10 Women’s Health Predictions for 2025

The field of women’s health witnessed remarkable progress in 2024, and the momentum is only set to grow in 2025. While there is much to celebrate, it is crucial to acknowledge that political and societal shifts could influence this trajectory. Below, I’ve outlined the current paradigms and predictions shaping the future of women’s health in 2025.

Historically, women have been underrepresented in health research, leading to significant gaps in understanding their unique needs. Women were largely excluded from clinical trials in the U.S. until 1993, and only 10.8% of NIH funding is allocated to women’s health. This has resulted in a vast gender gap in understanding diseases that disproportionately affect women:

• Alzheimer’s Disease: Women make up two-thirds of those affected.
• Autoimmune Diseases: Around 80% of cases occur in women.
• Cardiovascular Disease (CVD): The leading cause of death for women, yet only one-third of study participants are female.
• Menopause: A staggering 99% of studies overlook menopause.
• Endometriosis and PCOS: These conditions affect 1 in 10 women and can take over 10 years to diagnose.

As a result, women’s healthspan is significantly poorer than men’s. Women are expected to spend 25% more of their lives in poor health than men, and the U.S. economy loses $93 billion annually due to health disparities.

In 2025 and beyond, increased resources for diseases and conditions that exclusively, disproportionately, or differentially affect women are anticipated. Greater funding, more inclusive clinical trials, and expanded research will lead to improved health outcomes for women, mitigating economic losses tied to health disparities.

Funding for women’s health is growing across various channels:

• Rebounding Investment: Women’s health funding grew by 5% in 2023, outperforming overall health tech funding.
• Philanthropic Initiatives: Organizations like Pivotal Ventures have committed millions to improving women’s health globally.
• Broader Focus Areas: While fertility and pregnancy have traditionally dominated, funding has diversified to include mental health, menopause, and general wellness.
• Addressing Inequities: Increased focus on tackling disparities, such as unequal treatment access and lower efficacy of therapies for women.

Government initiatives, Femtech venture capital, and philanthropic organizations will drive increased investments. Programs addressing healthcare delivery inequities will expand, and corporate social responsibility efforts in healthcare, tech, and pharmaceuticals will prioritize women’s health. Global organizations like WHO and the United Nations, alongside academia, will further contribute to this growth.

By 2025, over 1 billion women worldwide will be postmenopausal. Yet, 73% of menopausal women currently lack treatment for symptoms, significantly impacting their quality of life and workplace productivity. Menopause-related productivity losses cost an estimated $1.8 billion annually in the U.S. Moreover, only 20% of OBGYN residency programs offer formal menopause training.

Growing recognition of menopause’s impact has led to progress:

• Federal Funding and Research: ARPA-H’s $100 million Sprint for Women’s Health and the $275 million Advancing Menopause Act aim to close research gaps and improve treatments.
• Public Awareness: Campaigns are destigmatizing menopause, educating women on symptoms, and promoting treatment options.
• Policy Momentum: Bipartisan initiatives like the Menopause Research and Equity Act may boost funding and program coordination.

Key projections include:

• Rebranding: Terms like “hormone health” or “longevity care” may replace “menopause,” which is laden with stigma.
• Healthcare Innovation: Startups will develop innovative treatments, digital tools, and personalized care models.
• Legislation: Menopause may become a protected workplace class, with mandated support and accommodations.
• Hormone Therapy (HT): HT will be repositioned as a safe and effective long-term health solution.
• Products and Services: Innovation in symptom management, lifestyle interventions, telehealth, and bundled treatments will expand.
• Doctor Training: Medical schools and continuing education programs will expand menopause training.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in women, yet awareness lags. CVD causes 1 in 3 female deaths annually, compared to 1 in 31 from breast cancer. Many women underestimate their risk, and doctors often miss the unique symptoms women exhibit, such as fatigue, nausea, or shortness of breath. This can cause misdiagnosis, or delayed action and preventative measures.

Expect more research and communication focused on CVD in women:

• Gender-Specific Research: Studies will address women’s unique symptoms and risks, leading to better clinical guidelines.
• Public Health Campaigns: Targeted messaging will educate women about heart health.
• Digital Tools: Apps, wearables, and telemedicine will provide education, monitoring, and alerts.
• Early Prevention: Lifestyle programs focused on exercise, nutrition, and stress management will start earlier.
• Accessibility: Underserved communities will benefit from affordable care, multilingual resources, and culturally relevant outreach.

The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations, with 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021. Significant racial disparities persist due to limited access to prenatal care, socioeconomic conditions, and systemic racism. Black women experience maternal mortality rates nearly three times those of White women, and Black infants face a mortality rate twice that of White infants.

There is an enormous opportunity to change this. CDC data shows that 80% of maternal deaths are preventable. Economically, it also makes sense, as every $1 invested in maternal health generates a $4 to $8 return by reducing complications and long-term health issues for mothers and children.

The Call to Action to Reduce Maternal Mortality initiative extended Medicaid coverage for postpartum care to 12 months, created a “Birthing-Friendly” hospital designation, and encouraged research and technology to improve maternal health. However, these gains may face challenges under a new administration focused on reducing federal spending and increasing state control.

In 2025 and beyond, expect increased funding for community-based maternal care and doula programs. A reproductive justice framework addressing broader social determinants of health—like economic inequality, housing, and education—will further reduce disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes and better address implicit bias and structural racism in healthcare.

• Delayed Parenthood: Rising maternal age contributes to increased infertility rates, now affecting 1 in 8 couples.
• Economic and Policy Shifts: The high costs of IVF ($12,000–$15,000 per cycle) and unequal access remain significant challenges.
• Innovation: Rapid technological advancements in fertility treatments are improving outcomes.
• Employer Support: Employer-sponsored IVF programs are growing, with 40% of employers offering IVF coverage by 2023, up from 30% in earlier years.

• AI: Artificial intelligence is enhancing IVF by predicting pregnancy outcomes and selecting optimal embryos, leading to higher success rates and fewer miscarriages.
• Genetic Screening: Advanced preimplantation genetic testing promises healthier pregnancies by identifying genetic conditions before implantation.
• Fertility Preservation: Egg freezing and early fertility testing empower women to control their reproductive timelines.
• Accessible Options: Innovations like INVOcell are making IVF more affordable and accessible.
• Political Support: Promises of government-backed IVF coverage could transform accessibility.
• Broader Insurance and Employer Coverage: Expanding eligibility criteria for IVF benefits, including for LGBTQ+ and single individuals, is becoming more common.

• Breast Cancer Incidence: Breast cancer affects over 300,000 women annually in the U.S., with incidence rising by 1% per year.
• Mortality Decline: Mortality rates have declined by 44% since 1989 due to advances in detection and treatment.
• Dense Breast Tissue: Half of U.S. women have dense breast tissue, reducing mammogram accuracy and increasing cancer risk.
• Screening Guidelines: Mammograms are now recommended starting at age 40, earlier than the previous guideline of 50, to improve early detection.
• Technology Limitations: Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) offers better accuracy but involves higher radiation exposure.
• Insurance Gaps: FDA mandates require informing women about breast density now, but insurance coverage for additional screenings remains unregulated.

Increasing adoption of personalized and more sophisticated screening protocols, along with advocacy, will improve early detection and treatment.

• AI Diagnostics: Enhanced imaging analysis will reduce false positives and improve early detection.
• Personalized Screening: Risk-based approaches will replace universal guidelines.
• Emerging Technologies: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound, liquid biopsies, and abbreviated MRI protocols offer more precise screening.
• 3D Mammography: Tomosynthesis will become the standard for dense breast tissue.
• Portable Screening: Mobile imaging and at-home detection tools will expand accessibility.
• Genomic Testing: Genetic profiling will facilitate earlier, targeted interventions.

• Education Gaps: Many women receive minimal or inaccurate information about their sexual health. Likewise, women’s sexual health is often overlooked in medical training. Providers are often unprepared to address these issues and can often dismiss female patients.
• Cultural Barriers: Stigma and misogyny contribute to underdiagnosis, restricted reproductive rights, and normalizing sexual violence.
• Sexual Trauma: One in five women have experienced sexual abuse or trauma, which has lasting emotional, psychological, and physical effects.
• Pain: Between 20-50% of menopausal women experience pain during sex due to menopausal vaginal dryness, but only a small fraction use effective treatments like vaginal estrogen.
• Treatment Gaps: Only two FDA-approved treatments (Addyi and Vyleesi) exist for women’s sexual dysfunction compared to 26 for men, and there is no FDA-approved testosterone treatment for women.
• Pleasure Gaps: Women are often taught that their sexual pleasure is secondary, leading to shame, embarrassment, or neglect of their own needs.

• De-Stigmatization: Open dialogue and advocacy will reduce stigma around sexual health.
• Adult Sex Education: Interactive, inclusive education platforms will address diverse needs.
• Pain Management: Awareness and access to treatments for conditions like painful sex will grow. Pelvic and sex therapy utilization will increase, especially for postpartum, menopause, and trauma survivors.
• Innovative Treatments: Advances in hormonal and non-hormonal therapies will address sexual dysfunction and menopause.
• Inclusive Content: Digital platforms and adult content will shift to cater to female perspectives.
• Focus on Pleasure: Health professionals will take women’s sexual pleasure seriously and actively treat issues affecting it.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic organs. It affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age yet often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Common symptoms include chronic pain, painful periods, and infertility, but diagnosis typically takes 10 years and often requires surgery. No cure is currently available.

Future increased advocacy will drive research funding and better healthcare access. More AI-driven detection, including improved imaging and predictive algorithms, will enable faster diagnoses. In addition, genetic research, and analytics, coupled with personalized treatment will optimize care. Lastly, new research promises non-hormonal treatments and advanced pain management therapies.

When menopause hits and estrogen declines, women’s risk for many chronic illnesses increases. Higher rates of osteoporosis, arthritis, cognitive decline, and autoimmune diseases reduce quality of life. Women live 5-7 years longer than men but often in poor health. Mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and social isolation are more common in older women, as are physical disabilities, which can limit independence. Systemic biases can exacerbate health issues for underserved women.

• AI & Precision Medicine: AI-driven tools will provide personalized insights for disease prevention and management.
• Regenerative Science: Advances in stem cell therapy and tissue engineering will rejuvenate aging tissues.
• Ovarian Science: Bioengineered ovaries, mitochondrial therapies, and genetic editing will address hormonal declines.
• Holistic Approaches: Emphasis on gut health, mental well-being, and lifestyle adjustments will improve quality of life.
• Blue Zones Principles: Communities emphasizing plant-based diets, social connections, and physical activity will inspire healthier aging practices.

As we move into 2025, the future of women’s health looks promising, with technological innovation and advocacy paving the way for significant advancements. However, addressing disparities in access, education, and research remains crucial to ensuring these benefits reach all women. With continued focus and collaboration, 2025 could mark a transformative year for women’s health.