Wellness
Empowering wellbeing: Simple steps to improve your pelvic health
By Gloria Kolb, co-founder & CEO – Elitone
Pelvic health is a critical yet often overlooked aspect of overall wellness.
The pelvic floor muscles support many essential bodily functions, including urinary and faecal continence, sexual health, and core stability.
Neglecting pelvic health can lead to significant physical and emotional consequences, including incontinence, chronic pain, and an overall reduced quality of life.
Despite its importance, many individuals are unaware of how to maintain or improve their pelvic health, often due to societal taboos and a lack of accessible information.
Addressing pelvic health proactively not only prevents long-term complications but also fosters a more vibrant and fulfilling life.
Impacts of ignoring pelvic health
Neglecting one’s pelvic health can lead to significant physical, emotional, and mental consequences.
Physically, issues like incontinence — the involuntary leakage of urine or faeces — can significantly affect daily activities and cause embarrassment, often leading to a reluctance to engage in social or physical activities.
Chronic pelvic pain is another common consequence that can result from weakened or damaged pelvic floor muscles, hindering mobility, reducing comfort during daily activities, and negatively impacting one’s overall quality of life.
Pelvic floor dysfunction can also lead to strained intimate relationships and reduced sexual satisfaction resulting from issues such as dyspareunia (painful intercourse), decreased libido, and erectile dysfunction.
Emotionally and mentally, pelvic health problems can lead to significant stress and anxiety, particularly due to constant worry about incontinence or chronic pain, which can further exacerbate pelvic health issues and affect overall mental health.
Furthermore, struggling with these problems can diminish self-esteem and confidence, often leading to feelings of isolation and a diminished sense of well-being.
The long-term health risks of ignoring pelvic health are also considerable.
Chronic conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse, where the pelvic organs descend and cause discomfort or functional problems, can develop over time.
Poor pelvic health can also elevate the risk of urinary tract infections and other complications, potentially leading to more severe health issues.
Recognising these impacts underscores the necessity of proactively addressing pelvic health so individuals can prevent adverse outcomes and enjoy a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Simple steps to improve pelvic health
Statistics tell us that nearly 1 in 3 women suffer from incontinence or some variation of pelvic floor dysfunction.
Here are some simple, actionable steps to help maintain and improve pelvic health:
- Regular pelvic floor exercises: These include Kegel exercises, yoga, and Pilates. Kegel exercises involve repeatedly contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles. To perform Kegels, tighten the muscles used to stop urination, hold for a few seconds, then release. Aim for three sets of 10 repetitions daily. Incorporating yoga and Pilates into one’s routine can also improve core strength and flexibility to improve pelvic health. Poses like Bridge Pose and Goddess Pose specifically target the pelvic floor muscles.
- Using wearable devices: Wearable pelvic floor training devices can help you perform Kegel exercises correctly and consistently. These devices perform the exercises for you, making strengthening the pelvic floor muscles effective quicker. There are non-wearable vaginal devices as well that can guide your efforts.
- Maintaining a healthy diet: Eating foods high in fibre, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, can prevent constipation and reduce unnecessary strain on the pelvic floor. Drinking plenty of water helps maintain urinary health and prevents dehydration, which can exacerbate pelvic issues. Consuming foods like berries, fatty fish, and leafy greens can help manage pelvic pain due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
- Incorporating physical activity: Regular physical activity, such as walking, swimming, or cycling, helps maintain overall fitness and supports pelvic health. Activities that strengthen the core muscles, such as planks and abdominal exercises, provide additional support to the pelvic floor.
- Practicing breathing techniques: Breathing techniques to help alleviate downward pelvic floor pressure can reduce pelvic issues.
- Seeking professional help: Schedule routine pelvic examinations with healthcare providers to monitor and maintain pelvic health. Consulting a specialist or pelvic floor therapist can provide personalised exercises and treatments to address specific issues.
Taking proactive steps to improve and maintain pelvic health is essential for overall well-being.
However, breaking the silence and stigma surrounding pelvic health is also crucial, which is why we must have open conversations to increase awareness and empower individuals to address their concerns without fear or embarrassment.
Embracing these simple steps will help people take charge of their well-being, paving the way for a healthier, more vibrant future.
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, finalist in Women Startup Challenge, and many startup pitch 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 and an Entrepreneurship MBA from Babson College.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched an AI tool in beta to help policymakers, experts and healthcare professionals access sexual and reproductive health information faster.
Called ChatHRP, the tool was created by WHO’s Human Reproduction Programme and draws only on verified research and guidance collected by HRP and WHO.
It uses natural language processing and retrieval-augmented generation to produce referenced content and cut the time spent searching through documents across different platforms and databases.
WHO said ChatHRP also has multilingual capabilities and low-bandwidth functionality to support use in a wide range of settings.
The beta-testing phase is aimed at a broad professional audience, including policymakers, healthcare workers, researchers and civil society groups.
WHO said the tool can help users quickly access up-to-date evidence, find sources for academic work and verify information on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Examples of questions it can answer include the latest violence against women data in Oceania for women aged 15 to 49, recommendations on managing diabetes during pregnancy, and whether PrEP and contraception can be used at the same time. PrEP is medicine used to reduce the risk of getting HIV.
WHO added that the system will be updated regularly as new HRP materials are published and includes a feedback loop so users can flag gaps in the information provided.
The launch comes amid wider concern about misinformation in sexual and reproductive health.
A 2025 scoping review found that misinformation in digital spaces is a systemic issue that can undermine human rights, reinforce discriminatory social norms and exclude marginalised voices.
The review also said misinformation can affect health systems by shaping provider knowledge and practice, disrupting service delivery and creating barriers to equitable care.
WHO said ChatHRP is intended to give users streamlined access to reliable information as a counter to “algorithms, opinions, or misinformation”.
Wellness
Women’s HealthX unveils Northwell Health, Corewell Health, Biogen & more to headline Chronic Disease stage
Women’s HealthX has announced its lineup of healthcare trailblazers speaking on Chronic Disease Management, alongside other specialisations including Fertility, Sexual Health, Maternity, Menopause and Cognitive Health, taking a holistic approach to women’s health.
It will bring together 750+ leaders across pharma, health systems, and innovation to address one of the most urgent and underexamined challenges in healthcare; the sex difference gap in data and evidence.
Since cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women globally, and autoimmune and neurological conditions affect women at significantly higher rates, Women’s HealthX will home in on chronic disease management with 17+ sessions spotlighting case studies and lessons learned.
The Chronic Disease Management Stage at Women’s HealthX responds directly to this gap, convening senior decision makers and innovators to explore how sex specific science, digital health, and new care models can reshape outcomes for women.
Attending pharma & healthcare organisations include:
- Tracy Sims, Executive Director, Cardiometabolic Health, Eli Lilly
- Adrian Kielhorn, Senior Director, Global Head HEOR Neurology, Alexion Pharmaceuticals
- Lauren Powell, Head of Health Equity and Clinical Innovation, Biogen
- Amy Kao, SVP, Head of Neuroscience and Immunology Research, EMD Serono
- Stella Vnook, Executive Chair and CEO, Kaida Biopharma
- Amanda Borsky, Director, Clinical Research, Northwell Health
- Lacey McIntosh, Division Chief, Oncologic and Molecular Imaging, UMass Memorial Medical Center
- Nicole Turck, Vice President Operations, Women’s Health, Corewell Health
- Mette Dyhrberg, CEO, Autoimmune Registry
- Lyn Agostinelli, Principal Consultant, Halloran Consulting Group
Sessions addressing the real gaps in women’s chronic care
The agenda features a series of high impact sessions tackling the structural and scientific gaps in women’s health:
- Improving outcomes in obesity through evidence based person centered care: Eli Lilly
- Tackling sex based health inequities by breaking down barriers and bias: Alexion Pharmaceuticals
- Close the health equity gap in women’s health by improving how autoimmune diseases are diagnosed, treated and managed: Autoimmune Registry
- How a GYN only care model is driving faster access to gynecological care: Corewell Health
- Transforming early detection in ovarian cancer: new pathways to accuracy, safety, and better outcomes: UMass Memorial Medical Center
Panel discussions include:
- Why chronic disease looks different in women and why health systems haven’t adapted: Biogen, Kaida Biopharma, EMD Serono
- How can we better engage with our customers: Northwell Health, Halloran Consulting Group
Health equity starts here. REGISTER YOUR PLACE
Why This Matters Now
Women’s HealthX positions chronic disease not just as a clinical challenge, but as a critical frontier for innovation, investment, and system redesign.
From AI powered monitoring and digital therapeutics to real world data and integrated care pathways, the stage highlights where meaningful progress is already being made and where the biggest opportunities lie.
For the FemTech ecosystem, this represents a pivotal moment: aligning technology, clinical insight, and commercial strategy to finally close the long standing data and care gaps in women’s health.
About Women’s HealthX
Women’s HealthX is where the transformation of women’s health begins at its true foundation: data, science, and evidence.
It’s the leading event dedicated to closing the sex difference data gap and accelerating breakthroughs through science driven, real world case studies.
Taking place on December 3 to 4, 2026 in Boston, USA, the exhibition will bring together more than 750 healthcare leaders, including clinicians, payers, employers, investors, and policymakers.
Seven different stages with 150+ expert speakers taking an holistic approach to women’s health. From fertility, maternity, sexual health, cognitive health, menopause and chronic disease, we address care at every stage of a woman’s life.
Cervical cancer elimination in the EU is becoming achievable as HPV vaccination coverage rises, a new report says.
As Europe marks European Immunisation Week 2026, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said progress in human papillomavirus vaccination is continuing across the EU and European Economic Area.
All EU and European Economic Area countries now recommend HPV vaccination for adolescent girls and boys as part of their immunisation programmes, marking a major step forward in Europe’s cancer prevention efforts.
Bruno Ciancio, head of unit, directly transmitted diseases and vaccine preventable diseases at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, said: “The elimination of cervical cancer in the EU/EEA is becoming an achievable goal, thanks to the HPV vaccination programmes.
“The progress we are seeing across Europe demonstrates what can be accomplished when countries invest consistently in effective immunisation strategies.
“We are closely monitoring this progress and actively supporting countries to accelerate uptake and move faster towards cervical cancer elimination.”
According to the report, three EU and European Economic Area countries, Iceland, Portugal and Norway, have reached the 2024 EU Council Recommendation target of 90 per cent HPV vaccination coverage among girls by the age of 15.
Fifteen years after HPV vaccination programmes were introduced in Europe, a growing body of evidence confirms the vaccine is highly effective in preventing cervical cancer.
Large-scale studies from Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark, as well as other parts of the world, have shown significant reductions in HPV infections and precancerous lesions, which are abnormal cell changes that can develop into cancer if left untreated, alongside falling cervical cancer rates among vaccinated women.
Since 2020, European countries have reported a decreased incidence of cervical cancer among vaccinated women.
Studies from Sweden, Denmark and the UK show that early administration of the vaccine increases its full protective potential.
A Swedish study suggested that vaccinating girls before their 17th birthday reduced the incidence of cervical cancer by 88 per cent.
An additional six-year follow-up found a sustained reduction in cervical cancer risk and a population-level decline in invasive cervical cancer incidence after HPV vaccination.
The report showed that vaccination programmes and health system design are critical factors in reaching high levels of HPV vaccination coverage.
Evidence from across Europe showed that school-based vaccination programmes are particularly effective and tend to reach higher levels of coverage among both girls and boys.
Entrepreneur1 week agoFuture Fertility raises Series A financing to scale AI tools redefining fertility care worldwide
Entrepreneur4 weeks agoThree sessions that show exactly where women’s health is heading in 2026
News4 weeks agoTwo weeks left to make your mark in women’s cardiovascular health
Fertility2 weeks agoFuture Fertility partners with Japan’s leading IVF provider, Kato Ladies Clinic
Menopause3 weeks agoMore research needed to understand link between brain fog and menopause, expert says
Ageing2 weeks agoLifting weights shows mental health and cognitive benefits in older women, study finds
News3 weeks agoSelf-employment linked to better cardiovascular health outcomes in Hispanic women
Entrepreneur3 weeks agoFlora Fertility closes US$5m seed round