Getting effective medical care as a woman can be exhausting, and enough to make you want to rip your hair out. Got a pain behind the knee? Must be PMS. Can’t see out of your left eye? That’s just your hormones. Time and time again, women’s medical issues are met with ‘medical misogyny’, which may lead to later diagnoses and ineffective treatments, as most research is based on male experiences.
It’s ordeals such as these – being dismissed, misdiagnosed or outright ignored – that have given rise to a new health revolution. Feminine technology, or ‘FemTech’, has evolved, focusing on the introduction of technologies, software and products that keep women’s healthcare experiences in mind. A 2024 government report found that there was a “clear lack of awareness and understanding of women’s reproductive health conditions among primary healthcare practitioners”, which led to many women going undiagnosed and in pain for years.
According to Precedence Research, the FemTech industry is estimated to be worth $60.89bn (£44bn) in 2025 and is projected to grow to $130.80bn (over £96bn) by 2034.
Breaking the bias in women’s health
Interval breast cancers, the ones that slip through routine screenings or arise between them, are especially frightening. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) might step in and be the answer to early detection to prevent late diagnoses. While mammograms are often effective in detecting breast cancer, Cancer Research UK explains that a ‘false negative’ can occur in screening, meaning that it “doesn’t always find the cancer that is there, so some people will be missed”. There are also limitations with mammograms in terms of age, breast density and the location of the cancer, which can impact visibility on screening.
AI and the future of breast cancer screening
So is AI the perfect partner to mammography? In a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, by assigning risk scores to scans, AI more commonly flagged and localised interval breast cancers visible on mammograms, even if they were missed by human error or were subtle signs that are easily overlooked.
Although this is a potentially useful development, AI tools are not yet regularly used in the NHS due to uncertainty about their overall effectiveness. A review published in Clinical Radiology in June 2025 found that AI missed a number of cancers that human readers did not, and concluded that it is “not currently of sufficient accuracy to be considered in the NHS Breast Screening Programme”.
FemTech developments in breast cancer are still a work in progress and an area for future improvement.
Improving PCOS care with virtual support
Meanwhile, in the diagnosis and management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Allara Health is a virtual healthcare provider that offers not only birth control, but also specialist treatment to manage the condition, combining lifestyle management techniques, such as exercise, community support and medical advice from a range of medical professionals.
For many women with PCOS or suspected PCOS such as myself, treatment typically includes being on ‘the pill’ for life, or trawling through internet pages or TikTok to be told to take a concoction of vitamins that frankly cost more than a month’s salary. So, while more and more companies are popping up specialising in PCOS support, affordable and easily accessible treatment for this hormonal disorder is the way forward for women and, interestingly, even for men with a genetic link to PCOS through female relatives who may exhibit similar metabolic and hormonal symptoms.
Probiotics, periods and the power of the microbiome
Speaking of supplements and vitamins, Evvy launched a 3-in-1 probiotic in June 2025. For anyone like me who was wondering what a probiotic actually is, I googled so you don’t have to. It’s a form of live bacteria that helps to balance the gut and can support vaginal and skin health. Evvy’s probiotic is set to support women’s vaginal, urinary tract and gut health because, as they explain, “everyday factors like stress, your menstrual cycle, certain medications, or sexual activity can disrupt your microbiome”.
The product that possibly surprised me most was from the sustainable and female-founded health platform Daye, which offers CBD-coated tampons to alleviate menstrual pain.
CBD tampons work through the cannabinoid neural receptors CB1 and CB2 which are distributed throughout the uterine tissue. By attaching to these, the cannabinoid can help to alleviate those often-immobilising menstrual pains.
The future is female – and tech-led
FemTech remains rooted in innovation where products, platforms and schemes continue to make headway in creating a more comfortable and effective environment for women.
The industry still has a long way to go, despite breakthroughs that could transform the face of women’s healthcare, most products and services remain inaccessible to the average person, I know most can’t currently afford to spend £10 on tampons.
Perhaps in future years the FemTech industry will work on not only creating essential products but products the average person can realistically use in their everyday routine.
