About Sylvia Health

Sylvia Health develops design-led solutions that address urgent, unmet needs in women’s pelvic health.

Mission

To address the urgent, unmet needs in women’s pelvic health through thoughtful, design-driven innovation.

Vision

To make dignified, effective pelvic health care accessible to every woman who needs it.

Our Story

Sylvia Health grew out of the Novo Nordisk Foundation BioMedical Design Fellowship Programme, a needs-based innovation programme at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.

During four months of clinical observation in obstetrics and gynaecology, our founders saw the profound effect pelvic organ prolapse can have on women’s lives. They also saw a clear gap between the support women needed and the options available to them.

This led to extensive research with women and clinicians across six countries, exploring the condition, its everyday impact and the limitations of existing care. The insight was consistent: women need better conservative options that offer effective support without adding unnecessary complexity or clinical burden.

Sylvia Health was founded to address that need through thoughtful, design-driven innovation.

Built with women and clinicians

Our founders do not have lived experience of prolapse. That makes listening to and developing alongside women with the condition essential, not optional.

Since identifying the unmet need during the BioMedical Design programme, we have engaged with more than 200 women living with prolapse through interviews, surveys and product testing. We also work closely with clinicians and pelvic health professionals.

Their experiences and expertise have shaped the product from the beginning and continue to guide its development.

Our Approach

We start with observed needs, develop with users and clinicians, and progress through testing and evidence.

Observe

Clinical observation and research help us identify important, overlooked needs.

Women and clinicians shape our understanding of the problem and the requirements for a meaningful solution.

Listen

Develop

Iterative testing informs the product’s usability, comfort and design.

Validate

Clinical evidence guides responsible product development, regulatory decisions and adoption.

We build with users, test with clinicians and progress with evidence.

Meet the Team

Andrew Stretton

Co-founder and CEO
Andrew holds a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Cambridge and has more than a decade of experience in research, product development and early-stage technology companies.
He leads Sylvia Health’s product development and company strategy, with a focus on translating user and clinical needs into practical, scalable solutions.
You can contact Andrew via email (andrew@sylvia.health) or LinkedIn
Nikolaj Ulrik Friis

Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer
Nikolaj is a medical doctor with experience in clinical care and research in Denmark and Norway.
He leads Sylvia Health’s clinical work and is committed to improving access to effective, dignified care for women living with pelvic health conditions.
You can contact Nikolaj via email (nikolaj@sylvia.health) or LinkedIn
Corinna Voll

Research Affiliate
Corinna works at the intersection of healthcare, innovation and research. With a background in Techno-Anthropology, she combines qualitative and quantitative methods to understand people’s experiences and translate them into meaningful insights.
She has led national and international projects at DTU and within early-stage companies.
You can contact Corinna via email (corinna@sylvia.health) or LinkedIn.