Engineering and women's health: a slow start, but gaining momentum

While biomedical engineers have participated in research studies that focus on understanding aspects particular to women's health since the 1950s, the depth and breadth of the research have increased significantly in the last 15-20 years. It has been increasingly clear that engineers can lend important knowledge and analysis to address questions that are key to understanding physiology and pathophysiology related to women's health. This historical survey identifies some of the earliest contributions of engineers to exploring aspects of women's health, from the behaviour of key tissues, to issues of reproduction and breast cancer. In addition, some of the more recent work in each area is identified and areas deserving additional attention are described. The interdisciplinary nature of this area of engineering, along with the growing interest within the field of biomedical engineering, promise to bring exciting new discoveries and expand knowledge that will positively impact women's health in the near future.