factors at play. One of the key drivers is the female empowerment which is driving change and a demand for more improved female health products.

This is being driven in part by female entrepreneurs looking to drive change, and it is encouraging to see these ventures being supported by a venture capital industry looking to support and invest in female-led companies. In addition, influencers are playing a key role in demanding change.

A great example is the work TV celebrity Davina McCall has done in helping women receive evidence-based information and treatment for their perimenopause and menopause.

In addition, female consumers are demanding better products that fit with their lifestyles and their needs. The gender health gap is now recognised as a key issue with both governments and NGOs looking to support innovation and products that close this gap with female health issues being brought to the top of the agenda.

A great start, but a long way to go

It is really encouraging to see the transformation of female diagnostics underway and within the lateral flow segment of the market we at Abingdon Health are actively involved in supporting the development and manufacturing of these products.

We are at the start of this paradigm shift, driven in part by innovation, lower barriers to adoption of this technology and female empowerment, and we believe this will see women increasingly proactive in taking greater control of their own health and wellbeing through the use of new diagnostic products.