Louise Ben-Nathan
The former cancer patient redesigning the speculum
The former cancer patient improving women's gynaecological health
Having spent 18 years working in the film and television industry, Louise Ben-Nathan’s life changed overnight in 2018 when, at the age of 40, she was diagnosed with stage 2 Triple Negative breast cancer. She carried a mutation which meant her chances of developing breast (and ovarian) cancer had always been high.
In remission, Louise’s life took another unexpected turn. “It was at my post-surgical check-up that the genesis for my company took place. I asked my gynaecologist why cervical smear tests were so painful for me. His response shocked me: ‘We can get in there when you are unconscious so there can’t be a problem.’ I left my appointment feeling that I hadn’t been heard.”
Louise discovered she was not alone, with nearly one in three women currently avoiding their cervical screening invitations, largely due to negative or even traumatic experiences. To tackle this, she established LBN Innovations Ltd, where she developed a compact digital medical device to replace the traditional speculum. Her invention addresses key screening barriers of pain and embarrassment, aiming to encourage more women to participate in screening and lower their risk of developing cervical cancer.