Welcome to the First Edition of The Five & One

Why The Five & One?
Because women make up 51% of the population — yet still get treated like a special interest group. This newsletter flips that script.

Each issue gives you 5 smart takeaways from the world of research, policy, health, wellness, and trends — +1 bonus topic just for you.

When women’s health is prioritized, everyone benefits — families, workplaces, and communities.

You’re receiving this because you’re part of our community — as a Catalyst Member or a Five & One subscriber.

Each week, you’ll get news, policy updates, and actions that put your voice at the center of changing women’s health.

Once a month, Catalyst Members receive exclusive deep dives into policy, practical health guides, and resources to help you take action.

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This week’s theme: Policy & Funding Momentum

From billion-dollar companies misusing your health data to the FDA finally revisiting decades-old menopause guidance, the systems that shape women’s health are moving — slowly, but in the right direction. These are the stories, policies, and trends that matter now, and what you can actually do about them.

A California jury found Meta — owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — violated the California Invasion of Privacy Act by collecting sensitive reproductive health data from Flo menstrual app users for targeted ads. Flo settled before the verdict; Google and others settled earlier. Meta is expected to appeal.

The Break Down
Reproductive health data isn’t protected like medical records because HIPAA predates consumer health apps. Most period and fertility trackers fall outside its reach, and enforcement of new state protections is patchy — leaving intimate data vulnerable to misuse.

Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. women have used a period-tracking app, meaning millions are exposed to this risk. These gaps affect anyone using health apps, but the stakes are especially high for menstrual, fertility, and menopause tracking.

The Breakthrough
The case signals growing legal pressure on Big Tech to protect digital health data, but stronger laws are still needed.

Source: The Verge, U.S. District Court for Northern District of California

Women live longer but spend more years in poor health because research, training, and therapies rarely account for hormones, perimenopause, and post-menopause.

The Break Down
Aging and longevity research is male-default, producing treatments and guidelines that miss women’s needs. Decades of underfunding and research gaps leave critical stages overlooked. Remember that research that accounts for women’s biology can also lead to breakthroughs in how we understand aging for everyone.

The Breakthrough
Closing the research gap means funding, training, and data designed for women. What can you do in the meantime?

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Women’s Health Magazine

A record $50M private donation will fund the largest-ever endometriosis research institute at UNSW in Australia. (That’s good for us in the US too!) 

The Break Down
Currently there is no non-invasive diagnostic, no consistently effective treatments, and inconsistent reimbursement for endometriosis. Coverage for repeat surgeries, pelvic PT, and pain care is often denied. Medical school training on endometriosis is minimal.  Delayed diagnosis and poor treatment affect not just patients, but families, workplaces, and the economy. 

The Breakthrough
This new institute will help fill the gap in research that will be used globally.  But we also need systemic fixes to bring this research to market commercially. What can you do here? 

Source: UNSW Sydney, Endometriosis Foundation of America

The FY26 Senate appropriations bill allocates $250M+ to women’s health research, training, and rural OB-GYN access.

The Break Down
Congress controls most federal health dollars. Women’s health — especially menopause, fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, and rural maternal care — has historically received a fraction. Four bipartisan women are working to get it prioritized, not treated as an afterthought. Investments in women’s health often lead to new diagnostics, treatments, and technologies that benefit everyone.

The Breakthrough
This funding could reshape women’s health — if it survives negotiations.

Source: U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations

The FDA is reviewing HRT safety for the first time in decades, while six states have passed laws expanding menopause care.

The Break Down
Menopause care faces stigma, outdated HRT warnings, and poor provider training. Federal guidance from 2002 shapes insurance coverage - which needs to change. States can require coverage, but access stays uneven without updated federal rules. Untreated menopause symptoms drive healthcare costs, reduce workplace participation, and ripple across households.

The Breakthrough
Federal and state action together could create consistent, affordable care.

Source: Katie Couric Media, FDA.gov

Cold plunges are trending, but most of the research is on men. They may impact women differently.

What the Science Says
A small study of 30 women found little benefit for muscle recovery. Some evidence for reduced inflammation and energy boost, but most claims lack proof.

Try It This Way
Test before you invest: end your shower with 30 seconds of cold or dunk your face in ice water. You’ll know quickly if the cold life is for you.

Source: Science News/Journal of Thermal Biology

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