The United Kingdom, alongside Germany and France, is home to some of Europe’s most prominent Femtech companies. The sector is advancing rapidly, driven by favourable government policies and growing investment in digital health solutions designed to improve women’s well-being.
Globally, the femtech market was estimated at $55.9 billion in 2024, with projections suggesting growth to around $130.8 billion by 2034, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 8.9%. Within Europe, the market reached approximately $8.56 billion in 2023, and the UK alone accounted for around $1.29 billion in 2023. Estimates indicate that it surpassed $1.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 16.8% through 2030.
In 2024, the UK government committed £6.1 billion in funding for research and innovation across key sectors such as biotechnology, engineering and medical sciences, a move that is expected to stimulate growth within the femtech industry.
The core sectors of UK Femtech
The UK Femtech sector addresses a broad spectrum of women’s health needs. Among the most active areas of innovation and development in the UK femtech sector are:
- Menopause
- Menstrual health
- Reproductive, pregnancy, and postpartum health
- Breast health
Breast health – from diagnostics to precision surgery
Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent health issues for women in the UK, with around 56,000 new diagnoses each year. This makes breast health technologies a critical growth area within femtech, as innovators look to improve early detection, precision surgery, and recovery outcomes.
Early detection innovation: UK researchers are advancing wearable technologies that could transform breast health monitoring and early detection. At Nottingham Trent University’s Medical Technologies Innovation Facility, a smart textile is being developed to fit inside a bra and continuously monitor changes in breast tissue that may indicate cancer growth. The device uses an electrical current to detect tiny changes in fluids inside and outside breast cells, identifying variations in tissue density that could signal tumours. The collected data is sent to a smartphone, allowing both patients and clinicians to view real-time updates on breast health.
Meanwhile, UK-based medtech company Plexāā has introduced BLOOM⁴³, a wearable device designed for home use before breast surgery. While it focuses on pre-surgical preparation rather than detection, it highlights how wearable technologies are becoming increasingly integrated into women’s breast care.
AI-powered imaging: Advanced imaging tools are reshaping how mammogram diagnostics are delivered, making screenings more accurate, efficient and consistent. UK-based company Kheiron Medical Technologies reports that its AI system Mia® enabled up to a 13% increase in cancer detection in European screening trials. Research at University Hospitals Sussex found that out of more than 12,000 scans initially reported as normal, the AI flagged just under 10% for review, leading to the discovery of five previously undetected cancers. Hologic UK has also advanced breast imaging with its Quantra™ software, which uses machine learning to provide standardised breast density scoring, while GE HealthCare continues to enhance diagnostic accuracy through AI-integrated imaging systems. Together, these innovations are showing early promise in reducing missed cancers, improving workflow efficiency and supporting radiology teams facing rising workloads, although national adoption across the NHS is still at a developmental stage.
Surgical innovation: Technologies that enable more accurate tumour localisation and less invasive procedures are reshaping breast cancer care. For example, UK-founded Endomag’s Magseed® and Sentimag® platform supports magnetic, wire-free marker localisation for tumours and lymph nodes, allowing more precise targeting without the need for traditional wires or radioactivity. The company states that localisation has been used in over 10,000 patients and that the magnetic approach helps coordinate surgery more efficiently. In the self-check and early-intervention space, companies such as Dotplot provide a handheld device and smartphone app for monthly breast-tissue monitoring, while Micrima’s Mi~Scan® uses radio-wave technology to assess breast density and tissue composition. Early evidence suggests these innovations may reduce repeat surgery, improve patient experience and lower hospital logistics costs, though wide-scale deployment across the NHS is still developing.
Menopause – A growing workplace and healthcare priority
Many women spend a significant part of their lives in the post-menopausal stage, with research suggesting this can be around one third of a lifetime. This transitional period often brings a range of physical and psychological symptoms that can significantly affect women’s working lives. The UK government recently appointed Mariella Frostrup as Menopause Employment Ambassador to lead an industry advisory group aimed at helping employers retain and support women in work. This initiative reflects a broader effort to strengthen workplace policies around women’s health. In line with this, the Equality Act 2010 recognises that employers may be required to make reasonable adjustments for employees whose menopausal symptoms have a substantial, long-term impact on their ability to work.
Start-ups such as Peppy are integrating menopause support into employee benefit programmes, offering digital consultations and tailored resources. Vira Health and other femtech firms are developing clinician-facing platforms to enhance menopause care through remote delivery. Despite these advances, recent studies reveal that only 19% of women are aware of workplace support for menopause, and one in ten working women aged 45 to 55 have left a job due to their symptoms. A 2025 survey also found that 61% of women reported losing motivation and 52% said they had lost confidence as a result of menopausal symptoms. With the UK’s femtech ecosystem now comprising over 320 start-ups, including 93 funded companies, the growing collaboration between workplace policy, women’s health technology and employer initiatives is emerging as a defining trend in the UK’s femtech Market.
Menstrual health – Beyond products to ecosystem solutions
Apps at scale: The London-headquartered Flo Health became Europe’s first femtech unicorn in 2024, after its valuation surpassed US$1 billion. The app now reports more than 420 million users worldwide. What began as a simple cycle tracker has evolved into a comprehensive digital platform supporting women through ovulation, conception, pregnancy and menopause, highlighting how UK-based femtech operations are driving innovation in women’s health on a global scale.
Product innovation: Female-founded start-up Daye is redefining period care through research-driven innovation in women’s health. The company launched the world’s first pain-relieving tampon and has supported more than 75,000 women and AFAB individuals in managing period pain. Its second-generation Diagnostic Tampon enables at-home screening for vaginal infections, STIs and HPV, with UK-based research showing comparable accuracy to clinician-collected swabs. Daye is now expanding into solutions for conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS, with the aim of building a connected ecosystem for women’s gynaecological health.
Sustainability as a driver: Brands such as Freda highlight how rising consumer demand for eco-friendly period products is reshaping the market, as women increasingly seek solutions that are not only effective but also sustainable. Natracare continues to lead with its organic and plastic-free range of tampons, pads and liners that are both biodegradable and vegan-certified, while DAME promotes reusability through its award-winning reusable tampon applicators. The growing shift towards sustainable menstrual care mirrors wider consumer trends in the UK, where around half of shoppers now consider environmental issues a key factor in their purchasing decisions, and the country’s organic and sustainable health sector is valued at £3.7 billion. As women become more conscious of the environmental impact of period care, these brands are helping to redefine the market through sustainability-focused innovation.
Reproductive, pregnancy and postpartum health – Closing the care gaps
Diagnostics at home: UK-based start-up Hertility Health is transforming access to reproductive healthcare through at-home, clinical-grade hormone and fertility testing. Its 2024 ReProductive Report, based on data from more than 325,000 women, found that 42% of women trying to conceive do not know when their fertile window occurs. Hertility’s tests are designed to shorten the diagnostic timeline for conditions such as PCOS and other hormone-related reproductive health issues, addressing long-standing delays that can span several years in traditional care. Research shows that women in the UK wait an average of around eight years for an endometriosis diagnosis, with global studies placing the average delay at approximately 6.6 years. Many experience similar delays in identifying conditions such as PCOS.
Connected devices: Elvie, one of the UK’s best-known femtech firms, continues to reshape pregnancy and postpartum care with products such as its discreet breast pump and pelvic floor trainer. The Elvie Trainer is now available via the NHS Supply Chain, marking a growing crossover between consumer femtech and clinical healthcare. The company’s latest addition, Elvie Rise, extends support into parenting care through a bassinet designed for postpartum use. Together, these advances reflect how UK-led innovation is improving maternal and reproductive health outcomes.
“Healthcare wasn’t designed for women, so we made it our mission to change that.”
– Dr. Helen O’Neill
Challenges holding back the market
Regulation gaps: Many femtech products in the UK still operate under the broad label of “wellness”, avoiding classification as medical devices and therefore escaping regulatory scrutiny. This lack of clarity continues to raise concerns over user safety and product reliability. The MHRA’s updated medical device framework, introduced in mid-2025, aims to tighten oversight through stricter post-market surveillance and clearer guidance on how digital health tools are defined. However, femtech apps that combine health tracking with diagnostic or fertility functions still fall within an unclear regulatory category, highlighting the need for consistent guidance to ensure safety and public confidence.
Data privacy concerns: Femtech apps and devices collect highly sensitive health data, including information about fertility, menstrual cycles and sexual activity, which demands the highest level of privacy protection. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has been scrutinising fertility and period-tracking apps, and has urged developers to strengthen transparency around how user data is processed. Academic research has also raised concerns about data-sharing practices and the presence of third-party analytics in some apps. Legal cases in the United States, such as those involving the Flo app, have highlighted the reputational and legal risks that arise when health data is shared without clear consent. In the UK, the ICO continues to issue new guidance on health and smart device data, emphasising stronger consent mechanisms, limited third-party tracking and improved transparency, particularly for products used by vulnerable groups. Strengthening privacy standards will be essential for femtech companies to build public trust and integrate more closely with healthcare systems.
Scaling barriers: The UK’s femtech sector benefits from a vibrant start-up ecosystem, yet access to growth funding and NHS integration remains limited. While early-stage innovation is thriving, many companies face challenges in securing long-term investment or progressing towards large-scale adoption. The UK government’s Women’s Health Strategy has recognised femtech as a key growth area and called for greater collaboration between digital health innovators and the NHS. However, complex procurement processes and evidence requirements continue to slow adoption. Clearer pathways for validation, alongside targeted investment and clinical partnerships, will be essential for helping femtech move from niche innovation to an established part of the UK healthcare landscape.
Emerging trends shaping the UK Femtech landscape
The next phase of the UK’s femtech growth will be defined by deeper integration with workplaces, healthcare systems and data-driven innovation. Companies such as Peppy are expanding employer-based health benefits, while others are merging diagnostics with consumer products, as seen in Daye’s at-home testing solutions. Advances in AI and personalisation, led by firms like Kheiron Medical Technologies and Flo Health, are improving both prevention and user engagement. With the government’s Women’s Health Strategy encouraging stronger NHS collaboration and new funding for digital innovation, the UK is well placed to scale its femtech ecosystem globally.
Together, these developments signal a future where femtech plays a central role in improving women’s health and strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in digital healthcare innovation.
