In 2013, Danish tech entrepreneur Ida Tin was on the brink of a groundbreaking innovation. She questioned why humanity had achieved remarkable feats like moon landings and the internet, yet still struggled with a fundamental aspect of women’s health: understanding the menstrual cycle. This led her to develop Clue, an app designed to assist women in tracking their fertility, whether they were trying to conceive or avoid pregnancy. Today, Clue boasts 10 million users across 190 countries.
Clue was among the pioneering products in the femtech industry, a term Tin coined in 2016. This sector, focused on women’s health technology, is projected to grow to $103 billion by 2030. In a TED talk earlier this year, Tin outlined potential future innovations in femtech, such as capsules to alter vaginal mucus, continuous hormone monitoring through sweat sensors, and urine-based breast cancer detection.
The Rise of Femtech
Proponents of femtech argue that the industry addresses long-standing neglect in women’s healthcare. With over 4 billion women worldwide, the potential for transformation is vast. Tin highlighted the significant business opportunities, noting that “being a woman is an intense ride” due to the biological maintenance involved.
However, not everyone shares this enthusiasm. At a recent University of Sydney symposium on the commercial determinants of health, Professor Barbara Mintzes expressed concerns about the risks associated with femtech. She argued that while the industry capitalizes on the language of women’s liberation, it often does so for commercial gain.
Concerns Over Safety and Efficacy
Mintzes, along with Dr. Brooke Nickel, warned that many femtech products promise empowerment and convenience but frequently bypass clinical oversight. They exploit women’s fears and frustrations over historical neglect of female-specific health issues. Social media promotion further accelerates the spread of misinformation and unproven interventions, potentially leading to false positives, overtreatment, psychological distress, and financial loss.
“It builds on a lot of the language from women’s liberation but is misusing it for commercial purposes.” — Professor Barbara Mintzes
One area of concern is fertility tracking and testing. Women can order hormone tests to assess ovarian reserve biomarkers, but these results cannot accurately predict fertility or reproductive timelines. Yet, many women believe they can forecast their fertility, leading to a false sense of security about delaying pregnancy.
Challenges in Menopause and Beyond
Similar issues arise with products targeting perimenopause and menopause. Mintzes noted that the industry often portrays these natural life stages as problematic, pushing hormone treatments that may not be necessary. While some women benefit from hormone therapy for severe symptoms, the marketing of these treatments for unproven symptoms like brain fog and depression is questionable.
“There’s a vulnerability that is social discrimination related to ageing, and women being especially worried about ageing.” — Professor Barbara Mintzes
Mintzes also raised concerns about the over-marketing of hormone treatments as preventative measures for dementia or cardiovascular disease, which could increase risks of breast cancer and blood clots.
The Fitness Factor
Beyond reproductive health, femtech extends into fitness, with products suggesting women need different exercise regimens than men. Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, a researcher in female physiology, criticized this approach, stating that training should be goal-specific rather than sex-based.
“The message that all women should prioritize or avoid particular intensities is not evidence-based.” — Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple
Colenso-Semple emphasized that many fitness programs marketed to women are not grounded in scientific evidence and unnecessarily complicate fitness routines.
Looking Ahead: Regulation and Education
Mintzes called for independent evaluations of scientific evidence and better regulation of social media, particularly regarding disguised marketing messages. She acknowledged the challenge, given many women’s experiences of having their health concerns minimized.
As femtech continues to grow, balancing innovation with rigorous scientific validation and ethical marketing practices will be crucial. The industry holds the potential to revolutionize women’s health, but it must navigate these challenges carefully to truly benefit its intended audience.
