Why women’s health tech is crucial in bridging the gender health gap

By Maxime Kryvian, co-founder and CEO of MyCelsius

Menopause remains one of the biggest taboos in women’s health.

Often treated as a private matter to be discussed quietly, when it is a significant life stage that deeply affects the physical, mental, and social well-being of millions of women.

Yet menopause symptoms are still frequently minimised or overlooked.

Research shows that over 80 per cent of women experiencing menopause symptoms do not seek support, clearly pointing to a lack of recognition and insufficient access to appropriate solutions.

This shows how women’s health continues to be under-prioritised and how much needs to be done to bridge the gender health gap in innovation and research.

The impact is undeniable: in the UK, women spend more years in poor health than men, and menopause is one of the periods where their needs remain widely underestimated.

Closing the gender health gap requires acknowledging that menopause is not a “private inconvenience” but a key life moment that deserves appropriate, accessible, and destigmatised support.

However, change is underway.

With new technology and innovators challenging outdated taboos, FemTech is redefining how women are understood, supported, and empowered at every stage of life.

Beyond being a buzzword, FemTech is becoming a crucial tool in addressing long-standing inequalities, not only by offering practical solutions but by empowering women to take control of their wellbeing.

Innovation for inclusion

A CIPD report found that over half of women (53 per cent) were able to think of a time when they had not been able to go into work due to their menopausal symptoms, with more than a quarter adding that menopause harmed their career progression.

Maxime Kryvian

As such, women need practical, innovative solutions that can help them feel more confident and empowered while going through the menopause and support them with symptoms such as hot flushes and stress.

Giving women supportive solutions isn’t just about comfort but about inclusion, equality and progress.

Not only will women benefit from being able to manage their symptoms and continue performing at their best, but organisations will also continue to benefit from their leadership, ideas and perspectives. This is where new technologies can play a great role.

Whilst at the highest level, the Government has renewed its Women’s Health Strategy to tackle inequalities, it’s just as critical that the gender health gap is also addressed in spaces where real change starts from the ground up, using innovation and technology to provide support where it has not been given.

Breaking the taboo with women-focused solutions

The taboo surrounding menopause has limited innovation and research in women’s health, leaving many women to navigate this transition alone.

Start-ups like MyCelsius are changing that by creating women-focused technology designed to provide instant cooling comfort during hot flushes.

More than just a product, MyCelsius involves women at every stage of research, testing, and development, ensuring real experiences shape real solutions.

By listening to women, these innovations help break stigma while delivering practical, empowering results.

It’s more important than ever that emerging femtech brands listen to the stories and testimonies of women facing difficult challenges – challenges that have serious impacts on their health, wellbeing, and personal and professional lives, and develop people-led solutions.

There is a clear need for a multitude of new solutions to improve women’s health and to provide a diverse range of options, so women can access support that adapts to their needs and choose what works best for them, wherever medically possible.

As FemTech continues to evolve, it is becoming a vital tool in closing the gender health gap, giving women greater control over their well-being in ways that are natural, private, and intuitive while being stylish enough to integrate seamlessly into everyday life.

This new generation of FemTech isn’t about exposing vulnerabilities; it’s about restoring confidence, normalising conversations around menopause, and enabling women to live and work on their own terms.

Creating a culture of inclusive health

As FemTech develops, it offers more than simply consumer products but represents a cultural shift towards destigmatising and empowering women during sensitive periods of their lives.

By combining innovation and digital tools with empathy, we can start to see a culture where the gender health gap is closing, creating a space where compassionate, inclusive health solutions are deemed normal – not an exception.