Menstrual & gynaecological health

A South Korean femtech firm has launched plant-based period pads in the US, replacing synthetic superabsorbent polymers used in most pads with a plant-derived alternative. Most period pads, including those marketed as organic, use synthetic superabsorbent polymers, or SAPs. These plastic-based materials sit in the pad’s core and absorb menstrual fluid. Inertia says [...]

Digital symptom checkers could reduce endometriosis diagnosis delays by more than four years and save over US$5,000 per patient, according to a modelling study. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside the uterus, often causing pelvic pain and other symptoms. In the US it takes about seven years on [...]

By Jenny Duan, co-founder of Clair Health In the lead up to International Women’s Day 2026, women’s health leaders, experts and insiders explore the critical challenges shaping the future of women’s health “When was your last period?” For many women, that’s the first, and often only, hormone-related question asked during a doctor’s visit. [...]

Oura has launched its first proprietary women’s health AI model to provide personalised insights across reproductive health, the wearable ring maker has said. The model powers the company’s existing AI chatbot, Oura Advisor, and supports questions spanning the reproductive health spectrum, from early menstrual cycles through to menopause. It is rolling out through Oura Labs, [...]

Differences in immune cells may explain why chronic pain lasts longer in women than men, according to new research. The study identified a subset of monocytes, a type of white blood cell, that release interleukin-10, or IL-10, a molecule that signals pain-sensing nerves to switch off pain. These cells were found to be more active [...]

Very heavy or very light periods may be linked to underlying health problems that affect quality of life and can influence fertility, according to medical experts. Heavy menstrual bleeding is reported to have a major impact on daily life, with around two thirds of affected women seeking medical help. Beyond anaemia, which can cause fatigue, [...]

Gedeon Richter has signed a research collaboration and option agreement to license an endometriosis antibody with Swiss biotech FimmCyte AG. Endometriosis, where tissue similar to the womb lining grows elsewhere in the body and can cause chronic pain, affects about 190m women worldwide, the World Health Organization says. There is currently no treatment that targets [...]

A former Accenture employee has won an appeal tribunal ruling after a judge said her endometriosis may amount to a disability under the Equality Act 2010. A senior employment law judge last month quashed a 2022 tribunal decision that rejected claims brought by Sanju Pal, 43, against the consulting firm. The judge found the original [...]

Almost 80 per cent of private weight loss jabs such as Mounjaro are prescribed to women, according to analysis of 113,630 patients. The analysis, covering private prescriptions issued between November 2024 and October 2025, found take-up was concentrated among women and middle-class patients. Uptake was highest in those aged 30 to 49 and dropped sharply [...]

By Katrina Zalcmane, co-founder | partnerships and growth, Véa The global corporate wellness market reached US$70.65 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit US$128 billion by 2033 - Europe leads the charge, capturing over 39.5 per cent of market share. Meanwhile, femtech investment hit US$2.2 billion in 2024, representing 8.5 per cent of all [...]