FemTech (female technology) refers to any software, diagnostics, products or services that use technology to focus on women’s health and wellness. FemTech encompasses several subsectors such as Women’s Wellness, Menstrual Health, Reproductive Health & Contraception, Longevity, Pregnancy & Nursing, General Health Care, Mental Health, and Pelvic & Uterine Health Care.
The FemTech industry emerged nearly 10 years ago. However, a wide range of aspects of female health remain underserved. While Reproductive Health and Nursing has traditionally been the focus of FemTech businesses and investments, several other subsectors are gradually coming to the fore.
In FemTech, Female health challenges are tackled via tech platforms such as apps and telehealth services, DeepTech such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Big Data, and devices such as wearables, sensors, and remote patient monitoring.
The massive digitisation of healthcare, partially driven by COVID-19, has given a much-needed boost to the FemTech industry. More and more technologies aimed at improving women’s health are being designed. FemTech startups are increasingly integrating AI, ML and big data into their products, and virtual medicine into their solutions to advance women’s health and well-being.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Companies are increasingly utilizing AI and ML in cancer diagnostics, fertility treatment and In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), pregnancy monitoring, sexual wellness applications, in-home testing, among others.
For instance, Nabta Health is a UAE-based disruptive healthcare technology company building a decentralised, woman-centric model of healthcare in the Middle East and North Africa region. By combining the best of digital and traditional healthcare along with clinical pathways to create a unique hybrid healthcare ecosystem, Nabta Health provides personalised, end-to-end support for women – from the acknowledgement of a specific health goal, through diagnosis, to holistic treatment options and beyond. Nabta Health is building a platform that can be accessed by women anytime, anywhere – consisting of effective, market-appropriate delivery mechanisms and a market-leading AI.
Applications and online platforms
These digital products often combine multiple instruments to engage with a customer and address complex needs, comprising educational programs, social networks, remote consultations, among others.
UAE-based IAMENO presents a new narrative on women’s health in the MENA region. It’s a wellbeing platform providing holistic personalised care and guidance to women during different stages of menopause. IAMENO offers carefully curated wellness programs, social networking, access to knowledgeable physicians and experts, nutrition and lifestyle personalised recommendations as well as—away from social media trolls and advertising—a private and safe environment to just breathe.
Mother Being is an Egypt-based sexual and reproductive health awareness movement. Its focus is to create easy, informative content and an education surrounding women’s bodies and their sexual and reproductive health, that is accessible to everyone in the Arabic speaking world. Mother Being offers a variety of Arabic-only, online classes for women ranging from Menstrual Health, Birth Preparation, a monthly women’s circle and most recently the first pleasure-centered and accessible sex education class. Mother Being has proudly taught over 1,000 women about their bodies and their rights.
Mammy App is another Egypt-based medical platform that aims to care and support pregnant women in the Arab world. Its goal is to educate pregnant women about pregnancy and fetal development through reliable medical content prepared by a specialized medical team. The company provides all the medical services that the pregnant woman needs throughout her pregnancy to provide her with everything she needs during this period and to be the best partner in this arduous journey.
Innovative menstrual care solutions
Modern female products for menstruation do not only provide security, but are also safe and sustainable owing to the natural and biodegradable material they are made of. FemTech companies usually offer doorstep deliveries, subscription-based services, and raise cycle awareness via educational blogs, community building, and social responsibility.
Based in the UAE, Orgabliss is a purpose-driven company that aims to keep humankind healthy and the earth safe with 100% organic sanitary pads. Its products are created to safeguard female hygiene to the fullest, as well as to reduce the pain during menstruation. They use far infrared (Far-IR) technology, which outperforms conventional heating pads due to its ability to penetrate tissues up to 8 inches deep. Far-IR can have very positive effects on deep tissues that may be needed to target relief.
Also based in the UAE, LiZZOM is a lifestyle period care brand, which developed a full-circle approach to female periods including high quality products and progressive period education. LiZZOM strives for menstrual justice by focusing on empowering menstruators, eliminating taboos, achieving environmental and social sustainability. With body-conscious, organic, biodegradable and completely natural period care products, LiZZOM is committed to ensuring a healthy and elegant user experience.
MyLily is a UAE-based company that eases the female period experience by delivering preferred tampons, pads, and other feminine care essentials to women’s doorstep every two months, so they don’t have to worry about running out of stock, late-night drives to the pharmacy or having to explain what they need over the phone.
3D imaging
3D medical imaging has revolutionised radiological diagnosis, surgical planning, and scanning in reproductive health. It is safe, informative, accurate and fast.
Based in Israel, Elscint Tomography develops medical diagnostic equipment for breast imaging. The company’s technology is based on Linear Velocity Imaging Tomography, enabling screening and diagnostic imaging anytime, at any age, even during pregnancy. This proprietary technology enables MDs and health clinics worldwide to offer women of all ages more effective breast scans with no exposure to harmful X-ray radiation and no breast compression. The 3D imaging can be performed in approximately one minute and offers a clearer image than X-ray imaging due to higher contrast.
Innovative diagnostic solutions
These solutions include testing and monitoring for women, enabling health control, early disease detection, timely treatment decisions in General Health Care, Reproductive Health & Contraception, Pregnancy & Nursing, and Pelvic & Uterine Health Care.
Based in Turkey, GENZ Biotechnology is a spin-off biotech company developing novel solutions from in vitro diagnostics to therapeutics for complex diseases, such as breast cancer and Covid-19. For instance, its BRCA Cancer Testing differs from standard screening tests with its AI software and custom panel, is faster, more accurate, more affordable, and easier to use in clinical applications. Pregnancy solutions include Baby Gender Testing, determining the gender of the baby three weeks earlier and with higher accuracy than ultrasound which can be crucial for the early detection of gender-related genetic diseases, and highly accurate Blood Compatibility RH Testing for the early diagnostics of blood incompatibility.
Globally and in MENA, there is a huge gap in the women’s healthcare sector. We need to refine and elevate the discourse on women’s well-being, enabling communities to develop an in-depth understanding of the role of technology in advancing women’s health. Such efforts will eventually enable the FemTech market to achieve significant growth.
Globally, there is still a lot of stigma attached to many female health topics, including menstruation, sexual wellness and menopause. Female entrepreneurs continue to face challenges given the sensitive nature of the sector.
However, nations such as the UAE are leading the way and gradually breaking down taboos surrounding female health thanks to a culture of openness, high-levels of health awareness and the tech savviness of the government, the private sector and civil society. As a result, society at large is becoming more and more receptive to engage in conversations about such topics and embrace positive change in support of the FemTech sector.
