The $360 Billion Market that Medicine Got Wrong for 20 Years
Bloomberg 2026-07-12 14:04:14
Context: The women's health market, valued at $360 billion, has long been neglected by pharmaceutical and biotech firms, employers, and investors, particularly in the area of menopause care, despite it affecting half of the global population and significantly impacting productivity. However, this is beginning to change with celebrities, startups, and investors increasingly focusing on women's midlife health. This shift has been accelerated by the FDA's recent adjustments to its stance on hormone replacement therapy.
Key Facts
- The women's health market is estimated to be worth $360 billion and comprises several often-overlooked categories, with menopause being a significant one.
- Menopause affects half of the world's population yet has gone largely unnoticed by pharma and biotech firms, employers, and investors for approximately 20 years.
- The FDA's rollback of long-standing warnings on hormone replacement therapy has contributed to the acceleration of the shift towards focusing on women's midlife health.
- Startups such as Stripes and Midi Health, along with investors like Amboy Street Ventures, are playing a crucial role in turning women's midlife health into a fast-growing market.
- The growing market for menopause and women's midlife health products presents a challenge for women in distinguishing between evidence-based care and unproven wellness products or marketing hype.