Femtech

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Femtech (or female technology) is a term used to define software and services that use technology tailored towards women's health. This includes fertility solutions, period-tracking apps, pregnancy and nursing care, women's sexual wellness, and reproductive system health care. While there are several different aspects of women's health femtech applies to, femtech mainly focuses on menstruation care through period-tracking apps. [1] Before femtech was officially established, Luna Luna, created by a firm in Japan, helped women keep track of their menstruation cycles. [2]

Contents

Femtech did not become an official term until 2016 when Clue co-founders Hans Raffauf, Ida Tin and the Clue team created the term. [3] Femtech is specifically focused on applications for women's health. These applications come in several different forms, such as mobile apps and medical devices. The industry has grown and continues to grow since femtech was official established. By 2025, with continuous growth, the femtech industry could be worth $50 billion. [3]

Companies and products

There are numerous femtech companies offering a variety of different products throughout the world, such as Clue, DOT, Glow, [4] Eve, Cycles, My Calendar, Life, [5] [6] FertilityIQ, Extend Fertility, Forte Medical, Flo, Lady Cycle and others. [7] [8] [9] [10] Companies that offer services like IVF, egg freezing, and medical treatments include Univfy, [11] Progyny, Apricity and Prelude Fertility. [8] Valley Electronics created the original fertility tracking tech device, called the Lady-Comp fertility tracker, which was first produced in Germany in 1986 and has a modernized model still on the market in addition to a newer variant of fertility tracking device called the Daysy fertility tracker, which was the first device to pair a fertility tracker with an app. Similarly, the fertility company, Ava, produces a wearable that tracks fertility. [12] Nurx provides a telemedicine service where women can get birth control prescribed via an app, and have the pills delivered. [8] Twentyeight Health, another birth control delivery service, takes this model a step further by providing resources for underserved women and Medicaid populations. [13]

Several companies also produce internet-connected medical devices that are often paired with mobile apps to track specific data. For instance, Elvie and Willow produce a wearable breast pump. [14] The Elvie breast pump also connects to an app. [5] [9] Elvie also offers a kegel-tracking device. [15] [16] [17] In 2020, Kegg launched a 2-in-1 fertility tracker that senses electrolyte levels of cervical fluid and assists the user in pelvic floor exercises. [18] Lioness produces a smart vibrator with an app that uses biofeedback to help users learn more about their bodies. [14] Other medical devices and implements produced in the femtech category may or may not use an internet connection. Joylux is a women's health technology company creating medical and feminine wellness devices under the vSculpt and vFit brands. [19] Companies like L. and Flex offer alternatives to standard tampon and condom products. [5] Thinx sells reusable underwear that absorbs menstrual blood. [14] iPulse Medical sells a menstrual pain relief wearable device. [20]

Swedish company Natural Cycles was the first to receive official approval to market its app as digital contraception in the European Union and in August 2018, the Food and Drug Administration approved marketing in the U.S. [21] Controversy around the app as a contraceptive device grew stronger after numerous women in Stockholm reported unplanned pregnancies after using the app. [22] After Swedish authorities concluded the investigation, the amount of unintended pregnancies was found to be in line with claims made by Natural Cycles. [23]

Companies in the breastfeeding and breast-pumping space like Milk Stork provide services such as breast milk shipping. [24]

Ethics

There have been concerns about data-sharing practices in femtech, particularly within fertility-trackers. This issue has affected several applications outside of femtech, but due to the sensitivity of the data being shared within femtech, it becomes more urgent. In the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the laws passed by states banning abortion, there was a widespread fear Femtech would be weaponized to monitor women and whether or not they get an abortion. [25] Some apps have come under fire for ambiguous privacy ethics after it emerged that user data had been shared without consent with companies such as Facebook. This allowed Facebook, and other companies that it shares its data with, to target users with fertility or pregnancy related products based around which point in their monthly menstrual cycle they were. Flo, a period tracking app which collects personal data from users, has also sold that data and attempted to conceal who it was sold to. [26] After FCC intervention, Flo is no longer able to conceal what they do with data from users and must ask for their consent if they want to share their data. [26] However, though Flo was stopped, companies such as Facebook and other period-tracking apps continue to share user data. Some have argued this is harmful, as it assumes things such as intended eventual pregnancy and disregards alternate conception outcomes such as termination or miscarriage. There have been additional concerns about femtech apps reporting false information regarding users' reproductive health. While the intention behind femtech is to give visibility to women's health and empower women, there have been several issues with femtech perpetuating social inequalities, such as sexist stereotypes, going against their original goal. Feminists who have studied femtech closely came to conclusion that rather than empowering women, it is exploiting the anxieties women have when it comes to their health. [27] The main issues are medical reliability, privacy, gender stereotyping and epistemic injustice. Proposals to combat data-sharing practices have arisen through the use of ethics-by-design tools that stem from the capability sensitive design (CSD) framework. [28] However, it is more of a theoretical framework rather than a permanent solution. [27] There has yet to be a permanent solution presented.

Access

While there are several advantages to femtech, it is not accessible to all women, specifically women in low-income countries—over 44 million women in those countries lack access to the services offered. [29] Period-tracking apps, for example, assume users have cellphones to download and use their applications. When it comes to the digital health, only 3% of the deals they[ who? ] have made were focused on women's health, while the rest of that focus went to men's health. [3] With women's health already not being prioritized, femtech reframing itself to consider women globally is becoming a necessity. To close that gap, "e-hybrid" prenatal care has been proposed, which will allow flexibility is providing services to pregnant women and the kind of care that they need, specifically for women in low-income countries. [29] However, it is mainly a potential model rather than a solid solution, with many obstacles to overcome before it could actually be implemented. Femtech could start to move in the direction of operating in a global context in the meantime, though it could be some time before that happens.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fertility awareness</span> Methods to determine menstrual phases

Fertility awareness (FA) refers to a set of practices used to determine the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. Fertility awareness methods may be used to avoid pregnancy, to achieve pregnancy, or as a way to monitor gynecological health.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combined oral contraceptive pill</span> Birth control method which is taken orally

The combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP), often referred to as the birth control pill or colloquially as "the pill", is a type of birth control that is designed to be taken orally by women. It is the oral form of combined hormonal contraception. The pill contains two important hormones: a progestin and estrogen. When taken correctly, it alters the menstrual cycle to eliminate ovulation and prevent pregnancy.

Calendar-based methods are various methods of estimating a woman's likelihood of fertility, based on a record of the length of previous menstrual cycles. Various methods are known as the Knaus–Ogino method and the rhythm method. The standard days method is also considered a calendar-based method, because when using it, a woman tracks the days of her menstrual cycle without observing her physical fertility signs. The standard days method is based on a fixed formula taking into consideration the timing of ovulation, the functional life of the sperm and the ovum, and the resulting likelihood of pregnancy on particular days of the menstrual cycle. These methods may be used to achieve pregnancy by timing unprotected intercourse for days identified as fertile, or to avoid pregnancy by avoiding unprotected intercourse during fertile days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menstruation</span> Shedding of the uterine lining

Menstruation is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. The menstrual cycle is characterized by the rise and fall of hormones. Menstruation is triggered by falling progesterone levels, and is a sign that pregnancy has not occurred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Contraceptive patch</span> Transdermal patch applied to prevent pregnancy

A contraceptive patch, also known as "the patch", is a transdermal patch applied to the skin that releases synthetic oestrogen and progestogen hormones to prevent pregnancy. They have been shown to be as effective as the combined oral contraceptive pill with perfect use, and the patch may be more effective in typical use.

Breast pain is the symptom of discomfort in either one or both breasts. Pain in both breasts is often described as breast tenderness, is usually associated with the menstrual period and is not serious. Pain that involves only one part of a breast is more concerning, particularly if a hard mass or nipple discharge is also present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hormonal intrauterine device</span> Intrauterine device

A hormonal intrauterine device (IUD), also known as an intrauterine system (IUS) with progestogen and sold under the brand name Mirena among others, is an intrauterine device that releases a progestogenic hormonal agent such as levonorgestrel into the uterus. It is used for birth control, heavy menstrual periods, and to prevent excessive build of the lining of the uterus in those on estrogen replacement therapy. It is one of the most effective forms of birth control with a one-year failure rate around 0.2%. The device is placed in the uterus and lasts three to eight years. Fertility often returns quickly following removal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture and menstruation</span>

There are many cultural aspects surrounding how societies view menstruation. Different cultures view menstruation in different ways. The basis of many conduct norms and communication about menstruation in western industrial societies is the belief that menstruation should remain hidden. By contrast, in some indigenous hunter-gatherer societies, menstrual observances are viewed in a positive light, without any connotation of uncleanness. In most of India, menarche is celebrated as a rite of passage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comparison of birth control methods</span>

There are many methods of birth control that vary in requirements, side effects, and effectiveness. As the technology, education, and awareness about contraception has evolved, new contraception methods have been theorized and put in application. Although no method of birth control is ideal for every user, some methods remain more effective, affordable or intrusive than others. Outlined here are the different types of barrier methods, hormonal methods, various methods including spermicides, emergency contraceptives, and surgical methods and a comparison between them.

Pregnancy rate is the success rate for getting pregnant. It is the percentage of all attempts that leads to pregnancy, with attempts generally referring to menstrual cycles where insemination or any artificial equivalent is used, which may be simple artificial insemination (AI) or AI with additional in vitro fertilization (IVF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CycleBeads</span> Visual tool used for family planning

CycleBeads is a visual tool that was developed by the Institute for Reproductive Health at Georgetown University. This device helps women use the Standard Days Method, a fertility awareness-based family planning method. The sole manufacturer is a US for-profit company, Cycle Technologies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fertility testing</span> Process for assessing human fertility

Fertility testing is the process by which fertility is assessed, both generally and also to find the "fertile window" in the menstrual cycle. General health affects fertility, and STI testing is an important related field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health (Apple)</span> Health informatics mobile app

Health is a health informatics mobile app, announced by Apple Inc. on June 2, 2014, at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The app is available on iPhone and iPod Touch devices running iOS 8 or later, and on iPads running iPadOS 17 or later. The application holds health data such as blood pressure measurement and glucose levels, but also holds physical tracking data such as step counts. It can pull data from fitness trackers, smartwatches, smart scales, and other devices.

Clue is a menstrual health app developed by the Berlin-based technology company BioWink GmbH. The app has over 15 million users from 180 countries. The startup has raised over $17 million from backers that include Union Square Ventures and Mosaic Ventures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ida Tin</span> Danish internet entrepreneur and author (born 1979)

Ida Tin is a Danish internet entrepreneur and author who is the co-founder and CEO of the women's menstruation-tracking app, Clue. She is credited with coining the term "femtech".

Kindara is a femtech company headquartered in Colorado that develops apps that help women identify their fertile window. The products are used for women trying to get pregnant, or women who want to track their menstrual cycle for overall health. Their latest product, Priya Fertility and Ovulation Monitor, maximizes a woman's chance of getting pregnancy by identifying her most fertile days.

Natural Cycles is a mobile app designed to help women track their fertility. The app predicts the days on which a woman is fertile and may be used for planning pregnancy and contraception. It was developed by scientist Elina Berglund, who founded the company with her husband, Raoul Scherwitzl.

Bellabeat is a wellness company founded by Urška Sršen and Sandro Mur in 2014. It is best known for its Leaf smart jewelry wearable line. The company has offices in San Francisco, Zagreb and Hong Kong. In 2023, the company had a revenue of US$650 million, according to its investor Nordic Eye.

Flo is a health app that provides menstrual cycle and ovulation tracking.

Ava is a medical technology company that developed the Ava bracelet, a wearable device that functions as a fertility tracker.

References

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  2. ↑ Wiederhold, Brenda K. (November 2021). "Femtech: Digital Help for Women's Health Care Across the Life Span". Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. 24 (11): 697–698. doi:10.1089/cyber.2021.29230.editorial. ISSN   2152-2715. PMID   34806914.
  3. 1 2 3 Faubion, Stephanie (April 2021). "Femtech and midlife women's health: good, bad, or ugly?". Menopause. 28 (4). PMID   33534432.
  4. ↑ Burke, Adrienne Jane (17 October 2013). "When the Quantified Self Wants to Conceive a Child". Techonomy Media . Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Magistretti, Bérénice (5 February 2017). "The rise of femtech: women, technology, and Trump". VentureBeat . Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Buhr, Sarah (30 November 2016). "Period tracking app Clue pulls in $20 million Series B from Nokia Growth Partners". TechCrunch . Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  7. ↑ Richmond, Jill (31 December 2016). "The New Year Of Optimisim For Femtech". Forbes . Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 Hinchliffe, Emma (29 December 2016). "Why 2016 was a huge year for women's health tech". Mashable . Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  9. 1 2 Mack, Heather (16 September 2016). "Digital health tools for women a growing, necessary and wanted market". MobiHealthNews. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  10. ↑ "Testsieger Stiftung Warentest Zyklus-Apps". Zyklus-Apps - Stiftung Warentest. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  11. ↑ Burke, Adrienne Jane (4 March 2013). "Startup's Data Helps Women Succeed with In Vitro Fertilization". Techonomy Media . Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  12. ↑ Hinchliffe, Emma (19 November 2016). "The next frontier in wearables is helping couples conceive". Mashable . Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  13. ↑ "Twentyeight Health is a telemedicine company expanding access to women's health and reproductive care". TechCrunch. 14 October 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  14. 1 2 3 Fromm, Mona (4 March 2017). "The Femtech Revolution". Handelsblatt . Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  15. ↑ Magistretti, Bérénice (22 March 2017). "Femtech startup Elvie raises $6 million for its kegel tracker". VentureBeat . Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  16. ↑ Tucker, Charlotte (2021-03-08). "'When I first approached investors, I was told women's health products were too "niche"': Interview with Elvie's CEO and co-founder, Tania Boler". EU-Startups. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  17. ↑ Tobin, Lucy (2019-11-18). "Entrepreneurs: 'Femtech' firm Elvie is aiming to boost women's health". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  18. ↑ "Femtech Company Lady Technologies Launches kegg, the First 2-in-1 Medical Device to Help Women In their Conception Journey". BioSpace. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  19. ↑ "Joylux - Products, Competitors, Financials, Employees, Headquarters Locations". www.cbinsights.com. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  20. ↑ "The Israeli invention that could end period pain". The Times of Israel . 2016-05-02. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
  21. ↑ Ong, Thuy (2017-08-15). "This app is certified in the EU as a form of birth control. Is the US next?". The Verge. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  22. ↑ "Hyped birth control app Natural Cycles has been reported to the authorities - after 37 unwanted pregnancies". nordic.businessinsider.com. 2018-01-11. Archived from the original on 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  23. ↑ "Swedish regulator says contraceptive app works as advertised". Engadget. 15 September 2018. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  24. ↑ Holley, Peter (19 October 2017). "The latest way companies are luring top female talent: Breast milk shipping". Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  25. ↑ Nellore, Nidhi; Zimmer, Michael (2023-10-14). "Femtech Data Privacy post-Dobbs: A Preliminary Analysis of User Reactions". Computer Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing. CSCW '23 Companion. New York, NY, USA: Association for Computing Machinery. pp. 226–228. doi: 10.1145/3584931.3606986 . ISBN   979-8-4007-0129-0.
  26. 1 2 Gupta, Alisha Haridasani; Singer, Natasha (2021-01-28). "Your App Knows You Got Your Period. Guess Who It Told?". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  27. 1 2 Burt-D'Agnillo, Madelin (2022-12-19). "FemTech: A Feminist Technoscience Analysis". The IJournal: Student Journal of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Information. 8 (1). doi: 10.33137/ijournal.v8i1.39909 . ISSN   2561-7397.
  28. ↑ Jacobs, Naomi; Evers, Jenneke (June 2023). "Ethical perspectives on femtech: Moving from concerns to capability-sensitive designs". Bioethics. 37 (5): 430–439. doi: 10.1111/bioe.13148 . hdl: 1887/3674187 . ISSN   0269-9702. PMID   36807364.
  29. 1 2 Hod, Moshe; Divakar, Hema; Kihara, Anne B.; Geary, Michael (October 2023). "The femtech revolution—A new approach to pregnancy management: Digital transformation of maternity care—The hybrid e-health perinatal clinic addressing the unmet needs of low- and middle-income countries". International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. 163 (1): 4–10. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.15032 . ISSN   0020-7292. PMID   37554042.
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