Women’s needs in health care have historically been overlooked, creating a systemic gap that continues to exist today. Although technology in recent years has allowed us to address some of these challenges and rethink our approach to women’s healthcare, we still have a long way to go in closing the wide gaps that occur in clinical research. The decades-long assumption in clinical trials that research findings based on male physiology were universally applicable to both sexes has led to serious consequences by continuing to under-represent women, while disregarding their unique biological differences and how these factors influence disease progression and treatment responses. Understanding this exclusion not as a recent concern but as a longstanding issue women have been battling with is the first step toward making effective changes that do not overlook women's needs but prioritizes them and understands their unique challenges and needs. Women-specific conditions such as endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) have been among the most affected areas caused by these gaps, which have consequently made it impossible for millions of women living with these conditions to receive proper care.
The lack of research and attention that women's health and conditions have received over the years has made it almost impossible for women to receive tailored healthcare and access to treatment, not because solutions weren't there but because the data to guide them simply was not available. To really understand what has been missing and what we can do to remedy this situation, we need to look at the situation using data, which will allow us to be more specific. In addition, in the last two decades there has been serious momentum in addressing these challenges by making it easier for women to not just access accurate diagnoses but also participate in clinical research and contribute to the development of personalized treatments and healthcare solutions, largely due to the rapid development of smart personal gadgets, medical devices, and women's health tracking apps.