How the Medical Device Industry is Improving Women’s Health

Current medical care systems, both in the US and globally, are failing women. Persistent stigmas, affordability, and historical bias, which have impacted research and understanding of certain conditions, are key areas exacerbating the challenges for women accessing care. There is still a huge amount of work to be done so women have the medical care they deserve; however, the medical device industry is making significant advancements to drive improvements. 

This guide will explore some of the common issues facing women’s health and their impact. We will also explore the key advancements that the medical device industry has made in recent years and how they will affect women's treatment. Finally, we will look at how our dedicated medical device staffing team is supporting businesses within the industry. 

What are the Challenges in Women’s Health? 

The challenges in women’s health are complex and, unfortunately, have blighted the progression of the sector for many years. There are several issues that need to be addressed both in the US and globally, but here are three significant examples of challenges the sector is facing: 

Affordability 

In a survey by Deloitte, women in the US are 31% more likely than men to avoid medical care due to costs. 21% reported that they decided not to see a doctor because the cost was too high, up from 15% in 2025. The survey also found that women were twice as likely as men to say they are not financially prepared to pay an unforeseen medical bill. 

Furthermore, around 10% of non-elderly women (9.5 million) are uninsured in the US. This rate is slightly down on the 13% of men, mainly due to, on average, women having lower incomes and being more likely to qualify for Medicaid than men under one of its eligibility categories - parent of children, pregnant, under 18, over 65, or have a disability. The ACA has allowed states the opportunity to eliminate the categorical requirements, but the gender gap for insurance rates still persists. 

Compared to insured women, those who are uninsured have lower use of vital preventive services such as Pap tests, blood pressure checks, and mammograms. They are also less likely to have a regular doctor, which is associated with improved access to care and higher rates of use of recommended preventive services. 

Historical Bias and Underrepresentation

During the course of history, doctors have considered men's bodies the ‘norm’ and women’s bodies atypical. This is despite women outnumbering men in the US since 1946. Policies and social changes in the 1990s have helped turn the tide; however, women remain underrepresented in research. 

These historical biases, policies designed to protect unborn babies from exposure to treatment and drugs, and challenges in recruiting and retaining women in medical research and clinical trials limit the understanding of how women experience diseases and what the best treatments for various conditions are. 

There is a high potential that this contributes to medical care disparities, as biological sex can play a role in metabolic, physiological, cellular, and hormonal differences that influence how diseases develop and the effectiveness of medical devices and medicines. 

Another example of historical bias has been around heart disease. The medical field in the US only recognized that women experience symptoms different from men upon publication of a Guide to Preventive Cardiology for Women in 1999. As well as biological sex differences, women are less likely to receive appropriate management and prevention of heart disease due to gender bias. 

Even today, women are still underrepresented in clinical trials evaluating medical devices. A review of 195 trials between 2013 and 2022 found that only one-third of participants were women. The study also revealed that the number of women participants has not increased over time, highlighting the persistent and worrying trend of underrepresentation. 

“Women shouldn’t be put in a ‘special populations’ category; it’s important to study women to find out how to care for [51%] of the population. We are the majority of the population. So, although women are special, we are not a ‘special population.“ -  Martha Gulati, MD, a cardiologist at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.

Stigmas Around Women’s Health Still Exist

Many women still feel uncomfortable talking about health issues such as menstruation, reproductive health conditions, and mental health due to outdated taboos and social discomfort. This can lead to delayed diagnoses, inadequate care, and unnecessary suffering. 

Half of the world’s population will experience many of these health conditions at some point in their lives, so the encouragement of open conversations to help normalize these experiences ensures women receive the care they deserve. 

One particular area of focus is reproductive health conditions, which are more common than people think. One of the most common undiagnosed and misunderstood conditions is endometriosis. It affects 1 in 10 women and has the potential to cause fertility issues and severe pain. Another common condition is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which has symptoms including skin and hair growth changes, fertility issues, abnormal growth in the ovaries, and irregular periods. 

Due to women’s pain often being belittled or dismissed, these types of conditions can often take months or even years to be properly diagnosed. Treatment options are available to manage symptoms and improve reproductive health and function. However, these can only be offered once patients receive a proper diagnosis. 

Therefore, it is vital that medical care providers listen to the experiences of women and offer support and services to address their discomfort and pain. By opening up the discussion to everyone from patients to industry professionals to the general public, we can fight stigma and support women who feel embarrassed or alone about what should be normal experiences. 

How is the Medical Device Industry Improving Women’s Health?

As we have seen, there are still clear challenges in women’s health and medical care as a whole (workforce shortages and aging populations, to name just two). While there are no quick fixes, technology is playing a significant role in improving patient outcomes and experiences. Research by Bupa found that 73% of women are open to using technology to improve their health and well-being. 

Here are some key examples of medical device innovations that are making a difference in women’s health: 

Robotic-assisted Surgical Systems 

Robotic-assisted surgical systems have revolutionized gynecological surgeries. They allow for more precise, minimally invasive procedures, making them one of the most talked about innovations in women's health in recent years. These medical devices provide surgeons with improved dexterity, control, and visualization during surgeries, such as oophorectomy, hysterectomies, and myomectomies treatments. They reduce scarring and enable shorter patient recovery times, improving their postoperative experience. 

Fertility Treatments 

Smart Wearable Fertility Trackers 

Innovations in wearable technologies have given rise to smart devices that can track fertility with convenience and precision. Wearable fertility trackers such as Tempdrop and AvaBracelet can continuously monitor several physiological parameters, such as heart rate, body temperature, and movement. By being able to analyze these data points, the devices provide accurate insights into the fertility window, helping couples improve their chances of conception. 

Microfluidic Devices for IVF

Microfluidic devices are transforming embryo selection in IVF by precisely manipulating tiny amounts of fluids to create controlled environments for embryo development. This technology enables real-time observation, offering a more accurate assessment of embryo health compared to traditional methods. By finely tuning factors like temperature, pH, and nutrient levels, microfluidic systems reduce stress on embryos and improve selection precision. 

In addition, microfluidics supports personalized IVF treatments by analyzing individual cell characteristics, allowing clinicians to tailor protocols to each patient’s unique needs and lead to improved outcomes. 

3D Mammography 

2D mammography has long been the standard screening method for breast cancer, but 3D mammography has emerged as a groundbreaking technology. It provides a more comprehensive and detailed view by capturing multiple images of the breast from different angles. This technology has been shown to increase breast cancer detection by between 27% and 50%. It also reduces false positives, which offers women more accurate diagnoses and the potential to save lives. 

Pelvic Floor Reconstruction 

Pelvic floor treatments are historically invasive and difficult procedures despite the fact that approximately 50% of women will experience some degree of prolapse during their lives. Advancements in mesh options and minimally invasive procedures have led to shorter and simpler procedures. This has resulted in increased access and shortened recovery times for women who are afflicted with Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP). 

These innovations show that the medical device industry has the opportunity to revolutionize medical care and enable providers to deliver a better experience for women. While there is still major work to be done around affordability, stigmas, and gender bias, technology can improve their diagnosis and treatments and has the capability to save many lives. 

Due to the vital work the medical device industry is doing in improving women's health, we have made it our mission to ensure that businesses within the sector have the talent they need to drive these innovations. We will explore this further in the next section. 

If you would like to learn more about how our medical device staffing team placed 28 hires with a global women’s health leader, then discover our case study, ‘Commercial Expansion Recruitment for a Global Women’s Health Specialist.’ 

How We Are Supporting the Women’s Health Sector 

We have developed partnerships and built candidate communities across several areas within women's health, from AI and femtech to surgical gynecology and fertility. As we have highlighted in our guide, the industry is experiencing so much innovation that is crucial to the future of women's health and improving experiences and outcomes. 

Our dedicated medical device staffing team has learned to adapt to changes and new environments to help businesses identify talent with the skills, experience, and passion they need to drive progress and success in their markets. 

Headhunting roles from sales and marketing leaders to senior mechanical engineers to clinical auditors with our permanent, contract, interim, and executive search services, we ensure you have the talent you need to build, regulate, and market your future innovations in women's health.

If you would like to learn more about how we can support your business in its mission to improve women’s health now and in the future, contact our team today or visit our dedicated medical device staffing page for more information.