Japan's Path to Empowering Women's Health Through Femtech

Jul, 15, 2024

Femtech, which is a combination of the words ‘female’ and ‘technology’, was coined by Ida Tin, founder of the menstrual health tracking app Clue, in 2016. While women's health has long been a field of focus, society has often lacked the language to discuss it effectively. The introduction of the term ‘femtech’ paved the way for the public to engage in more open discussions about female health needs and opened the eyes of businesses to the fact that investing in women's health is both important and valuable.

The term "femtech" has brought significant attention to women's health and wellness, helping to normalize discussions around previously taboo topics. It has driven innovations in areas such as menopause, urinary health, pelvic health care, chronic disease management, and sexual wellness and education. Since the inception of the term, global investment in the femtech sector has reached approximately $503 million. The global femtech market grew to $50.97 billion in 2023 and is projected to expand to $177.05 billion by 2032.

In Japan, femtech is rapidly advancing, with new products and services being developed to address women's health needs. Innovations include period panties that can be tracked via an app, subscription services for birth control pills, and disposable menstrual cups. 

In 2022, the femtech market in Japan was estimated to have reached 69,501 million yen. The growing number of working women across all age groups in the country has led to an increased importance placed on female health protection, especially in gynecology and obstetrics. 

As of June 2023, Femtech Community Japan has identified 55 companies within the country's femtech industry. The largest sector is fertility and infertility, with 22 companies. There are 14 companies focusing on menstruation & contraception and another 14 in healthcare & hormones. Additionally, emerging businesses are starting to address menopause and gynecological symptoms. 

Numerous initiatives, products, and services have been introduced in Japan to address deficiencies in women's health and wellness. 

Menstruation & contraception: Menstrual tracking apps and online prescription services are becoming increasingly popular femtech solutions. 

Pregnancy & infertility: Products and services supporting fertility and infertility are on the rise, with companies offering consultation platforms, services for analyzing infertility treatment data, and advanced technologies for infertility treatments. 

Menopause: Startups are investing in developing menopause-related online medical consultations and chat services. More initiatives are being introduced to expand menopause-related services. 

Healthcare & hormones: More companies are now addressing women’s health issues by providing education, awareness, and support for women's healthcare. 

Gynecological symptoms: Non-invasive, painless methods for early detection and diagnosis of common women's conditions are now available, making gynecological check-ups more accessible. 

Technological and digital companies are increasingly investing in femtech, offering apps and digital services that address menstruation, contraception, pregnancy, and fertility concerns. These platforms particularly appeal to the younger generation, who are more inclined to use digital solutions. Business-to-Business-to-Employee (B2B2E) models support corporate employees in a wide range of women’s health care needs and promote women’s activities and health management.  

Femtech is also being explored in the DeepTech area. In Japan, 17 companies are working on new testing and diagnostic technologies, sensing and detection technologies for acquiring biological data, and data analysis technologies such as machine learning and deep learning. Although still in its early stages, the industry is hopeful that more engineers and investors will show interest in these ventures. 

Femtech in Japan holds significant promise for addressing women’s health challenges through technological advancements. It is something unique, but it is expanding, and the great news is that the government recognizes its importance. In 2023, the Japanese government introduced the Priority Policy on Women's Activities and Gender Equality 2023 (Women's Version of the Framework Policy) to promote a sustainable society that values diversity. This initiative includes boosting femtech and accelerating efforts in science, technology, academia, and other fields. With ongoing innovations and support from the government, the femtech industry in Japan is poised for substantial growth in the coming years.

Learn more about the femtech industry and and its potential to enhance the wellbeing of women in Japan at Fem+.