Written by Jillian Levovitz, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, FemHealth Insights Women's health has been a neglected field for far too long, with a significant lack of female-focused clinical research, limited understanding or appreciation of gender-specific health concerns, and a severe lack of funding to tackle these obstacles. The historical practice of research being conducted predominantly, or exclusively, on male patients, both human and rodent, has resulted in medical training and diagnostic practices that rely heavily on male physiology, often neglecting considerations for females. Conse ..read more

Written by Jillian Levovitz, MBA, Chief Strategy Officer, FemHealth Insights Menstruation is a vital aspect of women's health and well-being, affecting 300 million females worldwide on a daily basis. However, despite its universal impact, menstruation continues to be plagued by stigma, misinformation, and insufficient support. Countless women across the globe struggle with menstrual poverty, and a staggering 500 million females lack access to essential menstrual products. These factors collectively contribute to subpar menstrual hygiene, which significantly undermines girls' and women’s healt ..read more

Written by Kamala Payyapilly Thiruvenkatanathan, Ph.D. candidate, Pennsylvania State University. Endometriosis is a gynecological condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus causing pain and inflammation. It is believed to be one of the most common gynecological conditions affecting roughly 10% of reproductive-age women or 190 million females globally.  Despite its prevalence, general awareness of endometriosis is quite low among patients and providers resulting in misdiagnosis and late diagnosis. Many patients can suffer for as long as 10 year ..read more

Written by Amber Lyons Osteoporosis is a condition that affects over 10 million people in the United States alone. The condition causes bones to erode, leaving them brittle and at risk of fracturing from minor pressure or injury. Osteoporosis is often called the “silent killer” as symptoms of osteoporosis may not be detected until a fracture occurs — often at the hip, spine, or wrist. Other early symptoms, however, may include back pain, loss of height, and a stooped posture.  Although osteoporosis affects both sexes, research shows that a staggering 80% of sufferers are female. In the U ..read more

Written by Elizabeth Gordon The number of females in United States prisons has surged more than 800% since 1980, a rate twice as fast as that of male inmates. Yet, the criminal justice system upholds an imprisonment and healthcare model that, at best, ignores women’s health needs and at worst exacerbates their challenges. Women who become involved with the justice system often come from disadvantaged backgrounds and face a multitude of challenges. They have lower education levels and are more likely than men to have experienced homelessness in the year before the arrest that led to their inca ..read more

Written by Elizabeth Gordon and Melissa Barall Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise in the US with an overall increase of 7% in reported cases from 2017 - 2021. Covid-19 exacerbated many factors contributing to the increased rates; however, instead of seeing rates decline with the return of screening and testing, numbers have continued to climb. In 2021, the US recorded more than 2.5 million STI cases.  STIs include more than twenty-five infections, curable or incurable, passed from one person to another through sexual contact or bodily fluids. The most common ..read more

Written by Amani Bright & Jillian Levovitz With the recent release of the 2021 maternal health data by the CDC, it’s become alarmingly clear that the United States is trending in a dangerous direction for mothers and infants. The report, released in March, exposed that the maternal mortality rate in 2021 was 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births — an unprecedented increase from the 23.8 and 20.1 deaths recorded in 2020 and 2019, respectively.  Sadly, not only have the rates of maternal morbidity and mortality been sharply increasing over the past several years, but the US continues to ..read more

Written by Jillian Levovitz, MBA, Chief Strategy Officer, FemHealth Insights. As February comes to a close, and with it the end of American Heart Month, we wanted to bring awareness to the unique risk of cardiovascular disease for pregnant women. Cardiovascular disease is generally considered a condition that impacts older people who are past their reproductive years and is therefore, not often on the radar of younger women who are or are planning to get pregnant. But, heart disease, stroke, and pregnancy-related complications are all leading causes of death for women between the ages of 20 a ..read more

Written by Jillian Levovitz, MBA, Chief Strategy Officer, FemHealth Insights. Healthcare delivery in the US is a constantly evolving landscape. With the often slow, but steady adoption of new technological capabilities, the options for where and how care is delivered have expanded greatly over the past several decades. As is often the case though, figuring out the best way to integrate innovative technologies without compromising quality can be a complicated process. The repeated controversies around the quality of care offered by specialty telehealth providers that deliver medication such as ..read more

Written by Jillian Levovitz, MBA, Chief Strategy Officer, FemHealth Insights. Digital health has seen a large increase in new entries and funding over the past several years. This trend, accelerated by the Covid pandemic, has been building since at least 2005 when the World Health Assembly urged members to create an ‘eHealth’ vision and strategies for implementing and monitoring that vision. Since then digital health products have been developed to enhance nearly all areas of healthcare and wellness delivery.  The most visible care delivery change and product type that has received the m ..read more