News
Femtech versus ovarian cancer – an update
Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women, with around 7,500 new cases per day.
According to Cancer Research UK statistics, ovarian cancer survival is improving, having almost doubled in the last 40 years. In the 1970s, less than a fifth of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer survived their disease beyond ten years, now it’s more than a third.
However, with a range of non-specific symptoms, including feeling full quickly, bloating and stomach pain, it can be hard to diagnose.
In some cases, it can also cause unexplained tiredness or weight loss, or changes in your bowel habit especially if this starts after the age of 50.
However, as technology is constantly evolving to help us detect, treat and cure more diseases than ever before, can femtech helping to continue the fight against ovarian cancer?
Femtech World reports.
Screening
Recent research has led scientists to believe that the cervical screening programme could also be used to screen for both ovarian and breast cancers.
Experts say they may have found tell-tale signatures in these neck-of-the-womb cells linked to other cancers, although further research is needed.
Cells that turn cancerous often show distinctive early changes at the molecular level.
And researchers believe they have found some in smear-test samples that could help identify women at higher risk of specific other cancers, not just of the cervix.
Dr Julie Sharp, from Cancer Research UK, said: “Screening for cervical cancer is already an invaluable tool, so it’s interesting to see if cell samples taken through screening could be used in future to detect other cancers.
“However, we need further research to see how accurate this method is at detecting women with ovarian and breast cancer.
“Like the authors of this research, we look forward to seeing larger trials over longer periods to establish whether cervical cells could diagnose other cancers at an earlier stage.”
The work was funded by The Eve Appeal research charity that hopes to drive improved treatments for gynecological cancers.
Early detection
When diagnosed at its earliest stage, almost all women with ovarian cancer will survive their disease for one year or more, compared with slightly more than one in two people when the disease is diagnosed at the latest stage – highlighting just how important early detection is.
Israeli femtech start-up GinaLife is developing a platform of biomarker strategies, supported by artificial intelligence and data science, for the early detection of problems in women’s health.
It was set up by research scientist Inbal Zafir-Lavie, after her 38-year-old sister died from colorectal cancer, which, due to her young age, remained undiagnosed until it was too late.
GinaLife is currently developing a test that can analyse vaginal fluids, using artificial intelligence and data science to search for specific cancer biomarkers. While it is being tested at first in-clinic, the company envisions one day it will be available for home or remote use, increasing accessibility and potentially saving more lives.
In another early detection breakthrough, Boston-based start-up AOA is developing the first non-invasive ovarian cancer diagnostic liquid biopsy test, which could save the lives of half the women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
That’s because, by the time they are diagnosed, in many cases the cancer has already spread.
AOA’s Akrivis GD is a liquid biopsy test that shows promising results in the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer through analysis of tumour marker gangliosides, which can therefore lead to earlier diagnosis and earlier treatment.
Research
University of Arizona researchers have developed a new device to help learn more about ovarian cancer, as well as supporting earlier diagnosis.
The university’s BIO5 Institute Director Jennifer Barton has developed a high-resolution falloposcope, which has a diameter of only 0.8 mm, small enough to image the fallopian tubes – narrow ducts that connect the uterus to the ovaries – and search for signs of early-stage cancer.
Since September last year, human trial, Dr John Heusinkveld has been using the device to image the fallopian tubes of volunteers who are already having their tubes removed for non-cancer reasons. This will allow researchers not only to test the effectiveness of the device, but also to start establishing a baseline of what “normal” fallopian tubes look like.
Researchers believe ovarian cancer usually starts in the fallopian tubes, and many medical professionals recommend that at-risk women have their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.
However, the procedure pushes women into surgically induced menopause, with side effects including hot flushes, mood swings, and higher risk of heart and bone disease
Barton cited one example of a study in which 122 patients who were known to carry genes that increased their risk for cancer had their fallopian tubes removed as a precaution. Analysis of the tubes later showed that only seven of the women were in the process of developing cancer.
Menopause
Medichecks acquires My Menopause Centre to expand specialist hormone health services
Digital diagnostics company Medichecks has acquired specialist menopause health platform and clinic My Menopause Centre.
The deal is part of Medichecks’ move into clinical services and follows its earlier purchase of Leger Clinic, creating what the company describes as a hormone health offering for women and men across the UK.
Medichecks and My Menopause Centre will combine digital services with clinical governance. The acquisition aims to enhance Medichecks’ ability to deliver integrated testing, diagnosis and ongoing clinical support.
The combined group plans to grow its specialist hormone health services, supporting patients across the UK with clinical care throughout different stages of their hormone health journey.
Helen Marsden, co-founder of Medichecks, said: “At Medichecks, our mission is to make healthcare more accessible, evidence-based and patient-centred.
“Helen and Clare have built an outstanding, clinically credible platform that is transforming menopause care for women across the UK.
“Medichecks now owns two CQC Outstanding-rated clinics, the only clinics in their respective sectors to achieve this rating, and we are deeply committed to delivering safe, compassionate and patient-centric care.
“We’re proud to continue the founders’ legacy while supporting the next stage of growth, ensuring more women can access high-quality menopause care when they need it most.”
The CQC, or Care Quality Commission, is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
The acquisition supports Medichecks’ plans to make hormone healthcare more accessible by delivering integrated testing, diagnosis and ongoing clinical support for patients across the UK.
Helen Normoyle, co-founder and chief executive of My Menopause Centre, said: “We set out to build something resilient, clinically credible and scalable, not just fast.
“Our mission has always been to make menopause care compassionate, accessible and grounded in evidence. Medichecks shares that vision.
“Their digital platform, commitment to clinical excellence and patient-centred care make them the ideal partner to take My Menopause Centre into its next chapter.
“This milestone reflects not only a strong product, but a remarkable team and community.
“I’m deeply proud of what we’ve built and excited to see My Menopause Centre grow further under Medichecks’ leadership.”
Menopause
Menopause specialist Haver joins Midi Health
Menopause specialist Dr Mary Claire Haver has been appointed as the first chief agewell officer at virtual care clinic Midi Health.
In the role, Dr Haver will work with Midi’s clinical team to develop the AgeWell platform, described as a proactive health model that integrates perimenopause and menopausal care with metabolic health, bone density, brain health and cardiovascular risk assessment.
The platform aims to provide preventative care targeting what the company describes as the primary drivers of female mortality and disability: heart disease, bone loss and cognitive decline.
Joanna Strober, chief executive and co-founder of Midi Health, said: “Longevity care has historically ignored women’s biology, especially during the critical windows of midlife and menopause.
“At Midi Health, we are committed to extending healthspan, not just lifespan, and making that care accessible to millions of women as a core pillar of their health.
“By collaborating with Dr Haver, we are ensuring women continue to have access to care designed for their bodies, their hormones, and their real lives.”
Dr Haver is board-certified in obstetrics and gynaecology, a Menopause Society certified practitioner, a certified culinary medicine specialist and an adjunct associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at The University of Texas Medical Branch.
After a career in academic medicine, Dr Haver founded The Pause Life, described as a science and education-based resource for women navigating perimenopause and the menopause transition.
Through her books, unPaused podcast and digital platform, she has provided education on midlife health.
Dr Mary Claire Haver said: “I have spent my career advocating for women to receive the science-backed, no-nonsense guidance they deserve.
“I chose to partner with Midi Health because they are the only platform with the scale and medical rigour to deliver the kind of care women deserve, regardless of their zip codes.
“Together, we are setting a new standard for proactive, preventative care that meaningfully extends both lifespan and healthspan for women.”
Entrepreneur
Kate Ryder headlines Women’s Health Week USA 2026 as full agenda goes live
Women’s Health Week USA 2026 has unveiled its first populated agenda, anchored by an opening keynote from Kate Ryder, Founder and CEO of Maven Clinic, and featuring a cross-sector lineup shaping the next phase of scale in women’s health.
You can view the full agenda here.
Taking place May 13–14, 2026, at the New York Academy of Medicine, Women’s Health Week USA brings together the full women’s health ecosystem to focus on one central question: what does it take to move women’s health from innovation to institutional scale?
Kate Ryder will open Day 1 with a keynote drawing on her experience building Maven Clinic into the world’s largest virtual clinic for women’s and family health.
Under her leadership, Maven has partnered with employers and health plans to deliver care across fertility, maternity, postpartum, paediatrics, and menopause at scale.
Her perspective sets the tone for a program centered on commercialisation, partnership, and sustainable growth.
Beyond the opening keynote, the newly released agenda reflects the sector’s growing maturity.
Across two days, the program features 70+ speakers, with representation from leading organizations including the FDA, Planned Parenthood, CVS Health Ventures, Samsung Next, NIH, WHO, and Maven Clinic.
Sessions span investment and deal flow, clinical innovation, regulation, data and technology, and market expansion, alongside dedicated pitch sessions and curated 1:1 matchmaking designed to turn insight into action.
The agenda has been built to facilitate meaningful connections across the ecosystem, with partnerships positioned as the primary driver of scale.
As women’s health continues to attract institutional capital and global attention, Women’s Health Week USA 2026 offers a clear snapshot of where the market is heading, and who is shaping it.
The full agenda is now live, with additional speakers and partners to be announced in the coming months.
View the full programme here.
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