Liverpool entrepreneur’s ‘groundbreaking’ project to tackle gender health gap

A Scouse entrepreneur has co-founded a “groundbreaking initiative” to aid women’s healthcare.

Emma Jarvis, a 32 year-old from Childwall, has teamed up with fellow women’s health advocate Karli Büchling to launch Europe’s first period bank. The period bank, which will officially launch later this year, will allow women to donate their menstrual sample, which will be analysed by scientists for vital research.

This not only has the potential to replace regular smear tests, but it could also aid with the diagnosis of conditions such as endometriosis. The duo announced their latest venture, Yoni Health, a women’s health business that aims to close the gender health gap and provide women with the opportunity to take control of their health.

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Emma founded Dearbump and Parent Promise to support other women during their pregnancies. Speaking to the ECHO in 2021, Emma said she couldn’t use the toilet for six months after the birth of her second child. She urged women not to “suffer in silence” and seek support from Dearbump about health issues from pregnancies.

Emma has now teamed up with Karli as part of NatWest’s Entrepreneur Accelerator programme, which has provided them with the resources and support they needed to grow their businesses. Karli, who is the founder of of Natal Comfort and creator of the Anna Pregnancy Pillow, had a personal tie to the project. She was ill as a student and had to get regular blood samples which made her very uncomfortable.

Karli wanted to find an easier way to explore women’s health, and periods felt like the natural fit, as so much can be determined through menstruation. The business has argued the lack of research on women’s reproductive health is a significant issue and highlights the ever-broadening gender health gap. There have been fewer than 400 recorded studies on periods around the world, compared to hundreds of thousands of studies done on male specimens.

Emma said: “As a woman and business owner in the wellness industry I’m aware of the gender health gap and lack of attention given to women’s health issues. This is why Karli, and I are so passionate about Yoni Health and our mission to launch Europe’s first period bank.”

She added: “We want to raise awareness and contribute to the vital research that’s needed to make significant breakthroughs in women’s health and we’re very grateful for the support of NatWest on this journey. The NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator Hub has provided us with invaluable resources and mentorship that has helped us make our vision a reality.”

Karli Büchling said: “I had to take so many sick days because of my health issues, and I think a lack of awareness around women’s health is a significant problem. We hope that Yoni Health can provide a simpler and effective approach to make a real difference and empower women to take control of their health.”

People can sign up to bank their periods which will be analysed to provide valuable research into their own health, helping them combat any future diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes. Yoni Health has also created a free period tracker, helping users easily identify any changes to their cycle and aiding their overall wellbeing.

To join the waitlist for the period bank and to sign up to Yoni Health’s market research, visit its website here. You can also find additional information on the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator programme here.

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