You may not be well-versed in the term FemTech yet, but it's a force to be reckoned with. This burgeoning industry is making significant strides in addressing the long-neglected aspects of women's healthcare through innovative technological solutions.

Unlock the Future of Women's Healthcare with FemTech

The Growth and Potential of the FemTech Market

The global femtech market is on an upward trajectory, projected to expand from $51.8 billion in 2023 to a whopping $117.37 billion by 2029. This remarkable growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4%, is driven by a surge in the movement surrounding women's health. Five years ago, it was seen as a fleeting 'moment,' but now it has evolved into a powerful movement. Women worldwide are demanding the healthcare they deserve, yet many healthcare systems fall short.For instance, in the UK, waiting times to see a gynecologist through the NHS are lengthy, and private health insurance often doesn't cover chronic conditions like endometriosis and menopause therapies. In many parts of the world, fertility options for those over 35 are self-funded through private clinics. This has led to a growing market of women willing to pay for the health support they need, and the demand shows no signs of slowing.Alongside this, significant innovations in fertility are on the horizon. We are likely to see a variety of digital and affordable fertility options entering the market in the coming years. Despite the increase in investment, just 1.4% of capital investment is in femtech, and in 2021, almost 90% of investment decisions were made by men. This highlights the barriers that need to be overcome.

Enhancing Health Literacy and Self-Care

Health literacy is vital for effective self-care, yet approximately 36% of adults globally have low health literacy. Flo, with over 70 million MAUs, has reached an exciting growth milestone. It has provided 17 million subscriptions across 66 countries, reaching communities where healthcare systems and charities often struggle.Our pro-social initiative has offered essential cycle and female health information, improving health literacy. A recent randomized control trial by the Flo science team showed that Flo significantly boosts health literacy, helping women better manage PMS and PMDD symptoms within three months.The potential of GenAI in this space is immense. Advanced transcreation offers culturally nuanced adaptations, which could be a game-changer for healthcare app accessibility. However, it's crucial that AI is used responsibly and ethically within healthcare.

Addressing Gender Data Gaps and Legacy Women's Health Issues

Caroline Criado Perez's book "Invisible Women" highlights the critical issue of the gender data gap. Until 1993, women were not required to be included in clinical trials, creating a substantial gap in understanding how drugs and treatments affect women's bodies.Femtech start-ups are aware of this and often establish their own scientific teams and partner with universities to research these gaps. Expanding clinical trials and research partnerships is essential to overcoming this legacy.

The Future of FemTech

The femtech market is expected to reach $50 billion by 2025, presenting ample opportunities in clinical diagnostics and medical devices. Wearable and monitoring devices hold great promise in helping women gain deeper insights into their health.For example, menstrual blood may contain biomarkers for various conditions, and diagnostic tampons like those from Daye are entering the market. CGM monitors allow women to track glucose data related to their health, as seen with startups like Zoe in gut health.Globally, affordable and accessible solutions are crucial, especially for underserved regions. Femtech companies need to prioritize low-cost, user-friendly devices and apps, like Flo, which is enhancing its experience on low-end Android devices.There are also opportunities for femtech start-ups to collaborate with NGOs and charities focused on women's health in lower-income countries, similar to initiatives by big tech companies.Looking ahead, the intersection of Gen AI and wearable monitoring devices is exciting. In ten years, Flo could predict a woman's period with remarkable accuracy based on health monitoring data. When a woman notices large blood clots, she could simply take a photo and upload it to Flo for analysis and alerting if needed.The focus on hormonal health and menopause is also growing. As we learn more about ovarian aging, significant innovations in menopause treatment are likely.However, the underfunding of women's health research poses challenges. Start-up founders should focus on one goal and execute it well, like Flo initially focusing on cycle tracking and gradually expanding. Early monetization is crucial, as seen in Flo's success in achieving break-even faster than expected.To improve funding access, we must openly discuss sector challenges and celebrate successes. A unified femtech sector can have a profound impact on women's health outcomes.

The Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital in Thailand has taken a significant step forward by incorporating AI and computational technologies into its newly launched pathology information system. This innovative approach is set to revolutionize the way pathology services are delivered and has the potential to greatly impact healthcare outcomes.

Revolutionize Pathology with AI at Siriraj Hospital

Integrated Laboratory Workflows

The 300-bed SiPH hospital unit under the Faculty of Medicine of Siriraj Hospital has integrated laboratory workflows, imaging scanning systems, and centralized data processing. This seamless integration allows for a more efficient and streamlined pathology service. Previously, in 2012 when SiPH opened, it did not have its own pathology laboratory and instead sent samples to the Pathology Department at Siriraj Hospital. Now, with the new PIS in place, everything is centralized, reducing delays and improving the overall workflow. 2: This integration not only saves time but also ensures consistency in data collection and analysis. By having all the systems working together, pathologists can access relevant information more easily and make more accurate diagnoses. It also enables better communication between different departments within the hospital, leading to a more coordinated approach to patient care.

AI-powered Features

The PIS, which went live in March, features speech-to-text and smart forms to simplify data entry. This is a game-changer as it reduces the time and effort spent on manual data entry, which is prone to errors. Another AI, powered by IBM processing technology, analyzes high-resolution slide images, streamlining the identification of potential cancerous tissues. Currently, this AI is applied to suspected prostate cancer cases, helping pathologists in their screening process. 2: The use of AI in this context not only speeds up the diagnosis process but also improves its accuracy. By analyzing large amounts of data and patterns, the AI can detect subtle changes in the tissue that might be missed by human eyes. This leads to more precise diagnoses and earlier detection of cancer, which is crucial for better patient outcomes.

Enhanced Workflow and Accuracy

“Speed and accuracy of work have increased significantly with the implementation of AI,” Dr Pornsuk Cheunsuchon, director of SiPH’s Digital Pathology Center, told Healthcare IT News. The PIS introduced significant automation to various aspects of workflow, including documentation and identification of high-risk cases. It can automatically order additional tests and provide alerts for major findings, reducing the manual workload and streamlining the overall diagnostic process. 2: For example, speech-to-text technology has reduced typing errors, making the documentation process more accurate. AI also assists in prostate cancer case screening by helping pathologists prioritize preliminary results. This allows for a more focused and efficient screening process, ensuring that potential cancer cases are identified promptly.

Expanding Services

SiPH’s AI-driven pathology service has now served over 14,000 test orders. The hospital is continuously upgrading and enhancing the system, including improving the user interface and experience. They plan to further expand “integrated, automated AI-powered diagnostics” to accurately detect more cancer cases. This shows their commitment to using technology to improve patient care and make a significant impact in the field of pathology. 2: By constantly evolving and improving the system, SiPH is at the forefront of using AI in pathology. Their efforts are likely to inspire other hospitals to follow suit and adopt similar technologies, leading to a wider adoption of AI in healthcare and better patient outcomes.