WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH 2023: Women in charge providing health care innovations

After centuries of being dismissed, misdiagnosed and inadequately researched, women are taking charge of their health care.

Here are some sickening stats: Women are diagnosed an average of four years later than men across more than 700 diseases; women weren’t included in medical research until 1993; two times more funding goes into research for male-prevalent diseases than for female-prevalent ones.

Women in tech and medicine are working to close these gaps.

“I started Evvy after a lot of my own journeys of going to too many doctor’s appointments, being told that maybe I should drink more water, maybe I was too stressed, maybe I needed to sleep more,” said Priyanka Jain, co-founder of New York-based startup Evvy.

Lainie Bruzek, Evvy co-founder, agrees. “It is about how women are treated and the experiences that women have. So many women feel misunderstood, ignored and dismissed at the doctor’s office. They are given a sedative for pain,” she said.

Evvy is an at-home test that analyzes the vaginal microbiome, providing a wealth of health information, including the presence of a UTI, yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. Vaginal discomfort is one of the top reasons women go to the doctor, yet it is often misdiagnosed.

Importantly, Evvy provides results directly to the user, empowering women with information, personalized recommendations and treatment options. Plus, the data gathered will be used to support women’s health research.

Dr. Wendy Wilcox, chief women’s health officer, NYC Health + Hospitals and a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, agrees that health equity is a key issue for women. And there is a lot at stake, especially these days.

“Your health impacts your ability to work, to provide for your family. Health is a continuum, and everyone should have access to health care throughout one’s life,” said Wilcox, noting the alarming disparities in women’s health care.

“The Journal of the American Medical Association recently showed that a woman and a man with the same cardiac risk factors will get different medications. A woman will be less likely to receive life-saving medication,” she said.

It’s worse for women of color: maternal mortality rates are much higher for black women, Wilcox said. “In New York State, black women are four times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth.”

A year ago, Wilcox would have identified maternal mortality as the key issue in women’s health, but times have changed. “Abortion care is health care, she said. “The recent Dobbs decision [taking away the constitutional right to abortion] is starting a new era in women’s health care, and every woman should be concerned. There will be an uptick in maternal mortality. They are tiptoeing around contraception, and doctors won’t offer care for fear of reprisal. Health is becoming even more tied up in laws, legislation and governmental control.”

Due to New York City health initiatives, new programs offered in city hospitals and the booming health startup community, New York is one of the best places for women. NYC Health + Hospitals offer both medical and therapeutic abortions and have instituted programs to reduce maternal deaths. Their Maternal Medical Home Program connects pregnant women with health care, mental support and community services, and 321 Impact supports mothers from pregnancy through their child’s toddler years.

New York currently has a thriving health startup community, and most are led by women.

“People always ask, ‘Why are you in New York? As a health tech company, you should be in San Francisco.’ Ninety-five percent of women’s health startups are in New York City, and there is so much learning, sharing and support going on between us,” said Jain. ” There is an amazing feeling of comradery. We can help so many more women if we all succeed,” said Bruzek.

For information on Evvy, visit evvy.com. For NYC Health + Hospitals: nychealthandhospitals.org