What is women’s health and why does it matter?
Women’s health refers to the broad category of health issues that are unique to women, including:1
Reproductive health (such as cervical and ovarian cancer, endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome)
Prenatal, pregnancy and postpartum
Perimenopause and menopause
Women’s health can also refer to health conditions that present differently in women compared to men, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Understanding women’s health and working to solve widespread women’s health challenges—especially reproductive health challenges—is vital to promoting healthy families and communities.
1. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), “Women’s Health.”2023.
Maternal mortality rate by race in the U.S. in 2022 (per 100,000 live births)2
Women's health disparities
Health outcomes among women can vary widely based on factors such as race, socioeconomic status and geographic location. For example, statistics show that Black women have over double maternal mortality rates than any other race in the U.S.2 Researching solutions to promote women’s health equity has never been more important to save the lives of women and children across the country.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States.” May 2024.
The U.S. has the highest maternal death rate among high-income countries.3
3. The Commonwealth Fund, “Health and Health Care for Women of Reproductive Age.” 2022.
The importance of prenatal care
Receiving the right prenatal care at the right time can dramatically improve a woman’s chance of experiencing a healthy pregnancy and successful delivery.
Within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, a provider can help identify and manage pre-existing conditions that may pose a risk to the pregnancy early on.4 Regular visits throughout the remainder of the pregnancy allow for necessary physical exams, blood pressure checks, imaging and ultrasounds that are essential to monitoring the baby’s health and development.
This also creates opportunities for the mother to discuss any concerns she has along the way, opening the door to better communication and trust with her provider.
4. Yale Medicine, “Maternal Mortality Is on the Rise: 8 Things To Know.” 2023.
Challenges in maternal health care
