Gender bias is discovered in lots of locations and medical analysis holds no exception. It took till 1990, the identical 12 months NASA launched the Hubble House Telescope (which was a long time within the planning), for the Nationwide Institutes of Well being to determine their Workplace of Analysis on Ladies’s Well being. 

Quick ahead 30 years, and we’ve seen quite a few selections which have helped reshape attitudes in direction of ladies’s well being, together with influential coverage change, however as we head in direction of 2024, ladies proceed to voice mistreatment or misdiagnosis, displaying there’s nonetheless a mountain to climb. 

Our shopper analysis knowledge highlights persistent gender disparities inside healthcare, with insights on the alternative ways ladies are taking their well being into their very own arms, and the way manufacturers exterior of the healthcare business can undertake a extra complete method to ladies’s well being.

The present state of play 

Earlier than we get into the ladies’s well being traits of 2024, let’s take a step again and have a look at the present state of play. We will look to the American market to offer us clues on the present outlook of ladies’s well being.

Within the US, ladies’s considerations about their private well being have climbed 25% since Q2 2020. 

This upward curve is especially noticeable amongst Black/African American and Hispanic ladies. These teams usually face disproportionate challenges with points corresponding to maternity care.

1. Ladies wish to female-centric well being manufacturers

The obvious gaps in ladies’s healthcare inside mainstream providers has given rise to quite a few women-centric well being manufacturers that supply providers protecting all the things from normal check-ups to particular take care of menopause and fertility – offering a a lot wanted breath of contemporary air to an outdated system. This highlights the essential function of manufacturers in shedding gentle on the distinctive well being considerations of ladies and contributing to a extra inclusive and equitable panorama. 

2. Ladies are embracing pure cures, nutritional vitamins, and dietary supplements to spice up their general wellbeing  

Past particular well being considerations, ladies are shifting demand in direction of a rise in general wellbeing. This shift lays the groundwork for a deeper exploration of easy methods to handle ladies’s well being.

General we’ve seen preferences rising for nutritional vitamins, pure medicines, and different therapies. The variety of ladies within the US who say they use natural/pure medicines to deal with minor diseases/illnesses is up by 18% because the finish of 2020. 

3. Ladies are prioritizing their intestine well being 

Aligning with the broader world development, prioritizing intestine well being is a selected focus for ladies. Over 1 in 3 ladies within the US take dietary supplements for digestive well being, and we’ve seen a 21% improve in ladies taking probiotics to deal with digestive issues because the finish of 2020. But it surely’s not solely sure therapies or medicines the place we’ve seen progress, curiosity in diversified consuming habits has additionally grown. 

As research proceed to seek out hyperlinks between ladies’s well being points like PCOS and the intestine microbiome, embracing these traits may have extra advantages. In 2024, adopting a better deal with elements and available info on the dietary advantages of merchandise steers manufacturers in direction of the accountable training of ladies’s well being, giving ladies the instruments to take well being issues into their very own arms earlier than they make a visit to the physician. 

4. Customers need sensible measures for ladies’s well being 

Examples of how ladies’s well being is important for the worldwide economic system sign that in 2024, manufacturers must not solely deal with their merchandise, however they should make the well being of their feminine workers a precedence. 

Within the subsequent 12 months, ladies’s well being points like abortion will probably be a key concern for voters within the run as much as the Presidential election within the US. The problem has already invigorated Individuals throughout the political spectrum, however it’s additionally the worldwide impression of overturning Roe v. Wade that ought to draw manufacturers consideration not solely in direction of abortion or contraception, however how the momentum to assist ladies’s well being concurrently helps their financial energy.

Globally, we see that it’s not solely ladies who’re advocating for office insurance policies that prioritize ladies’s well being. 

42% of males in 10 markets wish to see employers provide paid go away for ladies’s well being points. 

Since July 2022, there’s been an unwavering change in shoppers’ prioritizing paid go away for ladies’s well being points. However there have been some modifications to shoppers’ wants since we final requested what they wish to see employers do extra to assist ladies’s well being points. As of September 2023, training on the misconceptions of ladies’s well being alongside employers offering entry to female hygiene merchandise has taken better precedence, whereas supporting the correct illustration of ladies’s well being and donations to ladies’s health-focused charities have seen slight drops. This reveals us that whereas accuracy remains to be important, 37% need extra optimistic illustration, and there’s extra demand for sensible and monetary assist. 

Not solely does this foster inclusion within the office, however supporting ladies’s particular well being points must be thought of a necessity for retaining feminine expertise. Manufacturers can take inspiration from underwear model Modibodi that has supplied paid go away for menstrual, menopause and miscarriage since 2021. 

5. Office well being advantages also needs to lengthen to childcare

Specializing in office advantages, limitations for childcare is a major barrier for ladies to entry healthcare and is a key concern. Employer-provided daycare providers have decreased by 17% previously two years, and simply over 3 in 10 feminine enterprise professionals report that their employers provide paid maternity or paternity go away. Manufacturers must acknowledge present shortfalls in maternity and paternity advantages by selling gender equality in caregiving duties. Workplaces can differentiate themselves by investing in daycare amenities, selling work-life stability, providing paid parental go away and supporting the skilled progress of working moms – 49% of moms use childcare to permit them to attend work. 

Making ladies’s well being a precedence

As we navigate the panorama of ladies’s well being, it’s essential to acknowledge the highly effective actions shaping subsequent 12 months. The traits outlined above paint a posh image, reflecting each progress and challenges. 

Wanting ahead to 2024, the worldwide dialog round ladies’s well being is ready to accentuate. Manufacturers should keep tuned in to the evolving wants of ladies worldwide, making certain their efforts foster a future the place ladies can confidently chart their path to optimum well being and wellbeing.