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‘It ignores the reality’: experts react to controversial US maternal health study
Experts have questioned a new study challenging the extent of the US maternal health crisis
One study alone does not reverse a body of research, experts have warned, after a new paper has called into question the high maternal mortality rates in the US.
The report has challenged the scale of the maternal health crisis in the US, claiming that data classification errors have “inflated” maternal death rates for two decades.
It said that a change in the way pregnancy was noted on death certificates 21 years ago to improve the detection of maternal deaths led to “substantial misclassification” and an “overestimation of maternal mortality”.
Instead of the maternal death rate more than doubling since 2002, it has remained flat, the paper found.
However, experts have told Femtech World that blaming methodology differences around how mortality calculations are done ignores the harsh reality of what women giving birth in the US face.
“The reality is that mortality rates are a very narrow representation of the maternal health crisis in the US — they simply do not reflect the severity of the problem,” said Anu Sharma, founder and CEO of California-based maternity clinic Millie.
“Regardless of whether or not this specific data has been miscalculated, we undoubtedly have high rates of maternal morbidity, with nearly 50,000 near misses a year, as well as high rates of C-sections, preterm births, NICU stays and poor maternal mental health. On top of that, racial disparities for Black birthing people are significant, as this study continues to affirm.
“None of this is getting better in the face of the massive OB/GYN shortages we’re seeing nationwide, with labour and delivery unit closures happening daily.
“Reducing the US maternal health crisis to methodology differences around how mortality calculations are done, ignores the harsh reality of what mothers giving birth in the US face today.”
Dr Alison Cowan, OB/GYN and head of medical affairs at Mirvie, said: “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists publicly disagreed with this analysis. The CDC specifically stated that they feel the paper underestimates maternal mortality.
“What no one is disputing is maternal health is in crisis and we need to devote more resources, not fewer, to solve these challenges.”
Dr Linda Genen, chief medical officer at ProgenyHealth, described the world of data analysis and reporting as challenging, and said that it is frequently hard to have consensus around methodology.
“The article and resulting statements by the CDC and ACOG are case in point. One study alone does not reverse a body of research,” she explained.
Regardless of the various reporting approaches, she said, the United States continues to have a problem that it should strive to solve.
“Having a stable maternal mortality number versus a rising maternal mortality number is not the key issue. The primary issue is that we have maternal death rates in a developed nation that is higher compared to other wealthy countries.”
Dr Sarah Oreck, reproductive psychiatrist and co-founder of Mavida Health, said what is inferred when evidence like this comes out is that maternal deaths are really not a problem. In reality, the findings paint a different picture.
“When you look under the hood of this study, the authors are arguing that maternal mortality only rose slightly over a 20-year period, but the trend that is hidden in those averages is a 17 per cent decrease in direct obstetrical deaths, from complications such as preeclampsia, corresponding with improvements in obstetrical care, but also a 45 per cent increase in indirect obstetrical deaths, from mental health disorders such as substance use and suicide, and a 329 per cent increase in late maternal deaths.
“These data points suggest that while we have been doing a better job of catching and treating physical disorders of pregnancy and birth in the last 25 years, our attention to mother’s mental health and the ongoing care of mothers following a delivery has been precipitously declining.”
Oreck said any movements towards better data collection should be celebrated but she warned that it is vital not to lose sight of how much still needs to change to better support mums and children.
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The Women’s Health Innovation Summit (WHIS), the event uniting the global women’s health ecosystem, has just announced 18 new speakers joining the agenda for its 2026 summit, taking place October 13–15 at Encore Boston Harbor.
The latest additions bring further depth across pharma, clinical research, health systems, venture, and policy, reinforcing WHIS’s role as the only platform where the full women’s health ecosystem convenes under one roof.
Newly confirmed speakers include:
- Kelle Moley, MD – VP, Women’s Health Early Phase Clinical Development, Cardiometabolic Research, Eli Lilly & Company
- Justine Levin-Allerhand – Executive Partner, Chief Corporate Development Officer & COO, Flagship Labs, Flagship Pioneering
- Sebnem Yildirimoglu, MD, PMP – Executive Director, Women’s Health Strategy, Premier Research
- Terri Stewart – Head of Global Healthcare & Government Affairs, EMD Serono
- Dr. Morag Grassie – Executive Director, Blavatnik Fund for Innovation, Yale
- Sandra Butler – Director, Design Impact, Mass General Brigham
- Zhenya Lindgardt – Chief Executive Officer, Sera Prognostics
- Sadie Morahan – Head of US Revenue, Withings Health Solutions
- Angela Drew, PhD – Vice President, Regulatory Strategy, Premier Research
- Dr. Stephanie Lahr – CMIO, Aqurio
- Michelle Andrews – Contributing Writer, KFF Health News
- Charlotte Williams – CEO, My Bump Hub
- Clint Dart, MS – Director, NIH Women’s Health Data Coordinating Center, Premier Research
- Cass Sanford – US Venture Advisor, FemTech Lab
- Megan Mukuria – Founder & CEO, ZanaAfrica
- Tiffany Inglis, MD, FACOG – Chief Medical Officer, Sera Prognostics
- Angelean Hendrix, PhD – Vice President, Pharmacometrics and MIDD, Premier Research
- Amanda Ducach – CEO & Co-founder, EmaEQ
“WHIS is where the women’s health industry comes together to take action,” said Poppy Howard-Wall, Event Director at WHIS.
“This latest wave of speakers reflects exactly the kind of cross-sector expertise our attendees expect – from global pharma and clinical research leadership to venture, health systems, and grassroots innovation.
“It’s this breadth that makes WHIS the room where things actually move forward.”
Bringing the Full Ecosystem Together
These additions join a growing 2026 agenda spanning four content tracks that reflect the full lifecycle of healthcare innovation, from early-stage research and development through to patient delivery, system transformation, and commercial scale.
Attendees can expect over 1,000 senior decision-makers, 120+ expert speakers, four dedicated stages, and more than 10 hours of curated 1:1 meetings.
Full speaker and agenda details are available at whisusa.com/speakers-2026.
About WHIS
The Women’s Health Innovation Summit is the only platform uniting the full women’s health ecosystem – providers, payers, employers, pharma leaders, investors, and innovators -to increase deal flow, expand reimbursement, improve access, and deliver better outcomes for women at every stage of life.
Millions of women who have missed cervical screening in England will be offered free NHS home HPV tests.
The initiative is aimed at women who are not up to date with screening, with NHS estimates suggesting as many as 4 million have fallen behind.
The home kits contain a swab for collecting a vaginal sample, which is returned to the NHS free of charge and tested in a laboratory for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV).
If high-risk HPV is detected through a home test, patients will be asked to attend a cervical screening appointment with a clinician.
HPV is a group of viruses that can be passed on through sexual contact and cause no symptoms. About 13 high-risk types are known to cause 99.7 per cent of cervical cancers.
Starting on Tuesday, eligible women aged between 30 and 65 who have not attended screening appointments will receive invitations through the NHS app, text message, email or letter.
They will then be able to order a testing kit through the NHS app or website.
The scheme is part of the NHS’s target to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.
Dr Sue Mann, national clinical director for women’s health at NHS England, said: “Screening saves thousands of lives each year by preventing cancers and catching them earlier, but only around two-thirds of women are attending cervical screening appointments when invited by the NHS.
“Offering millions of women an alternative test they can do from the comfort of their own homes will be a gamechanger – making it easier than ever for them to get tested for HPV.”
Women aged between 24 and 64 are invited for cervical screening every five years, or more often if HPV is detected.
NHS England figures show 68.8 per cent of eligible women are up to date with cervical screening, below the 80 per cent target.
Mann said: “There are lots of reasons that may stop women from getting their cervical screening – embarrassment, lack of time, or worries about discomfort – and these kits provide a discreet and convenient option we hope will encourage more women to take up the life-saving test.
“So, if you’re invited to take part, please order a test – it’s a simple swab you can do at home in minutes.”
Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of the Eve Appeal, welcomed the move, saying that self-testing at home would be a “step-change” for many women.
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Cervical screening is a powerful tool that saves lives – it can prevent cervical cancer or spot it at an earlier stage when treatment is more likely to be successful.
“While it’s best for cervical screening to be done by a nurse or doctor, there are barriers that make it challenging for some people to attend. At-home HPV self-testing kits will help more people take part in a way that works for them.”
Health secretary Yvette Cooper said the aim was to make it as easy and convenient as possible for women to keep up with their screening.
She said: “This is the future NHS we are building – there for all of us when we need it, and acting as early as possible to stop preventable deaths.”
Nearly a quarter of women often miss work because of menstrual symptoms, according to a survey examining hormonal health among women in full-time work in Ireland.
The survey looked at the impact of menstruation, fertility and motherhood, and perimenopause and menopause.
Research from The Menopause Hub found more than one in three women who had not disclosed a menstrual health issue at work said the lack of a clear workplace policy was the reason.
More than a quarter said they did not think their concerns would be taken seriously, while 22 per cent cited embarrassment and 18 per cent feared being judged.
Nearly half of respondents said better workplace support would have made them feel less stressed, while 40 per cent said it would have made them feel more valued. Some 36 per cent said they would have felt more comfortable speaking up.
Some 76 per cent of women surveyed said they experienced menstrual health issues, with 23 per cent of those often missing work because of symptoms.
Nearly half of respondents, 49 per cent, said they felt uncomfortable talking about menstruation at work.
One respondent said: “As a woman, we try to get through the day, sometimes in pain that can’t be seen. We feel emotionally and physically drained.”
The research also found that 62 per cent of those who experienced baby loss reported a moderate or significant impact on work attendance.
More than half of respondents who experienced depression during pregnancy also reported a moderate or significant impact on attendance.
Some 63 per cent of mothers said it was “difficult” to return to work after pregnancy, while nearly half said their maternity pay arrangement had negatively affected their financial wellbeing.
One respondent said: “I almost walked away. The only reason I stayed was because I had to provide for my family.”
The survey also found that nearly half of respondents said menopause had some impact on their attendance, while more than six in 10 reported an impact on their work performance.
Some 44 per cent of women said they were “uncomfortable” discussing perimenopause and menopause at work.
One person said they were “already terrified of losing my job at my age:
“I need to just struggle through this without support or acknowledgement. That’s basically workplace discrimination.”
The Menopause Hub chief executive Loretta Dignam said women’s hormonal health has been treated as a “private or personal issue” for too long, “when the reality is that it has a very real impact on women’s working lives”.
“The fundamental point is that women are not ‘mini men.’
“Our biology is different, and workplaces that were largely designed around a male model of health and working life need to evolve to recognise that.
“What is striking is how many women continue to show up, perform, push through and progress at work while managing significant physical and emotional symptoms, often without the policies, understanding or practical support they need,” Dignam said.
She added that because expectations are changing, Gen Z and Gen Alpha employees will be “far less willing than previous generations to accept workplaces that ignore their health and wellbeing”.
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