Blog: The Rise of Female-Focused Healthcare - Factors and Implications for the Future

Throughout history, women have been neglected when it comes to their healthcare needs, often receiving generic treatment designed for men and lacking solutions that address their specific requirements. Nevertheless, recent years have witnessed a shift in this paradigm, with increasing awareness and recognition of women's healthcare needs, resulting in the emergence of specialist healthcare services. This transformation can be attributed to various factors, including advocacy endeavours, evolving societal attitudes, advancements in healthcare technology, and the potential for market expansion. As a result, there has been a notable rise in healthcare services tailored to women, catering to their unique concerns and requirements.

This shift in focus has paved the way for a more holistic approach to women's health, acknowledging that it encompasses not only reproductive aspects but also the entirety of a woman's life, incorporating physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This places emphasis on preventive care, early detection of diseases, and the integration of various healthcare disciplines to provide continuous support throughout a woman's lifespan.

The surge in female-focused healthcare can also be attributed to the growing demand from women who seek healthcare services that specifically cater to their individual needs. This trend for personalisation arises from the historical lack of attention given to women in the healthcare industry, prompting them to demand more specialist healthcare services. One of the primary drivers of this shift is that female-focused healthcare addresses topics that are often considered sensitive or taboo for men. These include mental health, fertility and period tracking, family planning, menopause, general practitioner appointments, and sexual health and well-being. This demand is projected to continue growing, with the female healthcare market estimated to surpass $60 billion by 2027. Consequently, the female healthcare market is a rapidly expanding industry that is expected to experience significant growth in the years to come.

Factors

Awareness and Advocacy

One factor behind the rise of female-focused healthcare is the growing awareness and advocacy surrounding women’s health issues. Organisations, activists, healthcare professionals, and individuals have pushed to advocate for women’s health in growing numbers over the years in an effort to raise awareness and emphasise the need for improvement. Aside from raising awareness about women’s health issues, advocacy efforts have led to increased funding for research and initiatives focusing on and supporting female-focused health conditions, the development of treatments, and innovation in programs to address women’s health concerns.

Additionally, advocacy organisations, HCPs, and individuals are able to collaborate and network, creating platforms to share knowledge, resources, and best practices that help women take control of their healthcare by encouraging them to be proactive, seek information, and make informed decisions.

Advancements in Research

The increase in research into women’s health issues has shed light on the gender-specific aspects of medical conditions, addressing a historical gender bias in treatment and outcomes. Traditionally, medical research primarily involved male participants, leading to a lack of understanding of women’s health issues. Recent efforts to include more women in clinical trials and studies have added valuable insights into their distinct biology, physiology, and responses to treatment.

This increased understanding has influenced the demand for healthcare tailored to women beyond the previous emphasis of just reproductive health to include a range of physical, mental, and social factors. This attitude shift has influenced healthcare policies, research priorities, and medical education. By recognising the complexity of women’s health, HCPs can provide more tailored care that in turn improves health outcomes.

Advancements of Technology

The introduction of digital health technologies has played a big part in promoting female-focused healthcare. With the help of mobile applications, wearable devices, and telemedicine platforms, women can easily take control of their health and conveniently access personalised healthcare services. These technologies offer a range of tools such as tracking menstrual cycles, monitoring fertility, managing pregnancy, and addressing various women’s health concerns, encouraging a proactive approach to self-care.

Advancements in healthcare technology have revolutionised the landscape of women's healthcare, making information more accessible, enabling remote monitoring, providing personalised treatments, and facilitating improved communication. Specifically designed technologies, including fertility tracking apps, at-home screening tests, and portable ultrasound devices, have emerged to address specific needs. These advancements have helped women by making certain aspects of healthcare easier to access and user-friendly.

Future Implications and Opportunities

Addressing the unique health needs of women and tackling gender bias in medical research allows HCPs to develop personalised treatment plans to improve outcomes. Having improved care specific to their healthcare needs is encouraging for women, making it more likely for them to participate in their healthcare decisions and become advocates for their own well-being. Open and honest discussions about reproductive health, mental health, sexual health, and other concerns help women be better equipped to make informed choices.

Advancements of Technology

Since entrepreneur Ida Tin coined the term “FemTech” in 2016, the field has experienced a significant evolution and has made substantial contributions to women’s healthcare. FemTech includes a range of tools, products, services, wearables, and software specifically designed to address women’s health issues. This sector has filled gaps in the market in areas such as maternal health, menstrual health, fertility tracking, menopause management, and sexual wellness. FemTech has provided women with accessible and personalised solutions for monitoring their health, and managing their conditions.

Perhaps one of the greatest drivers of this uptick in female-focused healthcare is a result of the opportunity that it presents for businesses. Welkin’s article highlights that “digital healthcare companies are “at the cutting edge of a growing market focused on women’s health … [with] the potential to reach almost $10 billion by 2024.” This growing sector presents opportunities for technological advancements, investment, and entrepreneurship, giving businesses a chance to contribute to women’s healthcare while simultaneously tapping into an expanding market.

Future Opportunities for Business in Women’s Healthcare

In their recent research, McKinsey & Company highlighted the disruptive potential of FemTech companies across various aspects of healthcare including streamlining care delivery, enabling self-care, improving diagnoses, addressing stigmatised areas, and delivering culturally sensitive and tailored care. They also note the future of FemTech, highlighting the potential for “early movers to stake out opportunities in prominent white spaces.” By leveraging technology to address women’s health issues beyond reproduction, companies can make a significant impact. Additionally, FemTech can address the needs of underserved populations including low-income and minority communities.

FemTech presents substantial partnership opportunities for players in traditional sectors, giving established companies a chance to tap into the expertise and innovation of FemTech to drive advancements in women’s healthcare.

Looking to the future, female-focused healthcare offers improved access to quality care and presents market potential, particularly in the field of FemTech. By addressing women's unique needs, advancing research, and leveraging technology, women will have access to tailored care, actively engage in healthcare decisions, and achieve improved health outcomes.

In conclusion, the rise of female-focused healthcare represents an important shift in the healthcare industry towards greater specificity and personalisation of care. This shift has been driven by a number of factors, including advocacy efforts, evolving societal perspectives, advancements in healthcare technology, and the potential for market growth. The increased focus on women's health has paved the way for a more comprehensive approach to healthcare that acknowledges the uniqueness of women's physical, mental, and emotional well-being. As women continue to demand more specialised healthcare services that cater to their individual needs, the female healthcare market is expected to continue to grow and evolve, providing new opportunities for innovation and investment.

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