It'll be helpful to just know your thoughts based on the research you've done.

Sure.

So there are several factors.

One of them is that underlying the lack of investment is an underlying lack of research.

So women and people of color were only officially included in clinical trials in 1993.

And usually investors don't fund exploratory academic research.

But many femtech companies do need that kind of research first before they are able to create their products.

Marina, can you just bring us up to date on that and how much you think that's impacted the sector?

Oh.

And I thought, "Okay, now everything is settled." And then towards, as I was finishing the manuscript, I got an- a message from my editor saying, "Oh, we've had some feedback from book sellers who've said they wouldn't want to display it or they wouldn't want to promote it, put it in their newsletter, because the word vagina's on the cover.

Can you please reconsider? Can you please come up with 16 alternative titles?" [laughs]

Yeah.

You know, there's more research coming out.

There's a more nuanced debate about hormonal contraception.

And so I've decided to look into non-hormonal options to see what the future might look like.

And there's a company in Copenhagen called Circle Biomedical that's developing, um...

Just talking about this idea of being a matter of fact, why do you think there's still this squeamishness when it comes to femtech and being in this space?

Yeah.

So let me take a step back, actually.

So femtech, for those of you who haven't heard the term before, it refers to female technology and it's technology focused on female bodies, women's health.

It can be anything from periods to menopause, but also going beyond the uterus.

Because when we talk about women's health, it's important to remember, we don't just talk about reproductive health, but all aspects.

of our health, including heart health and bone health and so on.

Do you think that's still the case with period