It’s time to move beyond the “bikini” model of women’s health
By Dr. Leslie Saltzman, Vice President of Consumer Health Solutions and Medical Discipline Director at Labcorp
For decades, women’s health was viewed as encompassing what fits under a bikini—breasts and pelvic organs. Even now, most women’s health solutions in the market are built around reproductive health. As a women’s health physician, I can tell you that’s not all my patients want to talk about.
Women’s needs are so much more than pregnancy. Many delay having children and some choose not to have them at all, yet every woman faces health challenges that deserve attention. Chronic conditions affect millions, while mental health concerns and heart disease remain significant. Preventive care and understanding age-related changes like menopause are also critical throughout life.is also critical throughout life.
These issues intersect daily, influencing work, family, and well-being. We must account for the whole person if we truly want to improve outcomes for women at every stage.
The challenge isn’t just how we define women’s health, it’s how we deliver care. The average office visit lasts only about 15 minutes. Patients who get the most out of that are often the ones who come in knowing their baselines, patterns, and health needs.
Even then, that visit is just a fraction of the story. Over a year, a woman may spend only about an hour with her provider, leaving more than 5,800 waking hours to make sense of her health on her own.
This is why Ovia Health by Labcorp is so powerful. Designed to support women day to day, Ovia bridges the gap between clinic visits and daily life.
Instead of waiting until the next appointment, Ovia empowers women to act on what’s happening in real time, combining personalized digital tools with 1:1 clinical support to help women:
- Track symptoms, moods, and health behaviors
- Connect signals over time
- Understand what’s normal for their body and what needs attention
- Take action—whether they make lifestyle changes, seek care, or have informed conversations with providers
By giving them consistent support, relevant education, and a full picture, we can empower women to understand their health. They can use some of those 5,800 hours to build behavior changes and health skills to last a lifetime.
If you want to learn more, watch a recent webinar I co-hosted with Elizabeth Marks, MD, Medical Director of Clinical Integration at CDPHP. Dr. Marks brings her perspective as a board-certified internist focused on improving patient experience and member health. In the webinar, you’ll hear real patient stories, explore practice data, and gain actionable strategies for delivering truly holistic, patient-centered care.
Bottom line: Women’s health cannot be treated as episodic. By moving beyond the “bikini” model and embracing continuous, holistic support, we give women the care they deserve, every hour of every day.