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US election: What does Trump’s win mean for women’s health?
With Donald Trump set for a second stint in the White House, it remains to be seen what this means for future policies related to women’s health, research and reproductive rights.
At the time of writing, the official election result hasn’t been called, but Donald Trump, has already declared his victory, having won more than the 270-seat threshold needed.
Speaking to supporters in Florida, Trump said the Republicans had been given an ‘unprecedented and powerful mandate’ with the party on track to take control of the Senate, Congress and the House of Representatives.
In the wake of his claims that he is a “protector” of women— “whether they like it or not”— what does a Trump comeback mean for women’s health and related policies?
Robert F Kennedy to work on “health and women’s health”.
As 47th President of the United States, Trump is expected to appoint former Independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy to work on “health and women’s health”.
This could include giving him control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
At his penultimate campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Trump said that should he return to the White House, RFK could “do what he wants” with women’s healthcare, adding “he’s so into women’s health.”
While it’s as yet unclear where this leaves the country’s public health policy, the former environmental lawyer has previously attracted criticism for his anti-vaccine comments and medical experts have raised concerns about his potential influence on the administration.
Abortion and reproductive rights
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade In 2022, 20 states banned or severely restricted access to abortion, an unfolding of events which Trump has previously described as “a beautiful thing to watch.”
With the issue of abortion rights on the ballot this time around, seven states voted to protect abortion rights, a similar measure in Florida just falling short of the 60% needed to pass.
During her election campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris argued that if re-elected, Trump would further restrict abortion rights, while some advocates, medics and politicians believe he will seek to impose a federal ban.
But Trump looked to tone down his stance on abortion this time around, saying that he would not push for a national ban and that it should be up to the individual states.
He did not, however, comment on whether he would sign a federal abortion ban into law if one passed through Congress, and as President he previously backed a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks.
Widening healthcare gaps
Studies suggest the restrictions on abortion have already had a detrimental impact on infant and maternal mortality rates, as well as access to healthcare more broadly.
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics in June found that after Texas passed Senate Bill 8 (SB8), which heavily restricted abortions in 2021, there was an unexpected increase in infant and newborn deaths. Birth defects—one of the main causes of infant deaths—also increased in Texas but not in other parts of the US.
A separate study at two Texas hospitals looked at health complications among pregnant patients who needed to deliver before 22 weeks for medical reasons, but were required by Texas law to continue the pregnancy.
Researchers found that these Texas patients faced much higher rates of health issues compared to patients in other states who were allowed to end the pregnancy right away for medical reasons.
Meanwhile, CBS News reported this week that the Dobbs decision has impacted women’s health beyond abortion access, widening gaps in obstetrics and gynecological care in several states.
In an essay in JAMA author Rita Rubin highlights how after the Supreme Court decision, fewer new graduates from US medical schools applied for residency programs in states that banned or severely restricted abortion. This trend, noted by analyses from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Research and Action Institute, contrasts with higher application rates in states where abortion remains legal.
Affordable Care Act
Trump may also turn his attention to policies which were introduced during his first presidency, but had not yet come into force, such as partially repealing the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare), according to some reports.
During his first term, he passed the American Health Care Act (ACHA), which would have repealed the individual and employer mandate, amended Medicaid eligibility, and weakened protections for patients with pre-existing conditions.
In September’ ABC News debate, Trump said he had “concepts of a plan” to replace the ACA but failed to provide any details.
Research on women’s health
Some Democrats warned that a Trump win could mean undoing some of the progress that has been made in women’s health research under President Biden, The Hill reported earlier this month.
Last year the Biden administration created the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research to boost investment in research on conditions that primarily affect the female reproductive system and those that affect women differently, or more commonly, than men.
The U.S. The Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health have already committed to investing a combined $700 million in women’s health research, but Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill) and others warned that a Trump win could mean “less access for women, less resources for women, less research for women.”
However, others remain hopeful with legislation such as the Endometriosis CARE Act and the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2024, both of which are yet to pass, having both Democratic and Republican co-sponsors.
Katie Schubert, CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research told The Hill: “All policymakers should recognise the value of investing in women’s health research and that such research is imperative to improve health care outcomes for all.”
While the impact of this election outcome on the healthcare sector remains to be seen, let’s hope Schubert is right.
The Femtech World Awards is proud to reveal the shortlist for Research Project of the Year as part of the third annual global celebration of innovation, impact and leadership across women’s health.
From fertility science and perimenopause research to regional ecosystem analysis, the shortlisted projects reflect the breadth and growing influence of femtech research worldwide.
The category is sponsored by OncoGenomX, with the winner to be selected by a representative from the organisation.
OncoGenomX is dedicated to offering solutions and providing comprehensive support services that empower Drug Developers, Clinical Researchers, Oncologists,NextGenSeq Diagnostics Laboratories, NextGenSeq Service Organisations, Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics Companies to achieve their ambitious goals
The shortlisted entries for Research Project of the Year are:
Women’s health remains significantly underserved in South-East Asia, with persistent gaps in access, awareness, and quality of care carrying substantial social and economic costs.
This report examines the femtech landscape in Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, highlighting market trends, emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, and the evolving support ecosystem.
It identifies key challenges facing femtech founders, including limited access to finance, low awareness and persistent stigma, marketing constraints linked to content moderation, and gaps in tailored ecosystem support.
Led by Stephanie Willson, MD, of the IVI RMA Global Research Alliance, the study explored whether embryos that show certain chromosome abnormalities during genetic testing may still have the potential to result in a healthy pregnancy and live birth.
The research analysed more than 7,600 frozen embryo transfers and found that some embryos previously considered unlikely to succeed were still capable of leading to successful pregnancies, although at lower rates than embryos without abnormalities.
The findings could help fertility clinics and patients make more informed decisions during IVF treatment, particularly in cases where there are limited embryos available.
Rather than automatically discarding these embryos, the research supports a more evidence-based and personalised approach to fertility care.
For many women, perimenopause can feel confusing and unpredictable, with limited research explaining what is happening in their bodies.
Natural Cycles set out to change that by leading one of the largest studies ever conducted on menstrual and ovulatory patterns, uncovering new insights into how ovulation behaves as women approach menopause.
Conducted in collaboration with researchers from George Washington University, Seattle Clinical Research Center, Gennev and the University of California San Diego, the study analysed nearly one million menstrual cycles from more than 197,000 women aged 18–52 across more than 140 countries.
The scale of this dataset made it possible to explore menstrual patterns and ovulation in far greater detail than has traditionally been possible in women’s health research.
The Femtech World Awards celebrates the innovators, researchers and organisations driving meaningful progress in women’s health.
What happens next
Winners across all categories will be revealed during the virtual ceremony on June 19, with winners receiving a trophy and an interview with a Femtech World journalist.
Women over 40 are seeking raves for mental and physical wellbeing, with a study suggesting the benefits go beyond nightlife.
The findings challenge the idea that nightlife and electronic dance music events are mainly for younger people.
Published in Psychology of Music, the study focused on the common misconception that nightlife is only for younger audiences.
Researchers surveyed 136 female clubbers aged 40 to 65 about their experiences at electronic dance music events.
The study, carried out at the University of Leeds in England, found women reported mental and physical wellbeing benefits from attending these events.
Seeing favourite DJs was the most common motivation, but many women also described dancing as a way to relieve stress and find emotional support.
The research found that 65.9 per cent of participants described attending a rave as “spiritual”, while 62.9 per cent said it offered an escape from everyday life.
A further 58.3 per cent said they felt like a different version of themselves in a club environment.
Nine in ten participants said they felt at home at electronic dance music events, with many pointing to a shared passion for music and the sense of community around it.
The study also suggested physical fitness played a role, with some women saying they had made clubbing part of their regular exercise routine.
However, the findings also highlighted challenges for older women in nightlife spaces.
One fifth of participants said they felt visibly out of place because of their age.
Nearly half reported unwanted physical contact, leading some to seek out different venues or attend only with friends.
Osteoporosis may raise the risk of death in postmenopausal women by up to 47 per cent, a new study suggests.
The findings point to an inverse relationship between femoral bone mineral density and mortality risk, especially within certain ranges.
Femoral bone mineral density is the amount of mineral in the thigh bone, which is often measured to assess bone strength and osteoporosis risk.
Dr Monica Christmas is associate medical director for The Menopause Society.
She said: “Osteoporosis often remains a silent threat after menopause, despite its profound effect on women’s lives—from loss of height, poor balance, and reduced mobility to disfigurement, pain, and even premature death.
“Early screening and preventive measures, including a calcium-rich diet (preferably from food sources), regular weight-bearing exercise, and hormone therapy when appropriate, can significantly improve bone health and reduce risks not only of fractures but also cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and dementia.
“It’s time we bring this conversation to the forefront.”
In the study involving nearly 3,000 postmenopausal women, bone mineral density at four femoral sites was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, a scan commonly used to measure bone strength and fracture risk.
The analysis found that mortality risk was significantly higher when femoral bone mineral density reached the osteoporotic threshold or when osteoporotic fractures were present.
After full adjustment, osteoporosis was associated with a 47 per cent increased risk of mortality.
A stronger inverse association between increased bone mineral density and mortality risk was seen within specific ranges, suggesting bone mineral density could serve as a prognostic marker of wider health.
The relationship appeared especially notable within the range of 0.46 to 0.71 g/cm² for total femur bone mineral density.
Previous research has shown that postmenopausal women face a significantly higher risk of death within one year of hip or vertebral fractures.
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