For years, I saw women struggle with the same frustrations: difficulty tracking their cycles accurately, getting conflicting advice about fertility, and having nowhere to turn for clear answers about menopause symptoms at 2 AM.
Then I discovered FemTech and realized it is just what every woman needs.
What Exactly Is FemTech?
FemTech (short for Female Technology) refers to technology-driven products and services designed to improve women’s health and wellness. Think apps that track your menstrual cycle, wearable devices that monitor fertility, telehealth platforms for birth control, pelvic floor trainers, and breast pumps that connect to your phone; the list goes on.
The term was coined by Ida Tin, founder of the period-tracking app Clue, back in 2016. Since then, the industry has exploded into a multi-billion dollar sector that’s finally addressing health issues that have been overlooked for far too long.
Why FemTech Matters
For decades, women’s health concerns were either dismissed as “just hormones” or simply not studied enough. Medical research has historically focused on male bodies, leaving massive gaps in our understanding of conditions that only affect women or affect them differently.
FemTech is changing that narrative.
Instead of waiting months for a specialist appointment to discuss painful periods, women can now access telehealth consultations within days. Instead of guessing when they’re ovulating, they can use data-driven apps and devices. Instead of suffering in silence with postpartum depression, they have digital mental health tools designed specifically for new mothers.
This isn’t just convenient; it’s life-changing.
What Does FemTech Cover?
FemTech spans the entire spectrum of women’s health. Here are some major categories:
1. Menstrual Health & Period Care Apps like Joii and Clue help women track their cycles, predict periods, and understand their hormonal patterns. Some apps even flag irregularities that might indicate conditions like PCOS or endometriosis.
2. Fertility & Pregnancy From ovulation trackers to at-home hormone tests, FemTech has revolutionized fertility management. Companies like Modern Fertility and Ava Women provide women with data that was previously only available through expensive clinical tests.
3. Maternal Health Pregnancy and postpartum care apps, smart breast pumps, contraction timers, and telehealth platforms for prenatal care are making motherhood less isolating and more informed.
4. Menopause Finally, menopause is getting the attention it deserves (I’m especially excited about this one). FemTech companies like Menotracker are creating solutions for hot flashes, hormone tracking, and symptom management, plus providing education about this often-misunderstood life stage.
5. Pelvic & Sexual Health Devices for pelvic floor strengthening (like Elvie ), solutions for painful sex, and platforms addressing sexual wellness are breaking long-standing taboos.
6. Metabolic & Hormonal Health FemTech is increasingly addressing how hormones affect metabolism, weight, insulin sensitivity, and conditions like PCOS and thyroid disorders. Apps and devices now help women understand the connection between their cycles and blood sugar, energy levels, and metabolic changes throughout life stages.
7. Conditions That Affect Women Differently FemTech companies are creating solutions for conditions that either affect women more severely or present differently in women, like heart disease (women’s heart attack symptoms are often atypical)
1. osteoporosis (which affects 1 in 2 women over 50)
2. and autoimmune diseases (which affect women at much higher rates)
3. These technologies help with early detection, risk assessment, and management tailored to how these conditions manifest in female bodies.
8. General Wellness: This includes everything from strength-training apps that adjust workouts to your menstrual cycle to nutritional guidance tailored to women’s “specific” needs.
Who’s Building FemTech?
One of the most exciting things about FemTech is that many of the founders are women who experienced these health challenges firsthand and decided to create solutions.
The industry includes (but is not limited to):
- Entrepreneurs and founders (many with personal health stories that inspired their companies)
- Engineers and developers building the apps and devices
- Medical professionals like myself who provide clinical expertise and create evidence-based content
- Investors who recognize the massive market opportunity
- Researchers studying women’s health data at unprecedented scales
- Digital Marketers & Brand Strategists,
- Legal Experts
It’s a collaborative ecosystem where lived experience meets medical science and technology.
The Medical Writer’s Role in FemTech
This is where my work comes in.
As a doctor who transitioned into medical writing, I’ve seen how crucial clear, accurate health information is, especially in an industry that’s still educating consumers about what’s possible.
FemTech companies need medical writers who can:
- Translate complex medical concepts into language everyday women understand
- Create patient education materials that build trust
- Write white papers that demonstrate clinical credibility to investors
- Ensure marketing claims are evidence-based and compliant
When a FemTech app tells a woman her irregular bleeding might need medical attention, that message needs to come from a place of medical authority. When a company pitches to investors, they need physician-backed content that proves their solution is clinically sound.
That’s the bridge I help build.
The Challenges FemTech Still Faces
Despite its growth, FemTech isn’t without challenges:
Funding gaps: Women’s health startups receive far less venture capital than other health tech sectors, less than 3% of all health funding. 4
Regulatory hurdles: Many FemTech products must learn how to navigate complex FDA approval processes.
Data privacy concerns: Women are rightfully cautious about sharing intimate health data.
Accessibility: Not all women can afford premium apps or devices, creating equity issues.
These are problems the industry is actively working to solve.
Why I Believe in FemTech’s Future
FemTech isn’t just about apps and gadgets; it’s about finally putting women’s health in women’s hands. It’s about data, autonomy, and ending the silence around issues that affect half the population.
As both a doctor and a medical writer in this space, I’m excited to be part of an industry that’s not just innovating; it’s correcting decades of neglect.
FemTech is technology designed by women, for women, addressing health needs that have been ignored for too long. It’s giving women tools to understand their bodies, make informed decisions, and advocate for themselves in healthcare settings.
And honestly? It’s about time.
References
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Heart disease in women: Understand symptoms and risk factors. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-disease/art-20046167 (Mayo Clinic)
- Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation. (n.d.). What women need to know. https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/preventing-fractures/general-facts/what-women-need-to-know/ (Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation)
- Desai, M. K., & Brinton, R. D. (2019). Autoimmune disease in women: Endocrine transition and risk across the lifespan. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 10, 265. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00265 (University of Arizona Experts)
- Hippensteele, A. (2024, May 2). Investment trends in women’s health are driving growth in health care innovation. Pharmacy Times. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/investment-trends-in-women-s-health-are-driving-growth-in-health-care-innovation (pharmacytimes.com)
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I’m Dr. Ayomide. I help FemTech brands turn clinical expertise into content that builds trust with users and credibility with investors.
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