Why women’s health concerns are still overlooked
Image credit: silverkblack via Unsplash
Many women say their symptoms and concerns are minimized, misunderstood, or dismissed during medical care, sometimes delaying diagnosis and treatment. But the problem extends beyond individual interactions in the exam room: gaps in research, differences in how symptoms present, systemic bias, and unequal access to care can all shape women’s health outcomes. Addressing these disparities requires better listening, stronger representation in medical research, and healthcare systems designed to recognize and respond to women’s experiences more effectively.
Source
M. Guzikevits,T. Gordon-Hecker,D. Rekhtman,S. Salameh,S. Israel,M. Shayo,D. Gozal,A. Perry,A. Gileles-Hillel, & S. Choshen-Hillel, Sex bias in pain management decisions, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 121 (33) e2401331121, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2401331121 (2024).
Additional Reading
https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/18/health/women-healthcare-problems-gallup-poll-wellness