What is Femtech in Japan?

Femtech supports solving women’s health issues

Femtech, the term combining Female and Technology, refers to products and services that solve women’s health issues through technology. The similar word “femcare” (short for “feminine care”) differs from femtech in that it is not technology-based. However, because of the expansive meaning of the term “technology,” the boundary between “femtech” and “femcare” is vague.

In the past few years, many femtech companies and services have emerged in Japan. Here is how they address women’s health issues.

Periods / PMS

Femtech supports the easing of mental and physical discomfort before and during menstruation. In Japan, period poverty remains a problem. Due to a lack of sex education and stereotypes, many people still perceive menstruation as something embarrassing that should be hidden. For this reason, the design of many products and services is stylish, and difficult to recognize as menstruation-related.

Period Tracker Apps

• 3 Japanese period tracker apps making lives a little easier

Absorbent Period Underwear

• Japan’s flourishing femtech: 4 latest period underwear brands to try this spring
• Options growing for Japanese absorbent period underwear for girls
• 4 sustainable Japanese femtech brands that help control your period
  

Online consultation to obtain pain relief medicine

• Femtech services help Japanese workplace to support women’s wellness

Fertility / Infertility

Femtech also supports women who want to have children. Fertility treatment in Japan often requires frequent visits to the hospital, often taking half a day for a single visit. Full-time working women, in particular, struggle to take time off from work to receive treatment. Therefore, various services are available to make it easier for them to manage their ovulation dates and seek advice regarding pregnancy/infertility. Some companies have introduced these services as an employee benefit.

Period Tracker Apps for yourself

• 3 Japanese period tracker apps making lives a little easier

Period Tracker Apps to use with your partner

• 3 Japanese fertility apps to help you communicate and conceive

Online pregnancy counseling services

• Japan to tackle infertility in the workplace with femtech services

Pregnancy / Postpartum

Femtech eases concerns about mental and physical changes during pregnancy and postpartum. Many women, especially new mothers, suffer from postpartum depression. For example, there are online counseling services and apps to record physical changes due to pregnancy.

Intimate care

Femtech supports managing public hair, itchiness and odor in intimate areas. Intimate skincare products have recently been gaining attention in Japan.

Intimate wash/moisturizer

• Japanese sustainable intimate care brand blends agriculture and women’s wellness
• Intimate skincare: 3 sustainable brands from Japan

Sexual wellness

Femtech provides knowledge and tools related to safe sex and supports the experience of sexual pleasure and satisfaction. In Japan, where sex education is still inadequate, this area is developing and expected to spread in the future.

Kit to spread knowledge about safe contraceptive methods

• Contraceptive kit launches for better sex education in Japan
  

Female disease

Femtech provides care for female diseases such as breast cancer and cervical cancer, and pelvic floor muscles that become stretched during pregnancy and birth. Also, it aims to reduce discomfort caused by fluctuating hormones during periods and with age.

Menopause

Femtech helps relieve symptoms of menopause. For example, online counseling services and devices are available that ease hot flashes, which are symptoms of menopause.

Online consultation services

• Menotech to support women’s health during menopausal transition
  

Femtech has been contributing greatly to realizing reproductive health and rights. We will continue to introduce Japanese femtech to support women’s wellness.