Technology for Women’s Health
Chronic diseases don’t affect women the same way they do men, and women often respond differently to treatment than men. Moreover, some conditions predominantly affect women, such as breast cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Others, such as endometriosis, are exclusive to female biology. Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the womb, often causing pain and fertility issues. Conditions related to menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause, postmenopause, and associated mental health problems expand the scope of health challenges that women face throughout their lives.
That’s why the Technology for Women’s Health research is vital. Christina Bode, a health psychology researcher and a programme director of the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Psychology, is involved in several projects. “We have analysed diagnostic delays for breast cancer in Europe and parts of Africa. Our recent papers explain why women face these diagnostic delays and compare the situation in the Western world with that in Africa. In other projects, we monitor and assess fatigue in breast cancer patients and test behavioural change interventions for severe fatigue in different conditions.”
Making prototypes for real-life health challenges
“At the University of Twente, we have been contributing to designing technologies for prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of women’s health issues for years. At some point, we wanted to offer students the opportunity to learn more about women’s health and encourage further research,” Christina says. “This is why the Psychology programme, in collaboration with the Technical Medical Center and DesignLab, developed the minor. Our university's motto is ‘High Tech, Human Touch’ and the minor reflects it perfectly: it brings together clinicians and researchers from different disciplines, and students learn to solve a real-life health issue.”
The minor is open to all bachelor’s and exchange students interested in designing technology for women's health. Over ten weeks, they learn about conditions that could affect women at different stages of life, including mental health concerns around pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, pelvic problems, and more. Then, they apply that knowledge in a final group project by making a prototype that can help diagnose, assess, or intervene in a specific medical condition.
Solutions for women with endometriosis
The final group project is centred on endometriosis: a condition with an average diagnostic delay of seven years. Guest speakers give lectures and workshops, and the students interview patients from the Endometriosis Patient Organisation as well as professionals from the Endometriosis Clinic. “It is incredibly valuable for students to hear from patients what they experience,” Christina says, “What strikes them most is the level of pain women with endometriosis endure.”
Last year, some students developed prototypes to monitor pain levels while others looked into how MRI and sonography could improve diagnosis. Another group proposed virtual reality to explain the nature of endometriosis to patients and professionals.
Taking women’s health seriously
Many medical concepts are based on male biology, which leads to discrepancies in diagnosing and treating women’s health issues. According to Christina, increased research funding and the inclusion of women of different ages in clinical trials help address knowledge gaps and unresolved women’s health challenges.
Currently, women’s health initiatives across the Netherlands join forces in the Netherlands Women's Health Research & Innovation Center. Christina: “More initiatives around women’s mental and physical health are emerging, and we are exploring new opportunities to collaborate on women’s health topics.”
