Medical professionals seemingly underestimating the severity of the situation
Gendered Healthcare: A Persistent Issue
Berlin (dpa/tmn) - It's the doctor's office, nerves frayed from the pain. But what if the physician brushes off your symptoms instead of offering help? For many, especially women, such experiences are all too common, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by Doctolib.
The Minimized Woman
From inappropriate comments to questionable diagnoses, 31% of women surveyed say they've faced gender-related negativity in medical settings. Men, on the other hand, report a significantly lower proportion (10%).
What women seem to encounter more frequently than men is their symptoms being dismissed as psychosomatic – what doctors perceive as psychologically driven illnesses rather than physiological—which isn't always accurate. Over half (44%) of women reported receiving this pronouncement at least once. In contrast, men account for only 28% of these cases.
Delayed Care, Unattended Pain
Downplayed symptoms can mean delayed treatment, and that's what 57% of women confirm they've experienced. Men, on the other hand, report a slightly lower proportion of 45%.
Women are statistically more likely (39 vs. 23%) to avoid seeking help due to a fear of being dismissed, leading to endured pain rather than seeking medical attention.
But what can you do if you're in this situation? Here's some advice from "Apotheken Umschau":
- Address your feelings and question the reasoning behind your diagnosis without a thorough examination.
- Seek a second opinion from another medical professional.
- Consider bringing a companion to your appointment to speak up if you need support.
The survey was conducted between May 13 and 15, 2025, with 1,037 men and women aged 18 and over being surveyed.
A closer look at the issue reveals gender bias in medical diagnoses and treatment as a wide-ranging issue affecting women globally. Here are some key points to consider:
The Prevalence of Gender Bias
Diagnosis Mistakes
- Women are 66% more likely to receive misdiagnoses than men[2], with this discrepancy being particularly notable in conditions such as heart attacks, where women are 50% more likely to be incorrectly diagnosed[4].
- Women often face delay diagnoses even for conditions unique to them, such as endometriosis and PCOS[3][5].
Root Causes
- Lack of research: Excluding women from clinical studies results in a lack of understanding of women's health, leading to suboptimal care[1][5].
- Stereotypical thinking: Physicians may disregard symptoms as psychological or attribute them to gender stereotypes instead of considering physiological differences[3].
By taking a proactive approach - seeking second opinions, advocating for themselves, documenting symptoms, educating themselves, and demanding equitable treatment - patients can help ensure they receive appropriate care and attention to their health concerns.
- In the context of gendered healthcare, mental health appears to be disproportionately affected, as 44% of women surveyed have been told their symptoms are psychosomatic, compared to only 28% of men.
- The field of women's health, specifically in areas such as mental health and health-and-wellness, requires more attention and research due to the persistent issue of misdiagnoses and delayed diagnoses that women face, as highlighted in the survey.
