Women’s health has been critically underserved by a failure to look beyond women’s sexual and reproductive systems to adequately consider their broader health needs. In almost every country in the world, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of death for women. Among these, cardiovascular disease (including heart disease and stroke) and cancers are the major causes of mortality. Risks for these conditions exist at each stage of women’s lives, but recognition of the unique needs of women for the prevention and management of NCDs is relatively recent and still emerging. Once diagnosed, treatments for these diseases are often costly and non-curative. Therefore, we call for a strategic, innovative life-course approach to identify disease triggers and instigate cost-effective measures to minimise exposure in a timely manner. Prohibitive barriers to implementing this holistic approach to
women’s health exist, in both the social and medical arenas. Recognising these impediments and implementing practical approaches to surmounting them is a rational approach to
advancing health equity for women, with ultimate benefits for society as a whole.