Insight
Redefining quality of life: The role of non-invasive treatments in women’s health
By Gloria Kolb, Co-founder & CEO – Elitone
In women’s healthcare, the options for treating various conditions have traditionally leaned heavily toward surgical or pharmaceutical interventions.
While these treatments are effective in many cases, they often come with risks, downtime, and long-term side effects.
From surgeries that require lengthy recovery periods to medications with potential side effects that can disrupt daily life, these options can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life.
However, as healthcare evolves, so does the demand for more non-invasive solutions. Today, women seek alternatives that provide relief without compromising their lifestyles or health.
Non-invasive treatments offer a refreshing departure from conventional approaches that often prioritise more intrusive methods because they are designed to be less disruptive, allowing women to continue with their lives without significant interruptions.
Wearable treatments, lifestyle modifications, and other non-invasive options improve the overall quality of life in women’s health by prioritising their balance, well-being, and control.
The push toward surgical and pharmaceutical solutions
The traditional medical and pharmaceutical communities often lean toward surgical or pharmaceutical interventions for various reasons, not the least of which is profitability.
Surgical procedures and long-term pharmaceutical treatments are not only more lucrative for healthcare providers but also offer a clear-cut, often immediate, solution to certain health conditions.
For example, surgeries for conditions like incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, or other women’s health issues are commonly marketed as a definitive “fix.”
Medications, meanwhile, are often prescribed to manage symptoms over the long term.
While this approach can create continued profits for pharmaceutical companies, clinicians do not prescribe medications with this in mind.
Rather, medications are often seen as a quick and straightforward solution: a prescription that gets a patient on their way with minimal effort required in the short term.
However, these solutions can come at a significant cost to the women undergoing them.
Surgical procedures can involve weeks of recovery, potential complications, and even repeat operations. They can be costly, and copays and deductibles are substantial.
Additionally, while pharmaceutical interventions can be less invasive than surgery, they often come with a range of side effects specific to the condition being treated.
For instance, medications for endometriosis or hormone replacement therapy can lead to weight gain, fatigue, or hormone imbalances, which can disrupt daily life and add stress for many women.
These trade-offs are often a source of frustration, as managing the side effects can feel like swapping one problem for another. Incorporating broader examples of women’s health issues, such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or menopause, makes the conversation around treatment options more relatable and comprehensive.
What non-invasive treatments offer
Non-invasive treatments, by contrast, redefine what it means to manage health conditions.
While clinicians may define “non-invasive” as strictly non-surgical, the broader perspective includes treatments that avoid physical intrusion, require fewer clinician visits, and don’t demand significant time off work or logistical challenges like arranging transportation.
These hurdles often discourage women from completing or even starting the care they need.
Non-invasive options remove these barriers, making it more likely that women will adhere to and benefit from treatment.
In medical terms, this approach is often referred to as “conservative” treatment. The idea is to try solutions that don’t permanently alter the body or limit future options.
For example, once a surgical implant is placed, other procedures become more complicated or unavailable.
Conservative treatments, by contrast, allow women to explore other options later if needed.
Take, for example, wearable treatments for incontinence. These devices offer a discreet, non-invasive way to treat symptoms by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles over time.
Wearable treatments don’t require surgery or even any downtime. Women can go about with their tasks while getting treatment.
Furthermore, women don’t have to wear the device all day — it only takes up to 20 minutes — and many of these non-invasive options are designed to address multiple conditions beyond incontinence, including pelvic pain, hormonal imbalances, or menstrual irregularities.
By working with the body’s natural rhythms, they offer a gentler alternative to conventional treatments.
This alignment with the body allows women to feel in control of their health, pursuing treatment that supports their needs without dominating their lives.
Redefining quality of life for women
Quality of life is a concept that extends beyond simply managing symptoms.
It encompasses a woman’s overall well-being and ability to engage fully in her relationships, work, and personal interests without being hindered by her health.
Non-invasive treatments offer solutions that respect this broader definition of wellness.
For instance, non-invasive treatments such as pelvic floor therapy or low-impact physical therapies can help women regain control of their bodies without the need for surgery.
These treatments encourage gradual, natural improvement over time, allowing women to recover strength and function at their own pace.
There’s no need for a significant disruption to daily life. which is particularly important for women who balance multiple roles — whether in the workforce, at home, or both.
Similarly, lifestyle modifications such as dietary changes, stress management techniques, or even behavioral therapies can be instrumental in managing women’s health conditions without the need for aggressive treatments.
These approaches support physical health and mental and emotional well-being, reinforcing the idea that quality of life is multidimensional.
When women have access to non-invasive treatments, they are empowered to make choices about their healthcare that prioritise their personal and professional lives.
This is crucial in an era when women are managing more than ever — family, career, personal development, and health.
Non-invasive treatments offer a way to balance these aspects without sacrificing well-being.
The future of non-invasive treatments in women’s health
As more women demand non-invasive options, the healthcare landscape is gradually shifting.
Wearable devices, digital health solutions, and other innovations make it easier for women to take control of their health without feeling like their condition controls them.
In particular, the rise of Femtech — technology designed to address women’s health issues — has brought an array of non-invasive options to the forefront.
From wearable treatments for pelvic floor strengthening to apps that track and manage menstrual cycles, to cooling mechanisms for hot flashes, and digital solutions for hormone balance, these innovations prioritise convenience and accessibility.
The future of women’s health lies in individualised, non-intrusive care.
These advancements offer women the opportunity to prioritise their health without excessive sacrifices to their quality of life.
Non-invasive treatments provide effective solutions without requiring significant time, recovery, or compromise, empowering women to manage their health in a way that is both practical and respectful of their responsibilities.
The future of women’s health lies in technologies that allow for individualised, nonintrusive care.
Rather than forcing women to choose between their health and their quality of life, non-invasive treatments allow women to have both by providing effective solutions that don’t demand significant time, recovery, or compromise.
This shift is not just about better healthcare; it’s about a better approach to healthcare that respects women’s needs and preferences and redefines what it means to live well.
Non-invasive treatments recognise that quality of life is more than symptom management and entails supporting a woman’s ability to thrive in all areas of her life without being held back by the limitations of more traditional medical treatments.
Gloria Kolb is the CEO and co-founder of Elitone, the first non-invasive, FDA-cleared, wearable treatment for women with urinary incontinence. Elitone’s accolades include winning Best New Product by My Face My Body, Sling Shot 2020, CES Innovation Award, and many startup competitions. As an inventor with 30+ patents, Gloria has been featured in Forbes as a Top Scientist Driving Innovation in Women’s Health. Her creative designs and problem-solving abilities have earned her recognition, such as Boston’s “40 Under 40” and MIT Review’s “World’s Top Innovators under 35.” She has engineering degrees from MIT and Stanford, as well as an MBA in entrepreneurship from Babson College.
News
From Hologic to Ark Surgical: Why Joseph LaBruzzo is betting on the future of women’s surgical innovation
After more than two decades leading organisations at some of the world’s most respected medical device companies, including Hologic, SenoRx Breast Care, and BTL Industries, Joseph B. LaBruzzo is embarking on a new chapter as President & CEO of U.S. Operations and Board Member at Ark Surgical.
We sat down with Joseph to discuss what drew him to Ark Surgical, why he believes women’s surgical innovation is entering a transformative era, and what it takes to bring meaningful technologies from concept to standard of care.
You have held leadership positions at some of the biggest names in MedTech. What attracted you to Ark Surgical?
Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work with organisations that developed technologies capable of changing the standard of care.
What attracted me to Ark Surgical is the opportunity to help address a meaningful unmet need in gynecologic surgery with an innovation that has the potential to improve patient outcomes while preserving the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.
Opportunities like that don’t come along very often.
FemTech World recently highlighted that many women remain unaware of gynecologic cancers and that unexpected diagnoses continue to have a profound impact on patients and families.
How has your own experience shaped the way you think about innovation in women’s health?
Earlier in my career, I witnessed many women receive life-changing cancer diagnoses.
Those experiences stayed with me and reinforced my belief that if there’s an opportunity to reduce risk through better innovation, it’s one worth pursuing.
That’s one of the reasons I was drawn to Ark Surgical.
The vast majority of minimally invasive gynecologic procedures are performed for conditions believed to be benign. Unfortunately, in rare cases, pathology later reveals an unexpected malignancy.
LapBox was designed with a proprietary dual-wall tissue containment system to help facilitate contained specimen retrieval and minimise the risk of tissue spillage during laparoscopic procedures.
I believe innovations like this can help surgeons manage the unexpected while preserving the many benefits of minimally invasive surgery for women.
Women’s health has gained significant momentum in recent years, yet surgical innovation often receives less attention than diagnostics or therapeutics. Why do you think that is?
Women’s health has historically been underfunded and underserved across many areas of medicine, and surgery is no exception.
While we’ve seen tremendous advances in diagnostics and pharmaceuticals, there are still important opportunities to improve the surgical experience for both physicians and patients.
Innovation that enhances safety, efficiency, and outcomes has the potential to make a lasting impact.
What excites you most about LapBox?
LapBox addresses a very real challenge that gynecologic surgeons face during minimally invasive procedures.
It was thoughtfully designed to integrate seamlessly into the surgical workflow while providing an added layer of confidence when tissue retrieval is required.
I believe technologies that solve real clinical challenges in a practical way have the greatest potential to become part of the standard of care.
What do you see as the biggest unmet needs in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery today?
The future of surgery isn’t simply about making procedures less invasive. It’s about making them smarter and safer.
Surgeons need technologies that integrate seamlessly into their workflow while helping them navigate increasingly complex clinical situations.
Every advancement that helps reduce risk while preserving the benefits of minimally invasive surgery has the potential to improve outcomes for both physicians and patients.
That’s where I believe the greatest opportunities for innovation exist.
As you take on this new role, what are your priorities over the next 12 months?
Our focus over the next 12 months is to build a strong foundation for growth. That means expanding physician partnerships, driving early clinical adoption, growing our team, and ensuring that more surgeons have access to technologies like LapBox.
At the same time, we’re focused on building strategic relationships with investors, healthcare systems, and industry partners that support our long-term vision.
What advice would you give entrepreneurs building the next generation of women’s health companies?
Start with a real clinical problem and never lose sight of the patient.
Great technology alone isn’t enough. You also need strong clinical evidence, physician advocates, and a clear market strategy. The companies that succeed are the ones that bring all of those pieces together while remaining focused on improving patient care.
About Joseph B. LaBruzzo
As President & CEO of U.S. Operations and Board Member, Joseph LaBruzzo is leading Ark Surgical’s U.S. growth strategy, physician partnerships, strategic investment initiatives, and organisational expansion, supporting the company’s mission to advance safer minimally invasive gynecologic surgery through innovative technologies.
Cancer cells may hijack a fertility protein to repair damaged DNA and survive chemotherapy, research suggests.
The findings could point to a way of making existing cancer treatments more effective.
SYCP1 is a protein normally involved in producing sperm and eggs.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool found that the protein, previously thought to work only in reproduction, can be reactivated in cancer cells, where it helps tumours survive and grow.
SYCP1 usually helps chromosomes pair during meiosis, the form of cell division that produces reproductive cells.
In cancer cells, however, the protein appears to take on another role. It enters the nucleus, the cell’s control centre, binds directly to DNA and regulates genes involved in cell division and DNA repair.
DNA repair is how cells fix damage to their genetic code. In cancer, this process can help tumour cells survive treatment.
The researchers found that removing SYCP1 made cancer cells much more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs that damage DNA.
The findings suggest cancers may use SYCP1 to repair damage caused by treatment and continue growing.
Dr Urszula McClurg, lecturer in biochemistry, cell and systems biology at the University of Liverpool, said: “Our findings show that cancer cells can hijack proteins that normally exist only in reproductive tissues and give them completely new jobs.
“Understanding these unexpected functions opens up exciting opportunities to develop new treatments that make existing cancer therapies more effective.”
The work challenges the long-held belief that proteins active only in fertility have no biological relevance outside the reproductive system.
Researchers say these specialised proteins could provide new treatment targets across many types of cancer.
The study also offers a new view of how cancers evolve by repurposing developmental and reproductive processes.
The findings highlight SYCP1 as a candidate for future precision cancer therapies, which are treatments based on the specific biology of a patient’s cancer.
Women’s health has become one of the most searched and shared topics online, from cycle syncing and cortisol management to menopause hacks, supplements, hormone testing and clinician-creator content.
That surge in attention, sometimes dubbed “healthmaxxing,” is changing how women find, evaluate and act on health information, and it is starting to reshape the relationship between patients, clinicians and the companies building products for this market.
For providers, the shift means patients are arriving better informed but also more exposed to unverified claims, putting pressure on clinicians to engage with online narratives rather than dismiss them.
For femtech and pharma companies, it opens a route to reach and educate consumers at scale, but also raises the stakes on credibility: products and messaging that ride the trend without clinical grounding risk eroding the trust the industry has spent years building.
Investors are watching the same dynamic from a different angle.
Attention-driven demand can be a signal of where the next wave of femtech growth will come from, but distinguishing genuine clinical need from viral momentum is increasingly part of due diligence.
The net effect is a widening gap between companies that treat cultural attention as a distribution channel for credible, evidence-based care, and those that risk being swept up in trends with little clinical substance behind them.
How that gap plays out will shape patient trust, clinical relationships and commercial opportunity across the women’s health industry for years to come.
These themes will be explored in more depth in an upcoming webinar, “Women’s Healthmaxxing: The Opportunity & Risks of Cultural Attention for the Women’s Health Industry,” hosted by the Women’s Health Innovation Summit (WHIS), featuring Ellen Wilcox (Listen Ventures), Jessica Bell van der Wal (Frame Fertility), Dr. Tosin Sotubo-Ajayi (NHS, BBC and more) and Nora Lansen (Elektra Health).
Register free for the webinar on 23 July 2026 at https://events.virtualpro.com/womens-health-series-webinar-july-2026/registration
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