"Endometriosis is not talked about, in many cases it is kept in a dark room"

Biology differentiates two sexes and medicine as well. Both should receive different attention because there are intrinsic characteristics to each. Today marks World Women's Health Day to highlight gender equality at work, women's own pathologies, the promotion of breastfeeding and mental health care are essential components to address gender inequities.

Sussane Fiedler knows this well. She is Chief Commercial Officer of Organon. Fiedler seeks to expand her vision of a healthier day for all women around the world. His experience in a pharmaceutical company, Merck, allows him to know the needs of half of the population. This shift to an organization whose main focus is women Fielder justifies it in that "joining a company with such a strong purpose to really create better health for women around the world was something that inspired me a lot."

Field has been part of the founding of Organon whose leitmotiv is "to listen and learn from women through an efficient and differentiated operating model". From the company is strongly committed to "improving women's health", since it is the way to impact "on the health of society". From a gender perspective, they address reproductive health, cardiovascular diseases, breast cancer, allergies and asthma.

"If you think about women's health, it automatically goes to reproductive health. But we know that women face gaps in health care at all stages of life. And by listening to their needs, we've explored several opportunities where we can make a difference for women," Fielder said.

In fact, according to a 2020 study, only 1% of healthcare research and innovation is invested in conditions unique to women, and of the total 37 prescription drugs approved in the US in 2022, only two targeted women's specific health issues.

What are 'female' diseases?

"Of course there are pathologies exclusive to women," explains the head of Organon, who details that, if "unplanned pregnancies are addressed, we know that 50% of all pregnancies worldwide are unintentional." In addition, he clarifies that despite what may be assumed, "that is not only a problem of low-income countries. In Europe, that number is as high as 35%. And I think that in Spain it has a similar figure. So this is an area of unmet need."

Beyond this, Field also emphasizes one of the most serious problems in gynecological health of women: endometriosis. One of the obstacles to it is that it is undervalued and invisible. "It is not talked about, in many cases it is kept in a dark room."

"Para is the largest area of unmet need, because it's a very painful disease and it has an impact on women's careers, their relationships and also their fertility," Field said. The lack of diagnosis, or its arrival at it late, "there are cases in which it takes up to 10 years or so. So this is an area where we really need new approaches and innovation."

Endometriosis is a very painful and debilitating disease that affects one in 10 women with reproductive health. Sussane Fiedler insists on the impact it has on the different spheres of the female population: "It has an impact on their education, their career, their personal life or their relationships, and also, unfortunately, it can have an impact on fertility. So it's a very debilitating area for women."

At the same stage, the issue of contraception should be noted. "I think we need innovation in that area because not all solutions work for all women," Fiedler says. "There is a demand, for example, for non-hormonal contraceptive methods. That's an area we're working on. We must also work through education, because many women do not really take any. And if they take one, they do it very irregularly and inconsistently."

Gestating a life also penalizes women. There are still places where pregnancy and childbirth are a risky condition for both mother and baby. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020, nearly 800 women died every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. "This is an area where safety and access to care need to be addressed. If you think about maternal health, it's very broad."

Another taboo stage in women, as Field recalls, is "menopause. A moment in the life of the woman that carries a great stigma. Actually, nobody talks too much about it, true, but it is obvious that there are not enough options to manage that condition. It has a huge impact on society and also on the economy, because women are at the peak of their career when symptoms appear."

"These are all diseases or conditions that are unique to women, but the needs go far beyond that. Women are also disproportionately affected by many diseases or diseases manifest differently in women," Fiedler said.

Examples of these claims include heart disease and asthma. "Cardiovascular disease is the cause of death for 35% of women. However, it doesn't really focus well, it hasn't been researched enough because not enough attention has been paid to it," says Sussane Fiedler.

"Then there's asthma. Of course, it can affect women and men, but in them it causes more severe morbidity and that translates into more hospitalizations, more doctor visits and also higher mortality rates."

Fiedler points to another of the ailments that take their toll on women: chronic and acute headaches. "Migraine is three times more frequent in women than in men, it is the fourth leading cause of disability in women." The head of Organon summarizes that "for all this it is not only about reproductive health, nor about diseases exclusive to women. We need to put a female lens on health care in general and look at ailments."

Gender-responsive labor programs

And what is the role of the work environment in this matter? What can companies do to have the sensitivity with which to work? Field explains that "some companies have programs committed to the environment and to be healthier, but not specific programs with a gender perspective."

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