#femtech

#femtech

Many women have endured difficulties with their menstrual cycles for years, often believing that their experiences were normal and that little could be done to help them.

"There's so much discussion about the restrictions on medication abortion that are not evidence-based. It's exciting to see science pointing us in another direction, where access could be expanded."

About one in seven couples in the UK will have difficulty conceiving, and about one in eight known pregnancies will end in a loss. As many as 29% of low-risk pregnancies will experience unforeseen complications.

Since the first IVF baby was born in 1978, technological advancement of reproductive medicine has enabled millions to have children, marking a significant milestone in medical history.

Body agency is a power returned after an incident took it away from the user's physical form, and some wearable devices and technologies have this exact goal in mind.

For more than 60 years, contraception has been almost exclusively a women's responsibility. Today, women have more than 14 modern contraceptive options, while men have just two: condoms and vasectomies. That imbalance has pushed women to shoulder physical side effects, financial burden, medical risks, and the career impact of family planning-costs that have been accepted as the "status quo" for far too long.

January might be coming to a close, but the focus on wellness doesn't have to die with it. If anything, it's a good time to check in with those 2026 goals and see what you want to prioritise for the rest of the year. To that end, we've gathered some of the best deals we've seen in the past few weeks that will help you tick off every good intention you set this month.

Petal is a bra insert that uses bio-impedance sensors and electrical measurements to monitor blood flow near the heart. Because wearers position the insert right next to the heart, the device can capture more accurate readings than your typical smartwatch, Petal says. The device comes in one size and fits snug against each breast. It's made with biocompatible materials, including a soft European fabric and a polyurethane-coated interior.

By attaching near the ear, the device targets the auricular branches of the trigeminal and vagus nerves to regulate menstrual cycle symptoms and help the body return to a rested state. These nerves play an important role throughout the menstrual cycle and release estrogen and progesterone, two essential sex hormones. They also target muscle contraction, blood flow, digestion, and more, a few body functions that change during a period, which explains the increase in cramps and tightening of blood vessels.

Natural Cycles, the company behind a controversial FDA-cleared birth control app, is replacing its thermometer with a wristband that measures skin temperature, heart rate, and movement during sleep. The newly-launched wristband costs $129.99 and syncs with the Natural Cycles app, which uses an algorithm to determine a person's "daily fertility status." Users can already track their fertility by pairing an Apple Watch or Oura Ring with Natural Cycles, but the wristband could be an option for users who don't have either of these devices handy.