In 2013, Danish tech entrepreneur Ida Tin was struck by a glaring gap in women’s health technology. Despite humanity’s advancements like moon landings and the internet, there was still no reliable way to track the days a woman could conceive. This realization led her to create Clue, an app designed to help women track their menstrual cycles for conception or contraception. Today, Clue boasts 10 million users across 190 countries.
Clue was among the pioneering products in what Tin later termed “femtech” 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 envisioned future innovations in femtech, such as capsules to hinder sperm mobility, sweat sensors for hormone monitoring, and urine tests for breast cancer detection. She emphasized the business potential, stating, “Female biology comes with a lot of maintenance, and because of that, femtech is a huge business opportunity… there is a lot of money to be made and a lot of money to be saved.”
The Promise and Perils of Femtech
Proponents of femtech argue that it addresses long-standing neglect in women’s health, offering transformative solutions for over 4 billion women worldwide. However, not everyone is convinced of its benefits. During a recent symposium at the University of Sydney, Professor Barbara Mintzes shared her concerns about the commercialization of femtech.
“It builds on a lot of the language from women’s liberation but is misusing it for commercial purposes,” Mintzes remarked. She highlighted that many femtech products, while promising empowerment, often bypass clinical oversight and exploit women’s fears about historical neglect in female-specific health issues.
“Promotion on social media accelerates the growth of misinformation and unproven femtech interventions, which can lead to false positives, overtreatment, psychological distress, financial loss, and inappropriate test usage.”
Fertility and Hormone Tracking: A Double-Edged Sword
Fertility tracking is a prime example of femtech’s dual nature. Women can order hormone tests to assess ovarian reserve, but these tests cannot predict fertility or reproductive timelines, leading to misconceptions. In Australia, a survey found that about a third of women who took these tests did so for future fertility planning.
According to Mintzes and her co-presenter Dr. Brooke Nickel, the risks include false security about delaying pregnancy, anxiety over fertility, and unnecessary pressure to pursue egg freezing or IVF. Similarly, products that track or promote hormones during perimenopause and menopause can be misleading.
“There’s a vulnerability that is social discrimination related to ageing, and women being especially worried about ageing and telling people what they’re going to experience later is something to worry about.”
Exercise and Recovery: Myths in Femtech
Femtech’s reach extends beyond reproductive health, with products promoting exercise plans based on gender-specific needs. Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, an expert in female physiology, criticized these messages as not evidence-based and potentially harmful.
“Training should be goal-specific, not sex-based,” she stated. “For example, a powerlifter, a bodybuilder, a sprinter, and a marathon runner will obviously have very different programs.” Colenso-Semple warned against the overcomplication of fitness for women, often driven by profit motives.
Regulation and Awareness: The Path Forward
Mintzes urged caution, advising women to “beware of the money trail.” She called for independent evaluations of scientific evidence and better regulation of social media, particularly when marketing messages are disguised. However, she acknowledged the challenge, noting that many women have faced the minimization of their health concerns.
“We need independent evaluations of the scientific evidence out there in a way that’s easy for people to understand. And regulation of social media, especially when there are disguised marketing messages.”
The femtech industry sits at a crossroads, with the potential to revolutionize women’s health while also posing significant risks if left unchecked. As the sector grows, the balance between innovation and ethical responsibility will be crucial in shaping its future impact.
