From taboo to top priority: the evolution of pelvic health benefits

The massive workplace health issue, hiding in plain sight

For decades, pelvic health was treated as something women had to manage alone. Leaks, pain, and discomfort were endured quietly, patched over with pads, painkillers, or avoidance. Yet the impact was never private. Symptoms followed women into boardrooms, classrooms, and factory floors, resulting in missed opportunities, stalled careers, and escalating healthcare claims.¹ ²

That silence is now breaking. Pelvic health is no longer a fringe concern, it is becoming a core workforce issue. Employers are recognizing the measurable effect on productivity, retention, and healthcare costs. This shift marks not just cultural progress but a major evolution in how companies think about benefits.

The story of pelvic health benefits reflects a larger truth: addressing once-taboo topics creates opportunities to unlock human potential and business value. The question for employers and health plans today is simple: will you lead, or lag behind?

Why you can’t afford to overlook pelvic health benefits

Pelvic floor disorders, including urinary incontinence, prolapse, and chronic pelvic pain, have historically been dismissed as inevitable consequences of childbirth or aging. Stigma kept women silent, while healthcare systems rarely screened or intervened.

The result is a pattern of delay. On average, women wait 6.5 years before seeking care for pelvic health symptoms.³ By that point, conditions are often more severe, harder to treat, and more costly for both patients and employers.

The hidden toll is staggering:

• One in three U.S. women will experience a pelvic health disorder.⁴
• More than 62% of people with chronic pelvic pain report reduced work productivity.⁵
• The average annual cost for surgery and diagnostics tied to chronic pelvic pain is nearly $29,951.⁵

What once looked like a personal issue has proven to be a systemic business problem. It drives absenteeism, presenteeism, and costly claims while holding back talented women in their prime career years.

The pelvic health benefits trend timeline

Two forces have converged to move pelvic health from taboo to top priority.

Cultural change is the first. Conversations once whispered are now happening in public. From menopause to incontinence, women are sharing their experiences more openly. Media coverage, advocacy, and employee resource groups are reducing stigma and normalizing care-seeking.

Clinical innovation is the second. Digital health solutions have redefined what access looks like. Pelvic floor physical therapy is proven to be effective for repairing pelvic floor dysfunction⁶, but the prospect of scheduling an appointment, travelling to a clinic, and presenting to a stranger in person is a strong barrier to women accessing care.

Sword's pelvic health care solution, Bloom, uses revolutionary technology to allow women to recover from pelvic pain with expert care plans accessible from home.

The FDA-listed Bloom Pod uses biofeedback to deliver real-time feedback via a secure mobile app. Doctoral-level pelvic health specialists prepare persoanlized treatment plans and monitor the member's progress, adjusting the plan remotely using this data.

The unique combination of AI and clinically-validated care supported by pelvic health specialists now makes recovery possible at home.

Together, cultural readiness and clinical capability have created a turning point. Employers and health plans have both the mandate and the means to act.

1 in 3 women are suffering from pelvic health problems  

The prevalence and consequences of untreated pelvic health issues are too significant to ignore:

• One in three U.S. women lives with a pelvic health disorder.⁴
• Among women aged 40–59, rates of pelvic organ prolapse climb to 74%.⁷
• Women with pelvic health disorders are 3.6 times more likely to experience depression.⁸
• Chronic pelvic pain reduces productivity by more than 60%.⁵
• Nearly half of Bloom members live in socially disadvantaged areas, where traditional care is least accessible.⁹

For employers competing for talent, ignoring these realities means absorbing avoidable costs while losing experienced women at pivotal career stages. Conversely, acting now can deliver retention, engagement, and claims savings that strengthen the bottom line.

The business case for pelvic health benefits

Pelvic health benefits are not a wellness perk, they are a strategic investment to help employers across such a wider range of organizational success metrics:

• attract and retain top talent by addressing real health needs
• keep experienced leaders on the job
• help to prevent chronic pain and disability 
• reduce turnover linked to menopause and chronic pelvic conditions¹⁰ 
• improve productivity by reducing distractions from pain and urgency¹⁰ 
• close gaps in access by ensuring that women in underserved communities have the same chance to receive care as their peers⁹ 
• control costs by preventing unnecessary surgeries, imaging, and chronic medication⁵

Traditional clinic-based pelvic floor physical therapy is an option, but so many women either aren’t aware of this treatment, or they find the burden of the intimidating in-clinic setting a major deterrent to accessing help. With few specialist providers, long commutes to appointments, high copays, and scheduling conflicts, fewer than one in ten women complete in-clinic therapy¹.¹

Digital solutions flip the equation. Sword Bloom allows women to access world-class clinically-validated pelvic health care plans from home. The digital delivery model means they can access care from the comfort and privacy of their home, at any time that suits their lifestyle. Each care plan is personalized according to the individual’s needs and health goals by a matched pelvic health expert with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. 

Bloom’s flexible and accessible care

Bloom's clinically-proven results show the importance of flexible and discrete access to care. 

• Half of sessions occur after hours 
• One in five sessions occur on weekends¹² 
• Bloom delivers high engagement, with completion rates above industry averages
• Member satisfaction scores average 8.6 out of 10.¹⁴

Nearly half of members live in moderate-to-high Social Deprivation Index areas, yet achieve the same outcomes and satisfaction as peers with greater resources.⁹

This is equity in action, providing care that adapts to the member, not the other way around.

The goal is more than symptom relief. It is restoring confidence, energy, and productivity to women whose careers should not be limited by preventable discomfort.

Bloom delivers an average savings rate of almost 3:1

As a result of these high engagement and satisfaction levels, members get healthier and bring a better, healthier version of themselves to work. Bloom works to end pelvic pain and help members recover from chronic conditions that can  otherwise escalate into expensive claims and even surgery. Bloom is proven to deliver annual savings of $2,327 per member and a 2.9:1 ROI validated by external actuarial review.¹⁶

Offer pelvic health benefits and take a strategic advantage

Pelvic health is no longer a taboo. It is a test of whether employers and health plans are ready to meet the real needs of their members. Left unaddressed, pelvic health disorders can cost millions in claims, reduced lost productivity, and even talent attrition.

Powerful solutions exist today. Bloom makes pelvic health care accessible, private, and clinically validated. Bloom empowers women to regain confidence and career momentum, while giving organizations measurable returns in cost savings, productivity, and retention.

Bloom is a health benefit that continually delivers proven financial impact and better healthcare outcomes. Rapid implementation means you can launch in weeks

Pelvic health benefits do not have to be complex to introduce. Bloom is designed as a turnkey program, with standard eligibility file integration, a communications toolkit for HR leaders, and dashboards that track engagement, outcomes, and savings. Take action now and speak to a Bloom expert to find out how easy it is for you to deliver life-changing pelvic health care to your members.

Frequently asked questions

Who qualifies for pelvic health benefits?

Any employee or health plan member experiencing pelvic health symptoms can be referred to Bloom.

How private is the program?

Members use a discreet biofeedback pod at home, with secure data sharing between the member and their pelvic health specialist.¹³

When do members see results from Bloom pelvic health care?

Many see improvements within weeks, with reductions in symptoms like pain, leakage, and even anxiety and depression.¹⁵

How is ROI measured?

Validated claims analyses show more than $2,000 saved per member per year and a gross ROI of 2.9:1.¹⁶