'Medical misogyny' means women are living with debilitating pain
Medical misogyny means that women living with debilitating female health conditions, like endometriosis, adenomyosis and heavy menstrual bleeding, are routinely having their pain dismissed and symptoms normalised, a damning new report by the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has found.
The cross-party Commons select committee stated that due to lengthy gynaecological waiting lists – which have grown more than any other medical speciality, post-pandemic – many are turning to hugely expensive private healthcare.
Thanks to grim realities, including that accessing diagnosis and treatment can take years, women and girls are being left to 'suck it up,' suffering pain that gets in the way of their education, careers and relationships, as well as harming their fertility.
What is medical misogyny?
Partly to blame is stigma around gynaecological conditions, meaning a lack of education, treatment options, specialists and research, which all tie into the broader banner of 'medical misogyny.'
Inadequate gynaecological care also captured in the report includes cervical screenings, IUD fittings and hysteroscopies.
There is a 'clear lack of awareness and understanding of women's reproductive health conditions among primary healthcare practitioners,' the report went on. It calls on the NHS to 'urgently' implement a training programme to improve women and girls' experience of getting treatment and diagnosis in a timely manner.
Improving the time to diagnosis – according to charity Endometriosis UK, the average wait time for an endometriosis diagnosis is 7.5 years – as well as follow-up appointments must be a priority, to avoid symptoms getting even worse is also necessary. Such conditions are, sadly, common. One in 10 women is thought to have endometriosis; one in 10 has adenomyosis and around one in three will develop fibroids.
More government funding must be allocated for research into women's reproductive health conditions. Women's Health Hubs, the roll-out of which was promised by the previous government, must have long-term, ring-fenced funding, the report said.
A call for urgent change
Of the report, committee chair 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.
'Up to one in three women live with heavy menstrual bleeding, one in ten have a condition such as endometriosis or adenomyosis. It cannot be right that despite the prevalence of these conditions, that such a lack of understanding and awareness persists.
'WEC heard compelling testimonies during the inquiry from high-profile women including Naga Munchetty and Vicky Pattison [who recently opened up about her struggle with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)] about their experiences over years in seeking effective help. This issue is impacting so many women across the country, from their teens through to their retirement.
'This report must act as a wake-up call and the NHS must urgently implement a training programme to improve the experience of treatment and diagnosis of reproductive health conditions.'
What does NHS England say?
Speaking to the Guardian, an NHS England spokesperson said:
'Too often in the NHS we hear of women whose health concerns have been dismissed, which is why we are taking action to improve services for women, including rolling out women’s health hubs across the country.
'The hubs are giving thousands more women access to specialist support in the community which not only improves access and women’s experiences of care, but also helps to upskill healthcare professionals with a full range of staff working in one place.
'The NHS is also developing a network of women’s health champions made up of senior leaders in every local care system to drive forward improvements in women’s health.'
More in female health:
‘Women's pain is readily dismissed. It's no wonder a lot of us are exploring alternative health’
Meet the women using medical cannabis for endometriosis pain
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