Stat: Reproductive health inequalities exposed in England

England – A new survey has revealed that more than a quarter (28%) of women in England are living with serious reproductive health issues such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, cervical cancer or uterine fibroids.

Conducted by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in 2023 and funded by the Department of Health, the study of 60,000 women found that more than 30% of participants aged 16–24 report severe period pain.

The study also highlights glaring health inequalities: Black women are 69% more likely than white women to report a reproductive condition, largely driven by higher rates of uterine fibroids, with 19.8% affected, compared to just 5% of white women. Overall, 74% of respondents said they had experienced a recent reproductive health problem.

The findings expose systemic, operational and cultural barriers to care, compounded by under-researched health conditions.

In The Future of Femtech, author of The Vagina Business, Marina Gerner, sat down with LS:N Global to discuss the innovators addressing centuries of neglect in women’s health and the challenges faced by brands striving to close the gender health gap.