Beyond Period Tracking

The femtech sector has been booming, with innovations primarily focused on menstrual tracking, fertility, and reproductive health. However, as the field matures, new opportunities are emerging to address other facets of women’s health that remain underserved. Identifying these untapped markets requires a deeper understanding of women’s diverse health needs, often overlooked by traditional healthcare solutions. This article explores potential growth areas within femtech beyond period tracking and offers insights into strategies for identifying new opportunities in this dynamic industry.

The Current State of FemTech

The femtech industry has grown significantly in recent years, with much of its focus on menstruation, fertility, and pregnancy-related applications. Popular period tracking apps and fertility tools like Flo, Clue, and Ava have provided foundational solutions that empower women to manage reproductive health more effectively. However, this narrow focus on reproductive health only scratches the surface of women’s diverse health needs.

With growing awareness of gender-specific health issues, women are seeking solutions that address broader aspects of their physical and mental well-being. As a result, femtech companies have a unique opportunity to fill the gaps in areas like menopause, chronic disease management, mental health, and more.

Why Go Beyond Period Tracking?

1. Market Saturation: With a plethora of period tracking apps available, the market for menstrual health is becoming increasingly saturated. New entrants will need to either innovate significantly within this space or expand into less crowded markets.
2. Women’s Health Needs Beyond Reproduction: Women’s health extends far beyond reproductive health. Women face unique health challenges throughout their lives, including menopause, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and mental health issues that are often influenced by hormonal changes.
3. Longer Life Stages and Aging Population: As life expectancy rises, more women are seeking solutions that support long-term health and quality of life. Femtech has a vast potential to address health issues in older women, particularly around menopause, bone health, and chronic disease management.

Identifying Untapped Markets in FemTech

To find growth opportunities, femtech companies need to look beyond the traditional focus on reproductive health. Here are some emerging markets within femtech that remain largely untapped.

1. Menopause and Perimenopause Management

Menopause is a natural phase in a woman’s life, yet it is often overlooked in the broader healthcare landscape. Symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and bone density loss can have a profound impact on quality of life. Femtech companies have a chance to create solutions that support women through this transition.

• Opportunities:
  • Wearable devices to monitor and manage hot flashes.
  • Hormone tracking and symptom management apps.
  • Platforms providing community support, education, and telehealth access to menopause specialists.
• Market Potential: With over 1 billion women expected to experience menopause globally by 2025, the demand for menopause-focused solutions is rising rapidly. Companies like Elektra Health and Gennev have started tapping into this market, but significant potential remains.

2. Autoimmune and Chronic Disease Management

Women are disproportionately affected by autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Many chronic illnesses present unique symptoms and challenges for women, and femtech can help women track symptoms, manage flare-ups, and make informed lifestyle choices.

• Opportunities:
  • Symptom tracking apps designed specifically for autoimmune conditions.
  • Predictive analytics for flare-up management and lifestyle guidance.
  • Wearables and mobile apps to monitor pain, mobility, and energy levels.
• Market Potential: Chronic illness management is a growing sector, and with over 75% of autoimmune disease patients being women, this presents an ideal market for femtech companies to address underserved health needs.

3. Cardiovascular Health and Preventive Care

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, yet much of the medical research and technology has focused on male patients. Female-specific symptoms of cardiovascular issues are often under-recognized, and preventive care for women’s cardiovascular health is needed.

• Opportunities:
  • Apps and wearables that monitor heart health with a focus on female-specific risk factors.
  • Preventive health solutions that offer guidance on nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle tailored for women.
  • Educational platforms to increase awareness of heart disease symptoms in women.
• Market Potential: With rising rates of cardiovascular disease in women, this area offers substantial potential for innovation. Companies can focus on tools that raise awareness of heart disease in women and provide actionable preventive care measures.

4. Mental Health Solutions for Women

Mental health is increasingly recognized as an integral part of overall health, but many traditional mental health tools lack a focus on the unique mental health needs of women. Hormonal fluctuations can affect mood and mental well-being, from PMS to postpartum depression and menopause-related mood shifts.

• Opportunities:
  • Apps offering cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, mindfulness practices, and stress management specifically tailored to women.
  • Platforms that support women with mental health challenges during significant life transitions (e.g., postpartum, menopause).
  • Wearable devices that monitor mood, stress levels, and other mental health indicators, offering personalized feedback.
• Market Potential: Women are more likely to experience anxiety and depression than men, and the mental health market continues to grow. Femtech can bridge gaps by creating solutions that cater to women’s unique mental health needs, from hormone-related mood changes to stress management.

5. Bone and Muscular Health

Women are more prone to bone density loss and osteoporosis, particularly after menopause, due to changes in hormone levels. Muscular health is also essential for maintaining mobility, strength, and quality of life as women age.

• Opportunities:
  • Apps that provide personalized exercise and nutrition plans for bone health.
  • Wearables that monitor bone density changes and help with early detection of osteoporosis.
  • Physical therapy and exercise tracking apps focused on strength training and mobility for older women.
• Market Potential: The osteoporosis treatment market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Femtech can play a vital role by offering proactive, preventive care solutions aimed at maintaining bone health.

6. Digestive Health and Hormonal Influence

Many digestive issues, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and food sensitivities, are influenced by hormonal changes and disproportionately affect women. Femtech companies can tap into this area by developing tools that cater to women’s unique digestive health needs.

• Opportunities:
  • Apps for tracking digestive symptoms and hormonal fluctuations.
  • Nutrition and diet planning tools that help women manage digestive health.
  • Wearables that monitor gut health biomarkers and offer personalized feedback.
• Market Potential: The market for digestive health is substantial, especially as more women recognize the link between digestive health and hormonal balance. Femtech solutions can cater to this market by offering tools for symptom tracking, dietary guidance, and gut health monitoring.

7. Sexual Wellness and Intimate Health

The conversation around sexual wellness is expanding, and femtech has a unique opportunity to provide solutions that address the intimate health and sexual well-being of women. Topics like sexual pleasure, vaginal health, and pelvic floor strength are essential yet often overlooked components of women’s health.

• Opportunities:
  • Apps and devices that support pelvic floor health.
  • Educational platforms that address sexual health, pleasure, and consent.
  • Telehealth access to sexual health specialists, particularly for issues like painful intercourse, low libido, and more.
• Market Potential: The sexual wellness industry is experiencing growth as societal stigmas decrease and awareness grows. Femtech solutions in this space can empower women with resources and tools to prioritize their intimate health and wellness.

How to Identify Emerging Opportunities in FemTech

Identifying untapped markets requires a strategic approach. Here are some ways femtech innovators can uncover new growth areas:

1. Engage Directly with Women: Conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups with diverse groups of women to understand their health challenges and unmet needs.
2. Collaborate with Healthcare Professionals: Partner with women’s health specialists to identify common issues their patients face and develop solutions in collaboration.
3. Analyze Health Data and Trends: Utilize big data and research studies to analyze trends in women’s health and identify potential areas where technology could make an impact.
4. Monitor Social Media and Community Platforms: Online communities often provide raw, unfiltered insights into women’s health experiences and challenges. Monitoring these discussions can reveal pain points and opportunities.
5. Look Beyond Traditional Health Care: Consider wellness, lifestyle, and preventive care areas that influence health outcomes but are often overlooked in traditional health care.

Next Gen of Period Tracking

As femtech evolves, opportunities to address women’s health needs beyond period tracking continue to emerge. By focusing on underserved areas such as mental health, bone health, autoimmune disease management, and cardiovascular health, femtech companies can create meaningful solutions that improve women’s overall quality of life. Innovation in these spaces isn’t just about tapping into a new market; it’s about empowering women with tools to understand, manage, and improve their health holistically.

This article identifies and explores growth areas in femtech beyond traditional reproductive health, offering a roadmap for innovators looking to expand their impact and serve more diverse aspects of women’s health.