Women's Health Articles

'Pervasive stigma associated with gynaecological and urogynaecological health, a lack of education and ‘medical misogyny’ has contributed to poor awareness of women's health conditions,' a new report from the WEC found. Regrettably, this doesn't come as a suprise for many women.

It is not uncommon for some to go undiagnosed for many years, including having access to treatment, meaning that many girls and women have no choice but to get on with it, enduring the pain and associated symptoms that have such a big impact on daily life, all while their conditions become worse.

More often than not, daily life is also affected which has a knock-on effect on numerous aspects of life, such as relationships, career opportunities, social lives and also fertility. As a result, many are turning to private healthcare which can be expensive.  

The report uncovers the various reasons why this medical bias is happening: 

"A clear lack of awareness and understanding of women's reproductive health conditions among primary healthcare practitioners": 

Women’s symptoms are often dismissed and that they are too young to be suffering from health conditions, or too old for treatment. This is leading to multiple GP visits, with many ending up in A&E. It is vital that the NHS puts training programmes in place to improve the diagnosis of reproductive health problems and the treatment experiences, plus early diagnosis and follow-up appointmentsW.

Women having little knowledge or access to trustworthy sources: 

There is also a lack of education surrounding reproductive health conditions, as girls are leaving school, not knowing what a ‘normal’ period is, including symptoms of various conditions. It is important that teachers receive the training to deliver effective education early on in secondary school.  

The report also states that many women and girls, the report cautioned, are using online spaces to seek help. The findings push for the NHS and trusted sources to become a first port-of-call to prevent misinformation and that the NHS website, app and social media presence must be comprehensive, accessible, inclusive, and highly-visible.

Women's health procedures are uncomfortable and women don't feel supported: 

Many women's health investigations are unpleasant and painful, with people not being told about the potential pain, feeling they cannot stop procedures and not having access to pain relief - which goes against medical guidelines and best practice protocols. 

The report also uncovers the issues caused by ‘period poverty’, as women still struggle to access period products, especially for heavy bleeding. Period poverty is widespread, with a poll in May 2023 by the charity ActionAid showing that the rate of women in the UK unable to afford period products had risen from 12% to 21% in just one year.  

On the findings, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and Labour MP Sarah Owen said: “Our inquiry has shown misogyny in medicine is leaving women in pain and their conditions undiagnosed. Women are finding their symptoms dismissed, are waiting years for life changing treatment and in too many cases are being put through trauma-inducing procedures. All the while, their conditions worsen and become more complicated to treat."

"The Committee calls on the Government to recognise the financial benefits of increased investment in early diagnosis and treatment of women's reproductive health conditions and provide the additional funding necessary to truly transform the support available to the millions of women affected by reproductive ill health in this country."

You can read more about the report here.