The Vagina Business : The Innovative Breakthroughs That Could Change Everything in Women's Health

This tech could change everything for women—here's how. Women make over 80% of healthcare decisions in everyday life, yet only 4% of all medical research and development is focused on women's health issues. From periods and childbirth to menopause, female pain has been normalized, as society shrugs and says "Welcome to being a woman" instead of coming up with better solutions. But it doesn't have to be this way. In The Vagina Business, award-winning journalist Marina Gerner PhD takes an eye-opening look at the innovators challenging the status quo to deliver the healthcare solutions women need. With interviews from 100 entrepreneurs across 15 countries, The Vagina Business explores the future of women's health, where female-focused companies are developing products to help women at every stage of life. Some of these products include: A smart bra with EKG technology that can predict heart attacks early An in-home fertility gadget that uses saliva to track ovulation Apps to help women get access to medical abortions and perform them at home safely A vaginal and pelvic floor dilator that could drastically reduce the rate of vaginal tearing in birth Healthcare apps tailored to LGBTQIA people and their needs, without stigma Devices that prevent birth injuries and restore the pelvic floor and vagina during menopause Gerner also takes the reader inside the boardroom, where only 2.1% of venture capital dollars goes toward companies founded by women, and issues a rallying cry: Women should not be denied solutions to health issues because of embarrassment and ignorance. Every woman deserves better. A critical exploration into why male investors are afraid of the v-word, what that means for women's health and sexual wellness, and how we can overcome it. "I don't want to talk about vaginas in my Monday morning meeting." Women make over 80 percent of healthcare decisions in the U.S. yet have been excluded from designing the health system for too long. It was only 1993 when women and people of color were officially included in clinical trials. Heart attacks are the number one killer of women worldwide, but women are 50 percent more likely to be given a wrong diagnosis. Only four percent of all healthcare research and development is focused on women's health issues. From periods and childbirth to menopause, female pain has been normalized, as society shrugs and says "Welcome to being a woman" instead of coming up with better solutions. In The Vagina Business, award-winning journalist Marina Gerner PhD takes an eye-openingand often times shockinglook at the inequities when it comes to scientific research and the funding of female-focused health companies. She exposes the obstacles entrepreneurs around the world face in the boardroom and beyond. Most of all, she shows us that it doesn't have to be this way. From a life-saving bra to non-hormonal contraception and new takes on fertility and menopause, she shines a light on innovation that matters. Women should not be denied solutions to health issues just because people are embarrassed to talk about vaginas. We deserve much better.