Whel

An evidence index for under-researched women’s health conditions.

Browse 281 signals →How we score evidence

Women’s health conditions are persistently underfunded, undertreated, and under-diagnosed. Endometriosis affects roughly 1 in 10 reproductive-age women yet averages 7 to 10 years to diagnosis. PCOS, the most common endocrine disorder of reproductive age, has no FDA-approved therapy. These are the conditions medicine has been slow to study.

Whel aggregates four parallel streams of evidence, scores each signal across five dimensions, and publishes the result with full provenance, for clinicians, researchers, and informed patients to interpret.

Signals indexed
281
across 4 evidence arms
Conditions covered
6
Strong-tier
28
10.0% of total
Last review
May 2026
2,158 source citations
Figure 1 · Confidence distribution

Where the evidence sits, by condition.

N = 281 SIGNALS · 6 × 4 MATRIX
Color intensity scales with signal count within each tierClick a row to open that condition
Figure 2 · Evidence provenance

How signals flow from source to tier.

5 SOURCES → 4 ARMS → 4 TIERS
SOURCESEVIDENCE ARMSTIERSPubMedClinicalTrials.govAEMSOpen TargetsRedditDirect Research64Cross-Condition Signals65Pathway Insights120Community Forum Reports32Strong28Moderate66Emerging177Exploratory105 SOURCES → 4 ARMS → 4 TIERS

Each curve is one provenance pathway. Tier node heights are proportional to signal count. Direct Research dominates the Strong tier; Pathway Insights and Community Forum signals concentrate in Emerging and Exploratory. ↑ Ribbon thickness scales with signal volume.

01 · Framework

How evidence is evaluated

Every signal in Whel is scored before it enters the database. Each record is assessed across five dimensions: replication, source quality, specificity, biological plausibility, and consistency of direction. Each dimension is rated 0 to 2, summed to a 0 to 10 composite. Results are classified into a confidence tier, and sources and scores are visible on every card.

Confidence tiers5 dimensions · 0–10 composite
Strong
Highly replicated, well-characterized signals with consistent direction across multiple evidence types.
9–10
Moderate
Replicated findings with solid mechanistic rationale.
7–8
Emerging
Early-stage evidence with some corroboration or mechanistic support.
4–6
Exploratory
Single-source, mechanistic, or low-specificity signals; hypothesis generation only.
0–3
02 · Index

Conditions covered.

View all conditions →
C-01

Adenomyosis

Endometrial tissue invades the uterine muscle wall, causing an enlarged uterus, severe period pain, heavy bleeding, and chronic pelvic pain. It frequently coexists with endometriosis and is a major cause of iron deficiency anemia.
47signals
4 strong · 12 moderateOpen →
C-02

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, on the ovaries, bowel, bladder, and peritoneum. These lesions bleed with every menstrual cycle, causing progressive scarring, adhesions, and infertility.
48signals
3 strong · 16 moderateOpen →
C-03

PCOS

PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. It involves elevated androgens, irregular or absent ovulation, and polycystic ovaries. Presentations range from lean women with menstrual irregularity to those with severe insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. It is the leading cause of anovulatory infertility worldwide.
50signals
8 strong · 12 moderateOpen →
C-04

Perimenopause & Menopause

Perimenopause is the 4 to 10 year transition before menopause, during which hormones fluctuate and symptoms begin. Menopause is confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a period. Hot flashes and night sweats are the hallmark complaints. Genitourinary changes, mood disruption, and insomnia are common and frequently undertreated.
62signals
7 strong · 17 moderateOpen →
C-05

PMDD

PMDD is a severe cyclic disorder in which the brain responds abnormally to normal hormonal changes in the luteal phase. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, and irritability that appear reliably before menstruation and resolve within days of onset. It is distinct from PMS in severity and carries elevated suicide risk in the luteal phase.
46signals
5 strong · 7 moderateOpen →
C-06

Vulvodynia

Vulvodynia is chronic vulvar pain lasting at least three months with no identifiable cause. The most common form is provoked vestibulodynia, where pain is triggered by touch at the vaginal opening. It is a leading cause of sexual dysfunction and gynecologic care avoidance.
28signals
1 strong · 2 moderateOpen →
03 · Source arms

How signals are categorized

01

Direct Research

Published studies and active clinical trials specifically investigating each condition.

Sources: PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov
Read methodology →
02

Cross-Condition Signals

Drugs developed for other conditions where women incidentally reported benefit.

Sources: AEMS, PubMed, Trial registries
Read methodology →
03

Pathway Insights

Signals from biological pathway and target analysis, including drugs with mechanistic or genetic evidence of relevance, and adverse event patterns revealing underlying disease biology.

Sources: Open Targets, AEMS
Read methodology →
04

Community Forum Reports

Consistent treatment patterns reported across condition-specific patient communities.

Sources: Reddit communities
Read methodology →