Why Women's Health Has Been Overlooked: The FemTech Solution | Ep. 9 (ft. Dr. Tanya Mulcahy)

Why has women's health been historically overlooked? What is FemTech, and how is it changing medicine for half the population? And what opportunities exist right now to solve problems that have been ignored for decades? Dr. Tanya Mulcahy, biochemist and expert in health innovation, joins Barry Skillington to unpack the science, the gaps, and the massive opportunity in women's health technology. From endometriosis affecting 1 in 9 women to continuous hormone monitoring, from the mammogram redesign to the investment challenges holding back female founders, this episode reveals why FemTech isn't just about pink products. It's about real medical solutions backed by clinical evidence. For too long, women were excluded from clinical trials. For too long, their symptoms were dismissed, their conditions misdiagnosed, and their health treated as an afterthought. But the landscape is shifting. Women are founding companies, investors are paying attention, and technology is finally catching up to the reality that women's bodies are not just smaller versions of men's. From puberty to pregnancy to perimenopause and beyond, women experience unique health challenges that demand unique solutions. The question is: who's going to build them? Topics covered: Dr. Tanya Mulcahy's background in health innovation and supporting FemTech development Why women were excluded from clinical trials and how that created a research gap What FemTech is: technology designed for women's health and wellbeing The women's health journey: puberty, periods, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, menopause, and aging Endometriosis: what it is, why it takes 9 years to diagnose, and why 1 in 9 women suffer from it Polycystic ovarian syndrome, fertility issues, and pregnancy complications Postpartum depression, breastfeeding challenges, and mental health after childbirth Perimenopause and menopause: hormone decline, symptom management, and the role of HRT Why women live longer but in poorer health: bone density, muscle loss, and heart disease The Health Innovation Hub: how it supports FemTech founders and innovators The importance of clinical evidence: why your product must work, not just sound good Investment challenges: why FemTech startups struggle to get funding and what's changing The future of FemTech: continuous hormone monitoring from puberty through menopause Preventative medicine and lifestyle technology: early diagnostics and real time feedback Continuous glucose monitoring and how real time data changes behavior Pink washing versus real medical solutions: fluffy pillows don't count Rethinking medical devices: the mammogram example and why comfort matters New mammogram technologies designed by women for women Taking the leap: turning your idea into reality without leaving your job Support systems in Ireland: Enterprise Ireland, universities, and clinical research organizations Overcoming fear of failure and building confidence to innovate The opportunity for the next generation: digital solutions and medical devices Working with clinicians: why doctors want to help solve problems they can't fix alone Final encouragement: if you think there must be a better way, you're already on the path to innovation The bottom line? Women's health has been overlooked, underfunded, and under researched for far too long. But the opportunity to change that is right now. FemTech isn't about pink products or fluffy marketing. It's about real medical solutions backed by clinical evidence that address conditions affecting women only, women differently, or women disproportionately. From continuous hormone monitoring to better diagnostic tools to lifestyle interventions that prevent disease before it starts, the technology is coming. But it needs innovators. It needs women and men who see a problem and say there must be a better way. You don't need to be a doctor, an engineer, or a business expert. You just need a good idea, the willingness to validate it, and the courage to take the leap. Support systems exist. Funding is available. Clinicians want to help. The future of women's health is being built right now. Be part of it. Website: https://atlantiaclinicaltrials.com/ LinkedIn: https://ie.linkedin.com/company/atlantia-clinical-trials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlantia_clinicaltrials/ Meta: https://www.facebook.com/AtlantiaClinicalTrials/ Check out Straight Talking Science on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5vdjz93jVdKlY0Arl6rQ7Z #FemTech #WomensHealth #HealthInnovation #Endometriosis #Menopause #HormoneHealth #MedicalDevices #ClinicalEvidence #SciencePodcast #HealthTech