Apple revealed its Women’s Health Study According to Apple’s Newsroom, the US tech giant announced its Women’s Health Study. The Apple Women’s Health Study team at Harvard T.H. Chan School […]
According to Apple’s Newsroom, the US tech giant announced its Women’s Health Study.
The Apple Women’s Health Study team at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health are working for the study. It offers pioneering scientific insights on women and their menstrual symptoms. Thanks to the innovative research methodology of the Research app, the team can study this field. In fact, 10,000 women participates this research and they are inclusive of varying ages and races across the US.
Many physicians regard women’s menstrual cycles as an important window into their overall health. However, the topic is notably under-researched. This is because medical research on menstruation has often been limited to studies of smaller sizes. Without substantial scientific data, we cannot understand women’s menstrual symptoms deeper and better.
Through Apple Watch and iPhone, women across the US can participate easily in the Apple Women’s Health Study. The landmark study allows for collection of a comprehensive set of cycle tracking and other health data. In addition, the study conducted participant surveys, from individuals across various stages of their life, varying races and geographies.
Thanks to the research, it found that the most frequently tracked symptoms were abdominal cramps, bloating, and tiredness. Furthermore, more than 60 percent of participants who logged symptoms experienced all of them. More than half of the participants who logged symptoms reported acne and headaches, too. In addition, the study showed that 37 percent of participants logging symptoms experienced less widely recognized symptoms like diarrhea and sleep changes.
Initial analysis suggests these symptom trends hold true across a wide range of demographics, including age, race, and geographic location. For instance, across Black, Hispanic, and white participants, the most commonly reported symptoms were abdominal cramps, bloating, and tiredness.
The Apple Women’s Health Study is a first-of-its-kind research study that aims to advance the understanding of menstrual cycles. Furthermore, the aim includes how they relate to various health conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, and menopausal transition.
iPhone and Apple Watch users across the US download the Research app to enroll in the study. Apple took a partnership with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) for the study. In addition, participants meet age requirement in each region.
As we see the other article about Apple Watch, Apple seems to enter the healthcare industry aggressively. This research is very insightful and helpful for our society. In addition, when it comes to our health, the study verifies how useful Apple’s products are at the same time. Therefore, we can learn from this research in two aspects.
First, it has strong social value because the understanding of menstrual cycles is important for women as well as men. Women and men are biologically different, so this difference creates new opportunities. In fact, femtech or female technology is one of buzzwords across the globe nowadays. Thus, this study can advance this movement.
Second, this social value might increase economic value, too. This is because the more women think that iPhone and Apple Watch are necessary for their health, the more they will purchase the products. In addition, female people will pay more money for healthcare services.
The story looks very good and important, but competitor should consider Apple’s strategy as well.
