Companies are integrating increasingly inclusive and progressive employee health policies for reproductive care – e.g. fertility treatments, shared parental leave, paid nursing during working hours, job protection. However, a healthcare concern that sits at the intersection of reproductive health and mental wellbeing(1) is often overlooked – the loss of a pregnancy.
At the 40+ FemTech Association Asia programmes and events we have hosted since launching in October 2021, the question we are asked more and more often is, "What femtech solutions are available to support women who have experienced a miscarriage?". While femtech solutions addressing pregnancy loss specifically are still emerging in Asia, this further emphasises a purposeful mission for innovation in the region.
What do we need to consider when evaluating how to best support the health of women suffering or has suffered from a miscarriage?
The Role of Employers
Employers are key players in providing much-needed support for women experiencing miscarriage. Online businesses are beginning to offer to consumers products like post-miscarriage care packages and remembrance items, alongside services such as mindfulness coaching and sound healing.(2) Public support groups are also available, yet the comprehensive care employees need within the workplace remains limited.
With 1 in 4 pregnancies ending in miscarriage(3), this topic remains clouded by stigma. MobiHealthNews highlights this paradox, noting that society encourages waiting three months before announcing a pregnancy to mitigate the impact of potential loss. While this may seem like a protective strategy, it often results in women facing miscarriage in isolation, cut off from the very support networks they need the most(1), including at work alongside the people we spend 35+ hours with every week.
Miscarriage impacts women physically and mentally, with many experiencing PTSD, anxiety, isolation and grief. The FemTech Association Asia & Milieu Insight report, "Insights into the Femtech Landscape in Southeast Asia", reveals that 26% of women feel reproductive health is a topic deemed “undesirable” to discuss openly.(4) This silence can amplify pain and hinder access to resources, tools and community support that may be essential for physical and mental recovery from loss.
To support physical and mental recovery through the miscarriage journey, companies can consider implementing the following policies:
· Mental Wellbeing Resources: Offer confidential mental health support for employees experiencing miscarriage. Ensure the provider has experts in women’s mental wellbeing in particular.
· Paid Leave for Miscarriage: Implement policies that allow time for physical and emotional recovery - without the pressure of missing work, and in turn, pay. And ensure strict adherence to the employee confidentiality.
· Safe Workplace: Create a culture where reproductive health can be discussed without fear of judgment, and ensure Senior Leadership and Management are briefed on all policies for women’s health to respond with compassion and guidance towards workplace support options.
The Role of Femtech
There is progress in entrepreneurship in Asia. With the introduction of more digital health solutions launching and holistic resources integrating mental wellbeing into product scopes in Asia, femtech solutions are starting to address the pregnancy journey more holistically, which is expected to extend into pregnancy loss in time. An example in the Philippines is Beacon(6), which provides much-needed support and information to women experiencing pregnancy. While not offering a specific group program at present for miscarriage, the team at Beacon has an expressive arts facilitator whose expertise is on pregnancy loss and grief. In addition, individual counselling sessions are available to all women at every stage of the pregnancy journey. This platform addresses a vital part of reproductive care, mental health support, through counselling, community connection, and guidance in self-care.
When developing femtech solutions to support women who have experienced miscarriage, founders should focus on several key considerations to ensure their products are effective, secure and show compassion:
· Prioritise Data Privacy & Security: Ensure sensitive health data is handled transparently and securely to build trust within consumers, especially when offering community connection. 32% of women in Southeast Asia share that privacy and security features are a key determining factor for using a femtech product or service. FemTech Association Asia expects this percentage to grow as women’s health tech solutions become more prevalent in the region. Ensure women can manage their experience on their terms.
· Integrate Relevant, Sensitive Content: An example is Parla in the UK, which offers masterclasses on topics like Finding Strength after Loss, Grief after Loss, and Pregnancy after Loss, focusing on emotional wellbeing, nutrition, and connecting with others who understand the experience of miscarriage.(6) Talking about miscarriage and providing a safe community to do so is critical in care.
· Recruit Expert Advisors. Prioritise onboarding a multidisciplinary team of experts as advisors or for B2C engagement, including clinical counsellors, psychologists, ObGyns, and nutritionists, to offer well-rounded support. This approach not only builds trust with users but also strengthens credibility by delivering expert care.
As the conversation around miscarriage and reproductive health evolves, the ecosystem must continue developing solutions that provide holistic support, addressing both the physical and mental aspects of this deeply personal experience, both in the workplace and at home. By doing so, we can help break the silence and ensure that no one has to navigate miscarriage alone.
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