FemTech, or women's health technology, is no longer a segment of healthcare that can be overlooked. It has become one of the fastest-growing areas of health innovation worldwide. From fertility and maternal care to menopause and digital therapeutics, FemTech is moving away from generic wellness tools towards precision and personalisation.

The term FemTech was coined by Ida Tin, co-founder and CEO of Clue, in 2016. However, the momentum behind today's growth was set in motion long before that, as women pushed back against decades of under-researched and under-funded care. The market is currently expected to reach US$130.8 billion by 2034. Yet, women around the world continue to suffer disproportionately from menstrual, reproductive, maternal, and gynaecological health conditions. While innovation is accelerating, it is not evenly distributed. 

Let's look where the next breakthroughs are emerging.

From tracking to prediction

For a long time, women's health apps focused primarily on symptom tracking. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the sector from passive monitoring to predictive, proactive care. Machine learning models that draw on data from wearables can now anticipate health outcomes before symptoms appear. 

For example, Natural Cycles, the first birth control app to receive FDA approval, processes more than 20 million temperature readings every day and is reportedly 98 per cent effective when used correctly. Flo Health, on the other hand, uses AI models to analyse more than 70 symptoms and life events. Clue’s algorithms help users predict fertility windows, PMS, cycles irregularities.

Related:Investing in the age of biological reversibility

Predictive analytics are also reshaping pregnancy care beyond fertility alone. A 2024 study using the Oura Ring to track 120 pregnancies found that continuous monitoring of heart rate, heart-rate variability and body temperature could reveal patterns linked to early pregnancy loss and trimester-specific complications.

As AI gets better, more and more women expect their devices to provide insights they can trust and share with doctors.

Focus on menopause and maternal health 

By 2030, more than one billion women will be in perimenopause or menopause. Menopause care may be the best example of how FemTech has matured over time. What began as simple symptom-logging apps has evolved into full-fledged platforms that offer telehealth, AI-based flare-up prediction and non-hormonal therapies, among other new features. 

Remote monitoring technologies that track blood pressure, glucose levels, and stress biomarkers during pregnancy and postnatal period are also improving maternal outcomes. These tools can help identify conditions such as gestational diabetes at an earlier stage.

Related:Genomics and the future of health

Also, innovations such as AI-powered ultrasound analysis for early suspicion of endometriosis and sensor-enabled pelvic floor trainers are bringing scientific rigour to conditions that were once dismissed as “normal”.

Overcoming challenges

Despite these advancements, women's health data remains fragmented. Sleep is often tracked on one wearable device, menstrual cycles in another app, lab results in clinic portals, and symptoms in personal notes. What is urgently needed are unified platforms that integrate wearable data, laboratory results, and clinical records into a single long-term health timeline. Such systems could significantly improve care coordination and enable faster, more informed decision-making.

Looking forward, AI-powered health assistants could act less than digital diaries and more like smart coaches, placing insights in context. For instance, they could link shorter luteal phases to stress and poor sleep, or identify emerging patterns of iron depletion.

Case study: UAE as a FemTech hub

While FemTech innovation has largely been concentrated in North America and Europe, emerging markets are becoming increasingly important for the next wave of growth. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) FemTech market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 15 per cent per year and reach US$3.8 million by 2031.

Related:Medical tourism to witness exponential growth by 2034

The UAE is at the forefront of this shift. According to reports, about one-third of women's health tech innovation in MENA is based in the country, driven by progressive healthcare reforms, strong public-private partnerships, and a growing demand for digital-first, preventative care.

A good example is Ovasave, a Abu Dhabi-based startup launched in 2023 and supported by Hub71. The company recently secured US$1.2 million in pre-seed funding to build a digital-first platform focused on hormone management, egg freezing, fertility testing, and menopause care. 

“Abu Dhabi's focus on innovation, healthcare and entrepreneurship has made it possible to start and grow businesses that have a big impact,” said Majd Abu Zant, co-founder of Ovasave. “From here, we are growing into Saudi Arabia and the rest of the MENA."

Furthermore, national policy is also reinforcing this momentum. The UAE's new National Policy for Improving Women's Health aims to reduce cancer-related mortality, address lifestyle-related conditions and strengthen preventive care, creating fertile ground for FemTech innovation.

Support from grassroots institutions is also growing. The first FemTech Hackathon took place in April 2025 at the Women's Pavilion in Expo City Dubai, bringing together developers, clinicians, and students to design solutions for issues related to fertility, menopause, and mental health.

Looking ahead

Three forces are set to define the future of FemTech in 2026: AI-powered diagnostics, clinical-grade wearables, and unified data platforms that connect consumer tools and clinical care. With innovative care models and sustained investment in research and development, FemTech is poised to move beyond promise and deliver lasting impact.