Digital musculoskeletal care company SWORD Health has launched its own women's physical therapy product focused on pelvic health and pain.

Bloom includes a sensor that measures pressure and stamina of the pelvic floor and connects an app so users can receive feedback on their exercises. Members are also paired with a pelvic health specialist who can guide them through exercises and make changes to their program based on their needs and results.

"I've suffered many years with pelvic pain, and it's now an honor to build this solution that will help thousands of women across the world. Just like me, many women simply don't know there are solutions that can help free them from pain. We are here to support the female population with effective and non-invasive solutions to improve their quality of life," Marta Cardeano, general manager of Bloom, said in a statement. "Bloom technology is providing a new way for women to address their pelvic disorders from the privacy and convenience of their homes."

WHY IT MATTERS

According to research compiled by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it can be difficult to pinpoint how many women in the U.S. experience chronic pelvic pain, as it's often linked to other health conditions and may be misdiagnosed. 

A study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology that analyzed trends between 2005 and 2010 found 25% of U.S. women reported one or more pelvic floor disorders, like urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence or prolapse. 

THE LARGER TREND

Digital musculoskeletal care and physical therapy is a growing sector within digital health, and SWORD has become one of the larger players. The company announced multiple rounds of funding last year, including a $163 million Series D round and a secondary $26 million investment that pushed its valuation to $2 billion.

Meanwhile, the femtech market, which offers digital health tools for women and other genders that may need similar care, still makes up a relatively small portion of the overall digital health market, but it is expanding. A report by Rock Health found startups serving this population raised $1.3 billion through August 2021. 

Another company targeting female pelvic floor disorders is Renovia, which raised $17 million in Series C-1 funding in April. The company offers an FDA-cleared digital therapeutic that helps strengthen the pelvic floor to treat urinary incontinence. 

In addition to other smart women's health devices, Elvie offers a kegel tracker that connects to an app for tracking. And kegg, which recently raised $3 million in seed funding, provides a device that can be used for pelvic floor exercises and analyzing cervical fluids for determining a fertility window.