The Role of Femtech in Your Health

The femtech revolution is here. From fertility tracking apps to wearable pregnancy devices, technology is transforming the world of women’s health. Here we dive into the latest solutions and explore how Axia Women’s Health is at the forefront in providing a more progressive and more connected healthcare experience.

What is Femtech?

Femtech is a relatively new concept referring to any consumer-centric digital tools such as wearables, devices, diagnostic tools, mobile apps, and software aimed at supporting women’s health. The rise of femtech is an exciting advancement as it empowers women to better understand our bodies.

There are so many categories of femtech products across the range of menstrual health, maternal health, fertility, oncology, menopause and more. In fact, recent reports showed that there are over 760 companies dedicated to femtech! While we’re only touching on a few here, it’s exciting to know the amount of research and attention placed on women’s health.

Health Apps

From apps that let you order birth control on-demand to period tracking apps, it seems there’s an app for just about anything! Apps are a great tool for providing education and making it easier to access the care you need without the wait.

Another area where apps can be helpful is during pregnancy. During such an exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) time, it’s helpful to get the information you need at your fingertips. In partnering with our friends at Babyscripts, Axia is proud to arm our expecting mamas with the myJourney app. The app provides a feed of daily customized content, from conception to your baby’s first birthday, as well as provider-approved resources, and access to your care team’s contact information to help you stay connected.

The postpartum period is just as critical, especially when it comes to mental health. According to the CDC, postpartum depression is a public health problem, affecting as many as 1 out of 8 women in the US. Axia Women’s Health is tackling this issue head-on by partnering with Curio Digital Therapeutics. Through Curio’s MamaLift program, select Axia patients can access a web-based program that offers personalized self-help tools and trackers to help manage symptoms of anxiety and depression. Developed by clinical psychologists, MamaLift offers content rooted in science-based behavioral therapy and is personalized to each woman’s needs.

Wearable Devices

Wearable technology like sleep and fitness trackers (think FitBit or WHOOP) have gained considerable popularity over the past decade. However, only recently has there been an influx of wearables specific to women’s health. Our bet is this is going to continue to be an area of growth.

For example, perhaps you’ve heard of TENS units for back pain? Well, now several companies have figured out how to use this technology to treat painful period cramps. TENS which stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation may improve menstrual pain by blocking the transmission of pain signals to the brain, according to recent research published in the International Journal of Women’s Health.

Another area ripe for wearable technology is fertility. Currently, products like fertility bracelets are rising in popularity by allowing a woman to detect her fertile window in real-time. Many rely on technology around basal body temperature, as your temperature tends to rise slightly higher around ovulation.

There have also been exciting advancements around the use of wearables during pregnancy. One such product is the INVU remote pregnancy monitoring platform, which is capable of producing remote fetal heart rate tracings comparable to in-office cardiotocography (CTG). Axia has partnered with our friends at NUVO Group to bring this technology to select Axia patients. The technology involves wearing a “pregnancy belt” that has various sensors on your belly. The reading allows you to access simplified data and insights via the paired INVU app, while your provider receives fetal and maternal heart rate tracings comparable to the fetal viability checks that normally occur in prenatal visits. In many ways, this has made care more convenient for our pregnant patients.

Femtech and You

Leveraging technology to address women’s health needs shows tremendous potential to improve care delivery, enable greater self-care, address previously underserved audiences, and ultimately improve outcomes. With more personalized data and support at your fingertips, you can be at the front and center of your own care. This knowledge, paired with the care of your Axia Women’s Health provider, is a powerful way to take charge of your health!