FemTech, a term coined in 2016, spans technologies built specifically for female biology. This growing field of technology focused on women’s health includes a wide range of applications ranging from reproductive health, hormonal tracking, menstrual cycle tracking, menopause, and pregnancy care. While much of the innovation has centered on fertility and pregnancy, there’s a growing recognition of the need to address chronic and often overlooked conditions affecting millions of women worldwide.
A recent analysis by Digital Science looked at 10 years of research in FemTech. It found that most funding goes to fertility (43.1%), pregnancy (31.4%), and breast cancer (10.9%). Menopause gets just 0.55% of the funding. Clinical trials show a similar trend, with fertility and pregnancy leading, while sexual health makes up only 3.4% of trials.
This shows that some areas in women’s health get much more attention than others. While fertility and pregnancy are well-studied, topics like menopause, sexual health, and endometriosis are still often overlooked. Endometriosis, in particular, affects millions but still lacks enough research and effective ways to diagnose it.
Understanding Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. This can cause severe pain, heavy bleeding, infertility, and other health problems. The World Health Organization estimates that it affects about 10% of women and girls of reproductive age, or around 190 million people worldwide. Despite being so common, endometriosis is often not diagnosed for years.
It is also one of the leading causes of infertility, along with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Both conditions are major contributors to fertility challenges, but they still receive limited attention in research and clinical development. As awareness grows, there’s a growing need for non-invasive tests and long-term treatments that improve quality of life and support reproductive health.
Femtech investments, breaking barriers in fertility care
Some startups are beginning to close the gap in care for chronic reproductive conditions by building digital tools tailored to women’s health needs. In France, Solence raised €1.6 million to develop an AI-based platform that helps women manage PCOS. The platform aims to speed up diagnosis and provide personalized care plans for long-term health management.
Other companies are focused on improving the way endometriosis is diagnosed and treated. A recent article from Femtech World featured four startups working on this challenge. In the United States, Hera Biotech is developing MetriDx, a non-surgical test that uses cells from the uterus to help doctors diagnose and stage endometriosis. The company is currently testing the technology in clinical trials.
In the UK, Syrona Health developed an app called SORA, which helps users track symptoms and menstrual cycles related to endometriosis and PCOS. The app also offers home testing kits and health screenings, and it is being adopted by some employers as a workplace health support tool. Another platform, Phendo, helps users manage their condition by tracking symptoms and contributing data for research. The app also helps patients better communicate their health experiences to doctors.
Meanwhile, Gynica in Israel is exploring cannabis-based treatments to relieve endometriosis-related pain. Their research focuses on easing menstrual pain and discomfort during intercourse by studying how cannabis compounds affect the reproductive system. Together, these startups represent a growing movement to offer more accurate, less invasive, and patient-centered care for endometriosis.
Fertility care is also evolving with help from FemTech innovation. In India, Luma Fertility raised $4 million to expand its tech-enabled platform, which supports individuals through the fertility journey. In the United States, Progyny has gone public and now helps large employers offer comprehensive fertility benefits. These efforts reflect how FemTech is expanding beyond fertility and moving toward long-term, inclusive solutions for a broader range of women’s health challenges.
Over the past decade, FemTech has evolved from a wellness trend to reshaping how we monitor and understand women’s bodies. Yet what separates new ideas from breakthrough are not just clinical results, but intellectual property. Behind the rise of period trackers, wearable biosensors, AI-powered tools and venture funding is the growing patent landscape that signals FemTech’s emergence and how patent-backed innovation can bridge longstanding gaps in women’s health and fertility.
FemTech, once confined to fertility and period-tracking apps, has expanded into diagnostics, wearables, sexual wellness, and digital health platforms. Investment trends reflect this evolution: startups in the sector raised just $62 million in 2012, $650 million by 2018, and nearly $1 billion in 2019.
FemTech for Endometriosis and PCOS: Patenting Activity
Patent activity mirrors the investment surge. Global patent filings related to endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) surged in 2021 with 240 applications, the same year investment topped $1 billion. These show how FemTech has shifted from niche to mainstream, drawing both clinical and commercial attention to conditions long underfunded.
Beyond digital platforms pharmaceuticals mark another frontier. Elagolix, marketed as Orilissa, became the first FDA-approved drug in over a decade for endometriosis pain in 2018, addressing a major gap in treatment. Developing it required overcoming costly and inefficient manufacturing methods, a challenge addressed by U.S. Patent No. 11,377,426 which discloses scalable processes for producing the drug. This highlights how advances in chemistry and process engineering are critical digital tools in shaping the future of women’s health.
Complementing drug innovation, new diagnostic approaches are also emerging. Filed in 2019, U.S. Pat. App. No. 2021/0238683 describes a method to detect endometriosis by analyzing gene activity in cells from menstrual blood or tissue samples. This approach could provide a less invasive alternative to surgery, making earlier and more accurate diagnosis possible.
FemTech for Endometriosis and PCOS: Top Jurisdictions
Global patent data reveal a growing wave of innovation in FemTech targeting endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Patent activity is particularly strong in major markets such as the United States, China, Japan, and Europe, as well as through international filings.
The graph further illustrates how international filings (PCT), alongside those in the U.S. and China, account for the largest share of activity. Japan, Canada, South Korea, and India also represent significant hubs, with Europe, Australia, and Taiwan contributing to the landscape. The mix of granted and pending applications indicates that innovation in this space continues to evolve, with a balance between established technologies and new developments in progress.
FemTech for Endometriosis and PCOS: Top Assignees
Idorsia Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer lead global patent filings in FemTech for endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), followed closely by Chemo Research, Kandy Therapeutics (now part of Bayer), and others. Pfizer’s position is reinforced by regulatory milestones. In 2022, the company, together with Myovant Sciences, obtained FDA approval for MYFEMBREE®, a once-daily pill for moderate to severe endometriosis pain. The drug, supported by late-stage clinical trials, expands treatment options in a field where women have long faced delayed diagnoses and limited therapies.
The broader mix of big pharma, specialized biotech firms, and academic institutions, such as the University of Tennessee Research Foundation, highlights how innovation in women’s health is no longer confined to startups. From drug development to diagnostics and hormone-based therapies, the surge in patent activity combined with new market approvals points to a turning tide: women’s health is steadily moving from the margins to the mainstream of medical innovation.
Advancing solutions for women’s health
The following patents highlight recent innovations driving progress in the FemTech space, with a focus on solutions for endometriosis, PCOS, and fertility.
Unlocking women’s health data from menstrual blood
Many aspects of women’s health, such as hormone levels, fertility, or disease risk, remain difficult to monitor without invasive tests or doctor visits. Traditional methods often involve blood draws or pelvic exams, which can be uncomfortable, time-consuming, and impractical for everyday use. At the same time, a valuable source of health insight, menstrual blood, has been largely overlooked.
Qurasense, now known as Qvin, is changing that with U.S. Patent No. 10,993,645. The innovation uses menstrual blood and other vaginal fluids to track health without requiring any change to a woman’s routine. The system embeds a tiny biosensor into everyday feminine hygiene products such as pads, tampons, panty liners, or menstrual cups. As these products absorb fluid, the device analyzes it for important biomarkers, including female hormones like estrogen, FSH, LH, and progesterone, as well as indicators of conditions such as endometriosis, cervical cancer, or sexually transmitted diseases like HPV and chlamydia.
This approach to female health monitoring stands out by using readily available bodily fluids collected from feminine hygiene products. Samples are gathered passively, without the need for needles or appointments, and are automatically processed using low-cost, disposable microelectronics and paper-based fluid sensors. The data is then securely transmitted to a smartphone, where users can view their health status or share it with a doctor. This integrated, non-invasive, and automated method enables early detection and better management of a wide range of women’s health conditions.
The patent, titled “System and Method for Non-Invasive Analysis of Bodily Fluids,” was filed on August 5, 2015, and was granted on May 4, 2021. The patent lists Sara Naseri and Søren Therkelsen as inventors. The patent was represented by Robert L. Epstein from Epstein Drangel LLP.
Voice-enabled fertility tracking
The menstrual cycle is divided into two main phases, follicular and luteal. The cycle begins with menstruation, when the uterine lining is shed. As bleeding ends, estrogen levels rise and trigger the release of hormones (FSH and LH) that help the egg mature. A spike in LH causes ovulation, which ends the follicular phase. The luteal phase begins after ovulation, with higher levels of progesterone and another rise in estrogen. About 12 days later, hormone levels drop, leading to menstruation and a new cycle. Fertility is highest during the five days before ovulation and the day after.
Understanding hormone changes is important for tracking fertility accurately. However, many period-tracking apps are not reliable or personalized. They can’t detect real-time body signals and often ignore how much menstrual cycles vary between people. These tools also rely on past data and don’t give early warnings about fertility or ovulation.
Research has shown that hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle affect vocal characteristics such as pitch, shimmer, and jitter. These characteristics offer potential biomarkers for ovulation. U.S. Pat. App. No. 2024/0122581 proposes a system that uses voice analysis to predict ovulation and fertility status. The method involves capturing a voice sample from the user, extracting specific voice features using signal processing, and determining ovulation status via machine learning models. It outputs a fertility indicator in formats such as percentages, categorical labels (e.g., fertile or not), or a timeline interface showing cycle phases.
This system not only provides real-time, personalized fertility predictions but also integrates features to ensure user consent and data privacy. Voice authentication and automatic data deletion further protect user information. The system is designed to operate across various platforms and may be embedded into conception or contraception applications, offering timely and secure fertility insights to users or clinicians.
The patent application, titled “Systems, devices and methods for fertility analysis using voice”, was filed on September 11, 2023, and was published on April 18, 2024. The application lists Jaycee Morgan Kaufman and Yan Fossat as inventors. Alain Leclerc, Dennis Haszko, Serge Lapointe, et al from Fasken Martineau Dumoulin LLP.
Non-Invasive diagnosis of endometriosis using blood samples
Current diagnostic methods to identify endometriosis rely on invasive surgery, such as laparoscopy, and are not easily accessible to all patients. As a result, diagnosis can take an average of 8.5 years from the onset of symptoms.
U.S. Pat. App. No. 2023/0089507, assigned to Proteomics International, introduces new protein biomarkers that can be used to detect endometriosis through a blood or other body fluid sample. By measuring the expression levels of specific proteins listed in the invention, such as Apolipoprotein L1 or von Willebrand factor, healthcare providers can determine whether a person has endometriosis.
The protein expression levels can be assessed using various methods, including ELISA, mass spectrometry, and protein arrays. This method can also help evaluate the effectiveness of medical treatments and identify new drug targets.
This invention offers a major step forward in diagnosing endometriosis. It provides an accurate, non-invasive, cost-effective, and easy-to-use test that can help detect the condition early, especially in patients who are undiagnosed. By reducing false positives and false negatives common in current diagnostic tools, it also supports better monitoring of disease progression and treatment outcomes, while offering insights that may lead to new therapies.
The patent application, titled “Endometriosis Biomarkers”, was filed on March 16, 2021, and was published on March 23, 2023, with Richard J. Lipscombe, Scott Bringans, and Tammy Michelle Casey listed as inventors. Karen Canady, Suzannah Sundby, and Bradley Lortz from Canady + Lortz LLP represented Proteomics in the application. On June 30, 2025, the company announced it had secured its first patent for this innovative endometriosis diagnostic test in Japan (Japanese Patent Number 7698821).
Smart rings for monitoring reproductive health
Current wearable devices and health tracking apps are not good enough for monitoring women’s reproductive health. Most require users to take their temperature manually once a day, which does not give enough detail to accurately track menstrual cycles, ovulation, pregnancy, or postpartum changes. As a result, they often fail to detect conditions like PCOS and endometriosis, especially when the user’s cycle is irregular from a young age. This leads to delays in diagnosis and lack of proper guidance.
U.S. Pat. App. No. 2024/0071624 introduces a system that uses wearable devices, especially smart rings, to collect detailed physiological data across the menstrual cycle. This includes continuous temperature readings, heart rate, sleep patterns, blood oxygen, and more. The system then compares these readings with the user’s past data and with baseline data from other users to detect unusual patterns. If these patterns suggest PCOS or endometriosis, the system calculates a risk score and notifies the user or their doctor. Users can also add their own health notes or history to make the analysis more accurate.
Machine learning may also be used to improve predictions. By combining different data points and comparing them across time and across users, the system can detect early signs of reproductive health issues, giving users and doctors helpful information without relying on invasive procedures.
The patent application, titled “Techniques for identifying polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis from wearable-based physiological data”, was filed on August 23, 2023 by Oura Health Oy, and was published on February 29, 2024. The application listed Neta A. Gotlieb and Nina Nicole Thigpen as inventors. Legal representation for the application was provided by Kenneth Winterton, Thomas Anderson, Nathan Mutter, and others from Holland & Hart LLP, along with Kristin Lamb from Oura.
AI-powered ultrasound for tracking menstrual cycles
Ultrasound is often used to view the uterus and endometrium, but their appearance changes throughout the menstrual cycle, making analysis difficult. The endometrium can look thick or thin, bright or dark, depending on the phase. Conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, or polyps can further change how these structures appear. Because of this, it’s hard for standard imaging systems to automatically and accurately detect menstrual phases or related conditions.
To address this, U.S. Patent No. 12,354,257 describes an advanced ultrasound system that can automatically detect changes in reproductive structures and identify the phase of the menstrual cycle. The system includes a probe that collects 2D or 3D ultrasound images and a processor that segments the relevant anatomy, such as the endometrium or ovaries.
Using a trained computer model, the system compares the shape and features of these structures to determine the current cycle phase, whether by a specific day or a range of days. It can also identify signs of conditions like endometriosis or polyps. The results are shown on a display, along with measurements and labeled images. This helps clinicians get accurate, consistent readings without needing manual interpretation, improving early diagnosis and tracking of reproductive health over time.
The patent, titled “Method and system for automatic segmentation and phase prediction in ultrasound images depicting anatomical structures that change over a patient menstrual cycle”, was filed on April 25, 2022, and was granted on July 8, 2025 to GE Precision Healthcare LLC. The patent lists Arathi Sreekumari, Pavan Annangi, Bhushan Patil, Stephan Anzengruber as inventors. Priscilla Gallagher, Alejandro Menchaca, Thomas Wimbiscus, from McAndrews, Held & Malloy represented GE in the patent filing.
FemTech for Endometriosis and PCOS: Top Technology Areas
The largest share of filings related to endometriosis and PCOS falls under classifications A61K and A61P, which together account for over 63%. These categories cover medical preparations and the specific therapeutic activity of compounds, respectively, indicating that much of the innovation in this space is focused on developing hormonal treatments, anti-inflammatory drugs, and other pharmacological interventions.
A significant portion also falls under C07D, related to heterocyclic compounds, which are commonly used in drug development. Diagnostic tools are another key area, with filings under G01N and C12Q showing interest in tests that detect biomarkers like hormones and genetic material. The presence of C07K and C07C classifications highlights the use of peptides and organic compounds in treatment and diagnostics. Notably, a smaller but growing number falls under G16H, or healthcare informatics, highlighting the rise of digital health solutions such as AI-powered cycle tracking, symptom monitoring apps, and personalized treatment platforms.
FemTech for Endometriosis and PCOS: Top Legal Representatives
Gowling WLG and Smart & Biggar, both with a significant presence in Canada, lead global patent filings related to endometriosis and PCOS. They are followed by Morishita Natsuki, Yamamoto Hidenaka, Iida Takatoshi, Ishikawa Daisuke, and Yamamoto Kensaku from Shusaku Yamamoto. Others listed include East Intellectual Property, Spruson & Ferguson, Pizzeys Patent and Trademark Attorneys, and Reinhold Cohn and Partners.
The future of FemTech
The future of FemTech, especially in tackling endometriosis and PCOS, is looking promising as biomarkers, AI‑wearables, and digital health platforms converge. These technologies have the potential to shorten diagnostic delays and deliver personalized therapies by leveraging continuous health tracking, imaging, genomics, and symptom data.
On the institutional side, efforts such as the University of Miami’s new FemTech Program is formalizing this intersection of technology, clinical care, and research, helping to accelerate innovation. Market signals also reflect growing interest. At the NYSE Health of Women Investor Summit in 2025, Mark Cuban described FemTech as a high-impact and undervalued sector, encouraging more attention to this long-overlooked space.
In terms of market size, the FemTech industry is expanding rapidly. According to Research and Markets, FemTech was valued at USD 38.59 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 82.95 billion in 2030. The endometriosis treatment market alone is expected to grow from USD 1.76 billion in 2024 toUSD 3.52 billion by 2030. These market trends highlight that investment in diagnostic biomarkers, wearable monitoring, and digital therapeutics for endometriosis is not only medically necessary but also commercially promising.