FemTech and the equity imperative: no woman left behind

FemTech, a rapidly expanding sector of technologies focused on women's health, is an emerging global health megatrend. These technologies impact how menstrual health, fertility, contraception, pregnancy, menopause, and sexual wellbeing are understood and managed. From a health systems perspective, FemTech is best conceptualised as a digitally enabled women's health sector that predominantly operationalises personalised, data-driven care. Most commercial FemTech platforms rely on user-generated data, behavioural analytics, and symptom tracking to individualise recommendations. Using insights from research on young women's sexuality, gendered power relations, and reproductive experiences in low- and middle-income countries, I argue that FemTech can realise its full potential when embedded within equity-driven care models. The paper contrasts the creation and utilisation of FemTech in high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries, and concludes by providing strategies for equity-oriented FemTech.

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Publication Details

Journal
Frontiers in Reproductive Health
Published
2026-10-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/frph.2026.1893000
Primary Topic
Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

FemTech and the equity imperative: no woman left behind

Nompumelelo Gloria Mfeka-Nkabinde
2 links
Frontiers in Reproductive Health
Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
article

FemTech and the equity imperative: no woman left behind

Nompumelelo Gloria Mfeka-Nkabinde
article en

Abstract

FemTech, a rapidly expanding sector of technologies focused on women's health, is an emerging global health megatrend. These technologies impact how menstrual health, fertility, contraception, pregnancy, menopause, and sexual wellbeing are understood and managed. From a health systems perspective, FemTech is best conceptualised as a digitally enabled women's health sector that predominantly operationalises personalised, data-driven care. Most commercial FemTech platforms rely on user-generated data, behavioural analytics, and symptom tracking to individualise recommendations. Using insights from research on young women's sexuality, gendered power relations, and reproductive experiences in low- and middle-income countries, I argue that FemTech can realise its full potential when embedded within equity-driven care models. The paper contrasts the creation and utilisation of FemTech in high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries, and concludes by providing strategies for equity-oriented FemTech.

Frontiers in Reproductive HealthVol. 8
University of KwaZulu-Natal (ZA)
Inyuvesi Yakwazulu-Natali
Reduced inequalities, Gender equality, Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 8%
Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
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FemTech and the equity imperative: no woman left behind — Nompumelelo Gloria Mfeka-Nkabinde · Frontiers in Reproductive Health (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS