Gender health inequality means having unequal access or opportunity to access healthcare services and treatment due to your sex or gender, leading to poorer health outcomes. Not only are women more likely to spend proportionally longer in ill health during their lives than men, but there are also major discrepancies when it comes to medical research and clinical trials.
Whether you’re an incoming junior doctor, a medical student, or just curious to know more about the state of healthcare for women in the UK, it’s always worth knowing about the core structural issues at play.
Why do women experience poorer health than men?
- Underrepresentation in clinical trials
A variety of studies have shown that in many areas of healthcare, women experience poorer outcomes than men. One of the most prominent issues is women’s underrepresentation in early-stage clinical trials. In fact, pregnant and lactating women are still excluded from clinical trials, making it more difficult for doctors to advise them and prescribe medicines.
- Insufficient research
Medical research into female-specific health issues frequently presents issues for practitioners and patients alike. A recent survey by the Department for Health and Social Care found that 71% of women rely on a Google search for health information while only 59% turn to their GP. Along with a lack of research on certain issues affecting women’s health, stigma needs to be broken too.
Topics and health issues that should be prioritised include gynaecological conditions, menopause, mental health, menstrual health, and fertility. Additionally, it’s not always easy for women to access appropriate support through and after pregnancy and miscarriage.
- Misdiagnosed conditions
Conditions such as endometriosis have been misdiagnosed for a long time. These critical medical mistakes stem from various circumstances and errors, but another critical structural issue is a lack of research in female-specific medical conditions.
Not only has male-focused medical research contributed to the health gap, but it has also left women in prolonged pain and discomfort as a result. When women experience a misdiagnosis, one avenue for support is to consult a no-win-no-fee medical negligence solicitor to be awarded compensation for their suffering.
- Overlooked menstrual symptoms
The true impact of menstruation is underestimated in the UK. Menstrual pain impacts women’s ability to work differently: while some women might suffer from debilitating, cramping period pains, others might experience uncomfortable symptoms that affect their overall productivity.
Creating a period-positive environment and destigmatising periods is one of the first steps towards closing the gender health gap in the professional sphere. This should extend to the education system, where girls often feel that periods are too much of a taboo subject to be discussed openly.
- Lack of governmental action
With the Women’s Health Strategy for England, the government has expressed its commitment to women’s health and to fight inequality, however significant improvements are yet to be made.
Representation of women in clinical trials must be improved, and so too should research into health issues specific to women – including endometriosis and menopause. However, the government’s new strategy commits to making serious improvements for:
- Data gathering and new research
- Women’s health-focused education for junior doctors
- Fertility services
- Health information
- Guidance for female-specific health conditions
Concluding thoughts…
Evidential findings paint a dull picture for women’s health in the UK. However, with genuine commitment and progressive action, the next few years could present major improvements for women, particularly through medical research and the quality of resources available.
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