Hormonal health
Women’s health enters a new era – the trends shaping femtech in 2026
Almost 10 years after the term ‘femtech’ was coined, is the sector on the brink of its biggest transformation yet?
In 2026, experts say women’s health will finally shift from basic tracking to measurable biomarkers, AI-enabled personalisation and deeply women-centred care. We take a look at the trends set to define femtech next year.
A decade on from when Ida Tin first coined the term ‘femtech’, the industry could be shaping up to see some of its most significant advances yet.
Insights from legal, clinical and industry leaders reveal a future defined by measurable biometrics, AI-enabled personalisation, and a long-overdue shift toward women-centred care.
From hyper-personalised care to menstrual blood diagnostics, we delve into some of the major trends expected to shape the femtech sector in 2026.
Hyper-personalised, women-centred care becomes the norm
For decades, women’s health tools have been built on incomplete data sets and assumptions that failed to reflect real hormonal, emotional or life-stage complexity, but 2026 could be a ‘defining year’ for femtech as the industry shifts from “generic solutions toward deeply personalised and truly women-centred care,” Anastasia Shubareva-Epshtein, founder & CEO of Carea, tells Femtech World.
“Advances in AI will accelerate this shift. In 2026, we will see digital health platforms capable of delivering support that adapts to a woman’s individual biology, emotional state and daily experience.”
Devices such as the Oura Ring and continuous glucose monitors are already capturing cycle and hormonal signals. In 2026, we could see this data being harnessed by healthcare systems, enabling earlier intervention and more personalised care.
“In 2026, Femtech will shift from reactive tracking to proactive, personalised health management – covering pregnancy, menopause, and autoimmune conditions,” says Charlotte Lewis, principal associate at UK law firm Mills & Reeve.
“Three trends dominate globally: AI-driven symptom analysis predicting issues before they arise; fertility and pregnancy apps transforming into real-time health coaches; and seamless integration of wearable data into healthcare systems. Devices like the Oura Ring and continuous glucose monitors promise actionable insights on cycles, hormones, and fertility.”
Femtech shifts from tracking to measurable data collection
Alongside this, femtech could finally move beyond basic symptom tracking into quantifiable biomarker collection, according to Justyna Strzeszynska, women’s health expert and founder & CEO of Joii.
“Across FemTech, from menstrual health to fertility, menopause and broader endocrine conditions, there’s a growing realisation that women have been expected to self-report symptoms without being given meaningful clinical metrics. That’s starting to change,” she tells Femtech World.
“The next wave of FemTech will be driven by biomarkers, not just tracking.”
Lewis agrees: “Women’s health tech is evolving from simple tracking to predictive coaching.”
AI becomes ‘practical partner’ for women
AI is not going anywhere, and in 2026, it is likely to play a big role in the shift toward measurable, clinical-grade data collection.
“Not in a ‘black box diagnoses everything’ way,” says Strzeszynska, “but in a very practical, grounded way.”
The next wave of AI is thought to be about contextual intelligence, helping identify patterns, tracking change over time and turning everyday markers from cycle data, wearables, and mental health check-ins into actionable insights for clinicians and users.
Menstrual blood becomes a major diagnostic tool
Menstrual blood, long-overlooked, will also emerge as an important source of health insight. Period products will evolve beyond being ‘passive absorbents’ to ‘data-enabled health touchpoints’, Strzeszynska says, measuring key markers to support the diagnosis of conditions such as fibroids, anaemia, adenomyosis and even suspected endometriosis.
“We’ll move beyond subjective labels like ‘light’, ‘medium’ or ‘heavy’ periods and towards measurable bleeding metrics, actual blood volume, clot size, flow characteristics and how these change across cycles,” she adds.
“By 2026, using your period as a long-term health data signal won’t feel radical. It will feel like the obvious next step in closing the evidence gap in women’s health.”
Maternal mental health moves centre stage
One of the most important areas of innovation in women’s health next year will be centred around maternal mental health, says Shubareva-Epshtein.
“Anxiety and emotional well-being play a critical role across fertility, pregnancy, birth and postpartum, yet they have historically been underaddressed,” she continues.
Femtech startups are now beginning to integrate emotional check-ins, validated screening tools, and access to midwives, therapists and coaches into their digital platforms.
This moves the sector from simply offering reactive support to playing an active role in prevention.
“Femtech is beginning to recognise mental health as a core component of care rather than an add-on or nice-to-have,” Shubareva-Epshtein adds.
“The impact will be profound, helping to prevent trauma rather than react to it. Together, these shifts represent an opportunity to build women’s health solutions that feel human, supportive and genuinely transformative.”
A new, evidence-led consumer mindset
Women are entering 2026 more informed, more questioning and more empowered than ever when it comes to their health.
Google search trends reveal a population that is more proactive and engaged than ever, with searches around menstrual cycle phases, cholesterol management, heart-rate training, skin cancer detection and libido support rising dramatically, according to research by Bupa Health Clinics.
But as Dr Samantha Wild, clinical lead for Women’s Health and GP, Bupa Health Clinics, notes, this empowerment comes with a need for caution.
While credible, science-backed tools will thrive, innovators should be prepared to meet consumers’ rising expectations for evidence-led solutions.
“Good health is personal to everyone, says Wild.
“It comes from taking care of your body in the long term, and rarely from a quick fix. If you’re looking to make a change to your lifestyle, make choices that are scientifically backed, right for you, and proven to help over the long term.
“If you’re concerned about your health, whether it be your skin cancer risk or menstrual cycle, your first port of call should always be a health professional.
“Health professionals can work through your concerns and suggest credible, safe and long-term plans to help get your health where you’d like it to be.”
Genomics and DNA sequencing go mainstream
Also powering the shift towards more personalised care is the surge in popularity of DNA and genome testing, which is becoming more mainstream as private sequencing becomes increasingly accessible.
According to Bupa Health Clinics, the UK has seen an explosion in public interest in DNA testing, with ‘DNA nutrition’ searches rising 11-fold and genome sequencing searches doubling.
Women are increasingly using genetic insights to personalise nutrition, make decisions around medication and introduce disease-prevention strategies.
“Personalisation in healthcare looks set to become even bigger in 2026,” Wild adds.
“In the past, you needed a referral from a GP to have genetic testing via the NHS.
“However, it’s possible to opt for a full genome or DNA health test privately now, allowing many more people in the UK to better understand their genetic makeup and health profiles.”
Growing momentum, but funding gaps remain
Femtech is now a fast-growing sector, projected to hit $75 billion globally. But despite the momentum, funding remains fragmented.
While fertility solutions are thriving, innovation in menopause, sexual health, and non-hormonal contraception lags due to funding gaps, Lewis says.
“Sustained investment and cross-sector collaboration are vital to ensure innovation benefits all aspects of women’s health, she tells Femtech World.
But as pressure mounts and we see more drive from governments, investors, and professional bodies to address longstanding gender health gaps, 2026 could be the time we start to see tangible change.
“The UK is emerging as a key hub, supported by the government’s Women’s Health Strategy and new research from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists outlining top priorities,” Lewis continues.
“Investors are bullish, with startups eyeing IPOs amid rapid AI adoption, signalling both financial opportunity and cultural change.”
What this means for femtech in 2026
Speaking to experts across the sector, a singular theme emerges for femtech in 2026. After decades of being overlooked and kept in the dark, women are finally gaining meaningful insight into their own bodies.
Wearables will feed real-time data, AI will interpret patterns, and all of this will be harnessed to deliver more precise, preventative and personalised care.
This shift is not just about developing better technology but potentially transforming women’s experiences of healthcare.
Health secretary Wes Streeting has relaunched England’s women’s health strategy, vowing to stop women being “gaslit” by doctors.
Speaking before publication of the renewed strategy, the health secretary said the NHS was “failing women” and set out measures to help them access the healthcare they need.
The government said the strategy would include a new standard of care to ensure women were offered pain relief for invasive procedures, such as fitting a contraceptive coil and hysteroscopies.
Feedback would be directly linked to provider funding through a new trial, giving women more power to affect change if they have a poor experience.
Action would also be taken to ensure women no longer face long waits for diagnoses for conditions such as endometriosis, which can take a decade to diagnose.
Streeting said: “[Women] have for so long been let down by a healthcare system that too often gaslights women, treating their pain as an inconvenience and their symptoms as an overreaction.
“Whether it’s being passed from one appointment to another for conditions like endometriosis and fibroids, or a lack of proper pain relief during invasive procedures, through to having to navigate symptoms for years before receiving a diagnosis, it’s clear the system is failing women.
“Women’s voices must be central to delivering effective, respectful and empathetic care. We need to hit medical misogyny where it hurts – the wallet.
“Today’s renewed strategy will tackle the issues women face every day and ensure no woman is left fighting to be heard.”
A report last month by the women and equalities committee found that gynaecological and menstrual health had not been “sufficiently prioritised” by the government.
MPs said parts of the 10-year women’s health strategy, launched in 2022 by the Conservatives, were at risk of being scaled back or discontinued under wider changes to the NHS.
These included initiatives that had reduced waiting lists and improved women’s access to healthcare, such as women’s health hubs.
Sarah Owen, chair of the committee and a Labour MP, said: “This would be a disaster for girls’ and women’s menstrual healthcare, when it is in dire need of more support.
“It is a national scandal that nearly half a million women are on hospital gynaecology waiting lists when there are effective treatments that could be administered in primary and community care, if only they could access them.”
The report said women faced “medical misogyny” and were left to “suck it up” and suffer in pain for years because of a lack of awareness of women’s health conditions.
A redesign of clinical pathways for some women’s health issues will aim to speed up diagnosis and treatment, and there will be a review of support for families who experience repeated baby loss.
The government also promised a “single referral point” to ensure women were directed to the right place the first time they sought help.
Dr Sue Mann, NHS England’s women’s health director, said too many women were dismissed for “serious symptoms” that affected every part of their lives.
“The renewed women’s health strategy will build significantly on the work the NHS has been doing to ensure women are heard and get the specialist care they need,” she said.
Women’s health groups cautiously welcomed the renewed strategy. Emma Cox, chief executive of Endometriosis UK, said decisive action would be vital to improve women’s healthcare in England.
Five adverts for supplements claiming to treat menopause and other women’s health issues have been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
Ads for 222 Balance Me, Lunera, Minerva and Nova Menopause Vitality all claimed their products could prevent, treat or cure the symptoms of the menopause.
An advert and website for PolyBiotics implied its food supplements could prevent, cure or treat polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS.
ASA investigations manager Catherine Drewett said when it comes to women’s health, ‘people deserve clear and accurate information’.
She added: “Ads making misleading claims about treating symptoms of the menopause, PCOS and other hormonal conditions can cause real harm and today’s rulings hold advertisers to account.’
“We’ll continue to monitor this sector closely and we encourage anyone with concerns about an ad they’ve seen to get in touch.”
The ASA said it had taken a close look at adverts that might prey on people’s health worries, emotional concerns or financial pressures.
The regulator said it had used AI to analyse health claims in online adverts, which revealed emerging and ongoing issues around misleading claims and informed its rulings on the supplements.
The ASA said many of the claims in the adverts were ‘unacceptable’ and had not only broken a number of its rules but risked misleading vulnerable people, or steering those who needed it away from appropriate medical advice.
222 Collective accepted that wording in its adverts may have ‘inadvertently implied’ its product could ‘treat or relieve symptoms such as PMS, menopause-related symptoms, anxiety, bloating, heavy bleeding, or mood disorders’.
The company said it was a new, founder-run small business and still learning about the requirements of advertising regulations and was working with Trading Standards to ensure it did not make explicit or implied disease or symptom treatment claims.
Lunera said it accepted its claims would be understood by consumers to attribute a medicinal property to a food supplement and should not have appeared.
PolyBiotics told the ASA it accepted references to PCOS, ovulation, fertility, cycle regulation, insulin resistance and related symptoms constituted disease treatment or symptom-management claims, which were not permitted for food supplements.
Minerva and Nova did not respond to the ASA’s enquiries.
A new daily menopause pill approved for NHS use could bring relief to women with debilitating hot flushes and night sweats.
Around 500,000 women are expected to be eligible for the treatment, which experts say could help those unable to take hormone replacement therapy, or HRT.
The drug, fezolinetant, also known as Veoza, is a daily non-hormonal tablet designed to target the brain signals that trigger some of the most disruptive menopause symptoms.
In final draft guidance published today, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended the 45mg tablet for women experiencing moderate to severe hot flushes and night sweats.
More than two million women in the UK are thought to suffer these symptoms during menopause, often beginning during the earlier stage known as perimenopause.
For many, the effects are severe, disrupting sleep, affecting concentration and straining relationships. In some cases women are even forced to cut back on work.
An estimated 60,000 women in the UK are currently out of work or on long-term sick leave due to severe menopause symptoms, costing the economy roughly £1.5bn a year.
Research also suggests one in 10 women has left the workforce entirely because of a lack of support.
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