With a new administration underway and Trump’s promise to repeal Obama’s signature healthcare law, many women have expressed their concern about no longer receiving affordable contraception, which is included in ACA’s essential benefits.
Even before the 2016 presidential campaign and election raised questions and concerns about healthcare, Google Trends consistently had “birth control” as one of the top five searched phrases for health last year. Birth control is simply not an openly discussed topic, yet women want to know more about it. Moreover, menstruation, in addition to contraception, is discussed in hushed tones despite the fact that every woman experiences it every month.
However, the feminine care industry is looking to change the way we approach women’s health. From now on, the industry hopes to be more transparent, more convenient, and less taboo. Starting with all natural and, in some cases, reusable feminine hygienic products to mobile apps that help monitor fertility, companies are innovating the industry like never before!
In recognition of International Women’s Day, check out the top 6 feminine healthcare innovations that are sure to be a hit in 2017, especially #5:
1. All Cotton Tampons
Women are finished with using products they know little about; they want to know what they are putting in their body. Now they can. A New York City-based startup, Lola, founded in 2014, is a mail-order subscription service for tampons. Now, you can get your tampons on-demand and delivered to your front door! Each delivery consists of one box of 18 tampons, customizable to meet different menstrual flows. More importantly, Lola manufactures tampons that are 100% cotton. Finally, this essential feminine hygiene product is both natural and biodegradable. Natural products for the natural female.
2. Leak-Resistant, Reusable Underwear
Women all share the fear – leaking through a tampon or pad. It’s about time a product dissipated those fears. Well, the time is now. Thinx, based in New York City and founded in 2014, produces reusable underwear. These panties can hold up to two tampons worth of liquid – the perfect alternative to bulky maxi pads. Feel clean, secure, and feminine in Thinx panties.
3. Menstrual Cup
Hoping to raise $50,000 on Kickstarter, LoonLabs, founded in 2015, raised $160,000 for their reusable menstrual cup. Clearly, there’s a high demand for this product. With such overwhelming support, this device will reshape the feminine care market that is currently dominated by tampons. Essentially, the device syncs with a mobile app, enabling women to know their fluid volume and color during menstruation. Knowing this information will help women identify any possible changes in their health.
4. Mobile Apps that Track Menstruation, Ovulation, and Much More
Created by Glow, based in San Francisco and founded in 2013, the Eve app focuses on a woman’s reproductive health. This app particularly helps sexually-active women prevent pregnancy, as well as those trying to get pregnant. It tracks mood, health, sex, exercise, birth control, ovulation, menstruation, fertility, etc.
Similar to the Eve App, the Kindara app, founded in 2010, tracks menstruation and ovulation in order to help woman get pregnant or help them prevent pregnancy. This app like Eve makes the natural family planning method of contraception more high tech.
5. Birth Control Startups
More so than any other innovation, on-demand birth control subscriptions are hitting the market in force since news of a possible Obamacare repeal. Last month, Nurx launched their new website, which enables women to get a birth control prescription and a three-month supply of pills delivered overnight. To subscribe, users simply fill out a health-related questionnaire. Then, a doctor reviews the answers, follows up if needed ,and fills the prescription. Prescriptions, including shipping, are free with insurance or start as low as $15 for a three-month supply. The convenience and affordability of Nurx will hopefully reduce the disparity between women who need birth control and those who can’t get it. As research shows, women are more likely to use the pill if they already have it on hand and if it’s cheap and easy to obtain.
Since Nurx is relatively new, it only ships in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Illinois, DC, and Washington. However, there are other telemedicine subscriptions that also provide accessible contraception, including Maven and Lemonaide, which are available in other states. Though limited, these startups are gaining momentum and spreading to other states. Ultimately, startups like Nurx intend to make birth control, as well as emergency contraception, on-demand, meaning access in only a few hours.
While products, apps, and subscriptions are making strides to improve women’s healthcare, they can’t replace the need to see a doctor. Make sure you’ve shopped all your available healthcare and insurance options by contacting one of our independent agents today.
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