The Gender Gap in Healthcare: Understanding Women’s Health | Part 1

Women are diagnosed an average of four years later than men across hundreds of different diseases. For example, women receive cancer diagnoses roughly 2.5 years later than men, while metabolic conditions are diagnosed up to 4.5 years later.

The gap extends beyond diagnosis. For decades, women were underrepresented in clinical research, meaning many treatments, medical devices, and wearable health technologies were developed using data that did not fully reflect female physiology.

Women's Health and Wearable Technology

Women and men differ in several physiological ways that extend beyond body size. Differences in tissue characteristics, circulation, venous anatomy, lymphatic function, hormonal changes, and compression pressure tolerance are all important considerations when designing wearable technologies. Together, these factors can influence how a wearable fits, feels, and performs.

Designing wearable technologies with these physiological differences in mind has the potential to improve comfort, therapy delivery, personalization, and long-term adherence. Balanced clinical validation can also help ensure these technologies are effective for both women and men.

Understanding Hormonal Influences on Health

Women experience hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, the postpartum period, perimenopause, and menopause. Beyond reproductive health, these changes also influence fluid retention, blood circulation, and energy levels.

For example, increased fluid retention during the late luteal phase often contributes to bloating, heavy legs, and discomfort before menstruation.

Venous Health During Pregnancy

Pregnancy places additional demands on the circulatory system. According to the Indian Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) affects up to 80% of pregnant women, increasing the likelihood of leg swelling, heaviness, and discomfort.

Hormonal changes throughout a woman's life can also influence circulation, reinforcing the need for healthcare and wearable technologies that consider female physiology across different life stages.

Supporting Healthy Circulation

Healthcare professionals commonly recommend regular exercise, walking, leg elevation, calf stretches, ankle pumps, and compression therapy to encourage blood circulation, reduce fluid pooling, and support venous health.

As wearable technology evolves, there is an opportunity to develop smarter, more personalized solutions that better reflect physiological differences while supporting healthier circulation.

Looking Ahead

Closing the gender gap means more than improving diagnosis. It means designing research, healthcare, medical devices, and wearable technologies with women in mind from the beginning.

As our understanding of female physiology continues to grow, there is still much to understand about how these changes can affect circulation, fluid retention, and swelling. Part 2 explores this connection further, looking specifically at how hormonal changes can contribute to swelling and edema.