Vella Bioscience’s Post

Most physicians lack education on the science of the vulva, including gynecologists. Surprisingly, the human clitoris's nerve count was only discovered in 2023 (Uloko et al), highlighting the neglect of this crucial structure in research. This oversight contributes to high instances of urinary tract infections, chronic pelvic pain, recurrent vaginal infections, and overactive bladder symptoms. Prioritizing vulvar health within the medical community could significantly reduce the prevalence of these diseases. #WomensHealth #MedicalResearch #VulvarHealth

It’s #EqualResearchDay! 💥 Evvy created #EqualResearchDay on June 10 because women weren’t required in U.S. clinical research until June 10th, 1993 (Think Equal Pay Day but for the gender health gap!) To this day, there are countless holes ⚫ in our scientific and medical understanding of the female body — and that directly impacts us as patients. If you’ve ever experienced delays in diagnoses, failed treatments, mystery symptoms with no answers, or medical gaslighting — #EqualResearchDay is for you. This year, we brought together 46 innovative companies and compiled 100 Effed Facts about the Gender Health Gap across 12 health areas: ⚫ Autoimmune Disease ⚫ Brain + Mental Health ⚫ Cancer ⚫ Endometriosis ⚫ Fertility ⚫ Heart Health ⚫ Hormonal Health ⚫ Maternal Health ⚫ Medical Gaslighting ⚫ Menopause ⚫ Menstrual & Sexual Health ⚫ Vaginal & Urinary Health Earlier this week, we launched a limited-edition coffee table book featuring all 100 Effed Facts to benefit Women's Health Access Matters (you can order a copy at EqualResearchDay.com before they sell out... !) But we decided these facts are too important not to share widely — so we are posting a public version here on LinkedIn. 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣:  💥 Share this post (and add your story about why equal research matters to you)!  💥 Learn more and shop the limited edition coffee table book to benefit WHAM at EqualResearchDay.com The female body shouldn’t be a medical mystery — together, let’s close the gender health gap for good. #equalresearchday2024 #evvy #genderhealthgap #closethegenderhealthgap ——— 2024 Equal Research Day Collaborative: Evvy Aavia adyn Allara AOA Dx Bloomer Tech Caraway Clue Cofertility Conceive Diem DotLab Doveras Elektra Health Elix Frame Gabbi Gaia Gameto Health In Her HUE HerMD Hey Jane The Honey Pot Company Iron Health Julie Products Inc. Live UTI Free Looni Love Wellness Midi Health Millie Neura Health Origin Oova Poppy Seed Health Paloma Health Rescripted Rosy Wellness Ruth Health (YC S21) Seven Starling Stripes Sunfish Teal Health Thirty Madison TMRW Vella Bioscience Veracity WellTheory

Sexual Wellness is Adjacent to Sexual Health and Medicine and We Must Develop Products in Accordance with the Well-Established Methodology from the Arena of Sexual Medicine and Pharmacotherapy   The pandemic saw the entry and growth of numerous companies and products focused on wellness and self-care. The arena of female sexual wellness was no exception. Most such entities followed the script of the beauty industry. Instead of discussing how an active ingredient works (mechanism of action) including preclinical studies and subsequent clinical trial evidence for effectiveness and tolerability, the marketing of female sexual wellness products revolved around clean ingredients (an unnecessary claim if one utilizes well established and scientifically validated ingredients such as pure isolates) that included unproven or already disproven (in the sexual medicine literature) ingredients, often combined without any evidence for synergy or additive effects. One effective molecule obviates the need for a soup of junk. Combinations should demonstrate at least an additive, if not superaddative effect, let alone synergy. There is a paucity of products which provide efficacy and tolerability data and, more often than not, we are left with just testimonials. Uniquely in the cannabis arena, as opposed to cannabinoid arena, plant derived extracts with unknown cannabinoid composition and percentages are extolled as “full spectrum”. Research has demonstrated some cannabinoids are prosexual and some are absolutely (Data on file, Vella Bioscience). This is antithetical to medical science- one must know what you are delivering and in what quantities. Female sexual medicine and pharmacotherapy has evolved to provide prescriptive methodologies for preclinical studies that provide understanding of the mechanism of action and clinical trial constructs for determining efficacy and tolerability that can be readily carried over to female sexual wellness. Yes, you need very specific medical expertise to harness and utilize these approaches. The wheel does not need to be reinvented. Since we are speaking of sex, it is critical to ensure that a product facilitates safe sexual activity. Formal condom compatibility studies provide such assurances for local or topically delivered products. Partner impact considerations may be relevant, as well. Some companies are actually following the science. We plan to highlight these companies for consumers. The Consortium and its SAB is here to help any company willing to commit to the development of scientifically validated female sexual wellness products. We encourage you to join us on this mission. Women are intelligent consumers and today they not only deserve scientifically validated products but are demanding it.