BEYOND PERIOD TRACKERS

Tools that help monitor your menstrual cycle may still be the better known example of femtech for now, but there’s a host of products and services that serve various aspects of women’s health. Here’s a primer.

“What femtech companies are trying to do is not only sell a product or a service; they are primarily trying to bridge the knowledge gap and create a safe space for the community to lean into during their time of need – and also for those who are looking to be allies or supporters,” says Francesca.

In spite of how femtech has yet to attain maximum (ahem) penetration, it could serve as a good start to opening up the conversation to all the ways that technology can support women in achieving their health goals.

“I feel that we know so little about women’s reproductive, sexual or overall health in general – it hasn’t been talked about enough. It only started gaining momentum over the past few years, especially through social media, which I think is extremely important.

I’ve learnt so much about it since,” says Emma.

“I think that femtech products and services are definitely going to be a part of my future, especially as I get older. I will always look for ways to learn more about my health, and also how to take better care of it.”

Francesca agrees: “Women’s health has always been under-represented and under-researched – femtech presents itself as an opportunity and a solution for women to arm themselves with knowledge about their bodies. The more people that use femtech, the more data points can be collected to determine what other challenges or solutions are needed to overcome (knowledge gaps).”

FERTILITY

Twoplus (twoplusfertility.

com): Besides retailing fertilityenhancing products, the platform offers services such as its Get Pregnant Programme, a six-month personalised fertility coaching programme.

Simone (meetsimone.com): The remote screening and monitoring platform for PCOS supports users in their nutrition, physical activity and mental health via its app, peer support group meetings, and quarterly hormone testing and monitoring.

PREGNANCY

Biorithm (bio-rithm.com): The start-up spun off from Nanyang Technological University offers the Femom foetal monitoring solution, which includes a foetal monitor, mobile app and physician dashboard to improve perinatal outcomes.

SEXUAL WELLNESS

Maison Mika (maisonmika.

com.sg): The intimate lifestyle boutique retails products ranging from a spectrum of sex toys to erotic accessories for bondage and kegel balls, alongside a blog that covers issues related to romance, relationships and sex.

DellaHQ (thedellahq.

com): The diverse content platform discusses all things related to sexual wellness, from interviews with female founders on the femtech industry to reviews of vibrators.

MENOPAUSE

Elocare (elo.care): Among its solutions for chronic and ageing care, it offers a mobile app and the Elo wearable, which is personalised to a user’s health profile and monitors body data such as heart rate and hot flashes.

SEXUAL HEALTH

Dear Doc (dear-doc.com): Described as a one-stop healthcare solution for women, it provides birth control, sexual health consultation with doctors, and STI test services, all done remotely.

Siena (sienahealth.com): Starting with a lifestyle and medical history evaluation, followed by a teleconsult with a doctor, users can receive birth control pills or patches, emergency contraception, and treatments targeting acne, weight loss and herpes delivered to their home.