Women's health: bringing issues out of the shadows

Did you know? Women perceive themselves to be in poorer health than men (1) , despite reporting better lifestyle habits. I's a fact that women's health is still too often relegated to the background, and women's issues are still relatively under-researched. Yet women are looking for lasting solutions for the different stages of their lives, such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause. These are just some of the issues that demand attention.

Women's health issues : a specific biological reality

Women's health is not just a female version of men's health. Biological and hormonal differences between the sexes influence body function, symptoms, the prevalence of certain pathologies and response to treatment. Women go through phases of life marked by major
physiological upheavals, each generating its own set of daily challenges. These include issues linked to women's life cycles - menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, etc.

Reproductive health : an often precarious balance

Menstrual cycle disorders affect a majority of women. Nearly 48% of them suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which manifests itself in pain, fatigue, sleep disorders and mood swings. Trivialized and often downplayed, these symptoms can nevertheless have an
impact on quality of life: in 20% of women concerned, they are severe enough to interfere with their daily activities (2) . The menstrual period that follows also brings its share of pain. Indeed, the prevalence of dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain) worldwide is estimated at between 45 and 95%(3).

Anemia, mainly caused by a deficiency of iron (4) , vitamin B12 or folic acid (5) , affects around
30% of women and aggravates chronic fatigue. Underlying causes include heavy menstrual discharge, inadequate diet or poor iron absorption. Pathologies such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which affects up to 13% of women of childbearing age, causes hormonal imbalance and is one of the main causes of infertility (6) . Endometriosis affects 10% of women (7) . It causes chronic pain and can also impair fertility.

The post-partum period is another risky one: beyond the physical upheavals, it is also emotionally challenging. Post-partum depression affects between 10 and 15% of young mothers worldwide (8) , often in silence.

Mental health : an underestimated impact

Fluctuations in the hormones estrogen and progesterone have a direct impact on women's mental health. The menstrual cycle can influence mood, motivation and stress management.(10) Added to this is the indirect impact of pathologies such as anemia, as iron contributes to normal cognitive health, so a deficiency could have an impact on mental well-being (11) .

Anxiety disorders are more common among women (12) , and burnout affects them more (46% vs. 37% of men), due in particular to mental workload, family management, careers that are often less valued, and social pressure 13 . More alarming: 33% of women have already taken a leave of absence for mental health reasons (14) , a figure that underlines the urgent need to recognize and provide better support for these disorders.

Physical health : differences to be taken into account

Hormonal imbalances also have concrete physical effects: digestive disorders, migraines (2 to 3 times more frequent than in men), as well as chronic fatigue (15) . Cardiovascular disease, often perceived as affecting primarily men, is in fact the leading cause of death in women. Stroke accounts for 49% of female deaths worldwide, compared with 40% for men (16) . Another major issue is osteoporosis. After menopause, falling estrogen levels accelerate bone loss (17) . The result: women are twice as likely to be affected (23.1%) as men (11.7%) (18).

What are the possible solutions ? 

Faced with the complexity and diversity of women's health issues, the lack of dedicated studies and appropriate solutions underscores the urgent need to develop solutions to relieve women's daily symptoms. Several levers can be mobilized, from prevention to the formulation of nutraceutical products.

Better prevention and education

Prevention remains the most effective tool. The World Health Organization (WHO) is committed to improving women's health through its Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents Health (2016-2030). It aims to raise awareness, improve care
systems and encourage research. (19)

Treatments to be developed

 Pathologies such as endometriosis still suffer from long and complex diagnoses. Note that research is ongoing, notably through the ComPare-Endometriosis study launched in 2019 (20) . Yet many female symptoms have long been downplayed or perceived as "normal", making them difficult to treat.

The boom in nutraceutical solutions

At the same time, the nutraceutical approach is gaining in popularity. Adaptogenic plants, vitamins, minerals, omegas, amino acids and probiotics are all natural active ingredients used to relieve certain symptoms in a way that complements traditional medicine.

Lactoferrin : an emerging ally for women's health

Among the innovative solutions for improving women's health, lactoferrin stands out as a versatile ingredient. It is a glycoprotein naturally present in human secretions, breast milk and cow's milk, with multiple properties demonstrated in numerous scientific studies (21) , (22) , (23) .

•  Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant, one study showed that it could reduce pain and inflammation associated with the menstrual cycle.
• It improves iron absorption, making it a key ingredient for women suffering from anemia, particularly during heavy periods or post-partum.
• Thanks to its immune-modulating properties, lactoferrin can also play a role in supporting the immune system, making it a valuable asset for mother and child during the first months of life.

Armor Protéines draws on over 30 years of expertise in lactoferrin production. Committed to supporting women's health, the company offers ArmorFerrin, a highly purified lactoferrin with preserved bioactivity. It is perfectly suited to the formulation of innovative dietary supplements that meet the challenges of women's health, particularly during the sensitive phases of the menstrual cycle and post-partum.

[1] https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/les-actualites/2024/des-inegalites-de-sante-persistantes-entre-les-femmes-et-les hommes#:~:text=Malgr%C3%A9%20de%20meilleures%20habitudes%20de,%2C%20contre%2071%20%25%20des%20hommes.

[2]  P.R.Gudipally, G.K.Sharma, Premenstrual Syndrome, 2025

[3]  Women and Health, Dysmenorrhea: a public health challenge demanding urgentattention, 2025

[4]  World Health Organization, WHO Global Anaemia estimates, 2021

[5]  Ameli, Les symptômes et le diagnostic de l’anémie, 2025

[6]  OMS, Syndrome des ovaires polykystiques, 2025

[7]  OMS, Endométriose, 2023

[8] Woody CA, Ferrari A, Siskind D, Whiteford H, Harris M. A systematic review and meta-regression of the prevalence and incidence of perinatal depression, 2017

[9]  INED, Quelles sont les méthodes de contraception les plus utilisées dans le monde ? , 2021

[10] Genomind, How hormones affect mood for women, 2023

[11] Fondation Canadienne de la Santé Digestive, La carence en fer : symptômes, causes, facteurs de risque et options thérapeutiques, 2025

[12] OMS, Troubles anxieux, 2023

[13] CNBC, Burnout is on the rise worldwide – and GenZ, young millennials and women are the most stressed, 2023

[14]  World Economic Forum, Here’s why hybrid working mans more stress for women, 2022

[15]  Améli, Migraine : symptômes, facteurs déclenchants et évolution, 2025

[16] Fondation Recherche Cardio Vasculaire, Cœur des femmes des chiffres inquiétants, 2025

[17] Inserm, Ostéoporose, 2023

[18] Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, The global prevalence of osteoporosis in the world: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis, 2021

[19] OMS, Santé des femmes, 2018

[20] Université Paris-Saclay, Endométriose : la grande inconnue, 2023

[21] Presti, S.; Manti, S.; Parisi, G.F.; Papale, M.; Barbagallo, I.A.; Li Volti, G.; Leonardi, S.; Lactoferrin: Cytokine Modulation and Application in Clinical Practice. J.Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 5482.

[22] Li, Y.-Q.; Guo, C. A Review on Lactoferrin and Central Nervous System Diseases. Cells 2021, 10, 1810.

[23] Karav S, German JB, Rouquié C, Le Parc A, Barile D. Studying Lactoferrin N-Glycosylation. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Apr 20;18(4):870.