In an ideal world, every individual would receive the same quality of healthcare. In reality, that’s not always the case – even in the UK. Here, we have a significant “women’s health gap” (also called the “gender health gap”). This refers to the gap between the level of care received by female and male patients, and it shows that women do not always receive fair access or achieve the same health outcomes as men.
The UK women’s health gap is the largest in the G20 (the group of countries with the strongest economies) and the twelfth largest globally. This points to historical inadequacies such as underrepresentation of women in medical research and barriers in women’s education, which has led to modern biases, continued underrepresentation, and underfunding.
Dr. Bhushan Mokoonlall, Consultant Gynaecologist at The Gynae Centre, explains, “It will take many years for the women’s health gap in the UK to close, even if sustainable changes are implemented. However, we can see that it is slowly improving, with recent changes to legislation such as the abortion pills by post scheme becoming permanent, and virginity testing being made illegal.
“There are also things that you can do as an individual to ensure that you get the help you need, such as conducting your own research into preventative measures, attending regular health checkups and routine investigations such as smear tests, and seeking specialist help in areas where public health services lack, such as gynaecology.”
In this article, we explore the history behind the health gap, what is causing healthcare to remain disparate between the genders today, and how to ensure quality care as an individual.
The history behind the women’s health gap
It is no secret that women’s health has been disregarded and deprioritised throughout modern history. Although the root of this inequality is difficult to trace, historic evidence includes the near 20-year ban of women “of childbearing potential” from early phase clinical trials according to a 2016 article in Pharmacy Practice; the limited access to female bodies for dissection in the centuries before the Anatomy Act of 1832 due to cultural and religious taboos; and even the use of exclusively male rodents in drug trials.
The absence of women in medical research has had, and continues to have, drastic consequences for women receiving medical treatment. This is because male and female bodies react to treatments, such as medications, differently, and this puts women at a disadvantage, particularly when understanding the scope of efficacy and adverse effects.
However, it is not just in medical research where women are overlooked. It has been common throughout recent history for female patients to experience longer wait times in clinics, have their symptoms (particularly pain) dismissed, and be misdiagnosed. A 2008 study in Academic Emergency Medicine found that women with abdominal pain waited in A&E for, on average, 16 minutes longer than men, and were less likely to be given painkillers. Meanwhile, research conducted by Oxford University in 2019 found that women were 13% less likely to be prescribed life-saving medications, such as statins, following a heart attack.
Reasons for the women’s health gap in the UK today
While the disparity between the quality of men’s and women’s healthcare in the UK has vastly improved over the past half century, there is still much room for improvement.
This rings especially true following the COVID-19 pandemic, where gynaecology was one of the worst impacted specialisms, according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ (RCOG) report, Left For Too Long. The report highlighted that gynaecology waiting lists increased significantly across the UK between 2020 to 2021/22, by as much as 95%. It also revealed that, due to low hospital bed capacity paired with the de-prioritisation of elective gynaecology, surgical activity in gynaecology is commonly amongst the first to be reduced when beds are full.
So, why do these inadequacies still exist today? Here are a few reasons:
- Gender bias – unconscious biases and stereotypes about women’s health can lead healthcare providers to dismiss their symptoms, attribute them to psychological factors or prescribe less aggressive treatment compared to men with similar conditions.
- Lack of knowledge – as aforementioned, medical research has focused more on men’s health in the past, leading to gaps in current knowledge of specific women’s health conditions, including common gynaecological issues. This can result in misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.
- Communication styles – women and men communicate their symptoms differently. Women may be more likely to downplay their symptoms or express them in a different way to men, which can be misinterpreted by healthcare providers.
- Social and economic factors – women often face greater financial insecurity, caregiving responsibilities and societal pressures that can impact their health and their ability to access healthcare.
- Poor promotion of preventative healthcare – national healthcare in the UK continues to centre largely on intervention rather than prevention, and misses opportunities to educate young women on preventative care.
What does this mean for the future of women’s health in the UK?
In 2022, the Department of Health & Social Care published their Women’s Health Strategy for England, which details their plans to improve healthcare for women and girls over the next 10 years. Their aims include:
- To ensure women feel listened to by health and care staff, and that their concerns are taken seriously
- Improving female health empowerment through education
- Dismantling taboos and embarrassment when discussing women’s health issues
- Boosting the knowledge of women’s health issues for health and care staff
- Including women in medical research, and conducting more research about women’s health
In particular, they plan to target period health, pregnancy, menopause, mental health, cancers and healthy ageing.
What this means for you
This plan encourages a positive outlook for the future of women’s health in the UK, one where shorter wait times, better support and more innovative treatments are available to women and girls across the nation. However, 10 years is a long time to wait, and you may be wondering how you can ensure a higher quality of healthcare for yourself in the meantime.
Here are three practical things you can do now:
- Advocate for yourself: If you feel that you are not being listened to by your healthcare provider, don’t just leave the appointment. It is easy to feel like you’re being a burden or ‘difficult’, but remember that healthcare professionals are here to care for you, their patient. Put across your points firmly, and if you still feel unheard, ask to be seen by another member of staff.
- Be prepared: Do you leave appointments having forgotten to mention certain concerns? Next time, before your appointment, write down everything you need to tell your healthcare provider, and make sure that these are addressed.
- See a private specialist: If you have an issue relating to a specific area of medicine, such as gynaecology, you don’t have to wait for your GP to refer you. By going private, you can benefit from little-to-no wait times for appointments, longer consultations, highly personalised treatment, and more.
Book a consultation with a private gynaecologist
The Gynae Centre offers appointments at times that suit you, with experienced gynaecologists in our West London clinic. Our discreet, friendly team will handle your enquiry with care when you call us on 020 7580 8090, or alternatively, you can book online.
