Addressing the Gap: Women’s Health in the UK and the Role of Hertility
With over 700,000 women in the UK currently waiting for gynecological care, a significant question arises: Why are women, who make up half the population, still underserved by their healthcare system? This issue highlights the broader challenges within women’s health, an area historically overlooked in medical research and clinical practice.
The Historical Context of Women’s Health
Historically, women have been excluded from clinical trials, leading to a significant gap in medical knowledge regarding female-specific health issues. Hertility CEO Helen O’Neill discussed this aspect with host Amy Lewin, acknowledging the logistical difficulties of collecting large-scale data from women, particularly due to the complexities of the menstrual cycle. For example, gathering data on the third day of a woman’s cycle poses technical and feasibility challenges.
Hertility’s Innovative Approach
Hertility has developed a comprehensive system to address these challenges, offering diagnostic testing and clinical care tailored to women’s needs throughout their fertility journey. This includes services such as telemedicine gynecological appointments, ultrasounds, IVF, and egg freezing. Helen O’Neill emphasized that Hertility can diagnose conditions like endometriosis with 98-99% confidence within eight days, a stark contrast to the average nine-year diagnosis period through the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
Building a Foundational Model for Women’s Health
In a recent episode of the Sifted podcast, Helen O’Neill shared insights into how Hertility is building a foundational model for women’s health. She explained how the company initially aimed to be a simple solution—likened to a “baguette”—but evolved into a more complex “pretzel” to meet the diverse needs of investors and patients alike. This evolution reflects the necessity of demystifying the homogeneous notion of women’s health and recognizing the unique and varied needs of women.
For more insights, you can explore the full podcast episode on Sifted.
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