Why Women’s Health Matters: Addressing the Research and Policy Divide

Although modern medicine is praised as one of the most innovative industries in the world, it does have a few glaring blind spots. Women’s health research faces a wealth of challenges that have become a systemic issue affecting global health outcomes, workforce equality and quality of life for women. These gender disparities in healthcare research require immediate attention and reform to move the spotlight away from a prioritised male physiology to bridge the divide. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at why women’s health matters and how addressing the research and policy divide could help.

The Issue: The Gender Gap in Research and Policy

The gender gap in medical research and policy is a longstanding issue that has severely impacted the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of women's health conditions. Historically, the vast majority of medical research has skewed towards male subjects, under the misguided belief that findings could be universally applied. This ignored fundamental biological and psychosocial differences between genders, creating a gender bias in healthcare. This bias has led to disturbing women’s health disparities, resulting in less effective healthcare outcomes for women.

Less Funding for Female Medical Research

The gender gap in medical research has created some big gaps in knowledge about women’s health. Diseases predominantly affecting women, such as autoimmune diseases, which are statistically more likely to affect women., receive disproportionately lower funding compared to diseases with a more balanced gender distribution. This not only stymies potential advances in treating these conditions but also perpetuates a cycle where women’s health is perennially undervalued in the medical and scientific communities.

Issues with Mental Health and Public Policy

This gender disparity in healthcare is also evident in mental health research. Conditions like depression and anxiety, which are statistically more prevalent in women, are often under-researched from a gender-specific perspective. This ultimately leads to less effective treatment approaches that fail to take into account gender-specific factors such as hormonal fluctuations, which can influence the manifestation of symptoms and the efficacy of medication. Public health policies often fail to address or even consider women’s specific health needs adequately. Health policies that overlook significant factors such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause can have detrimental effects on the implementation of programs and services intended to benefit women. This oversight can lead to gaps in healthcare services that fail to support women at critical times in their lives, further exacerbating health disparities.

The Impact: Real-World Consequences for Women

The gender gap in healthcare research and policy manifests in several detrimental ways that impact women's health outcomes. The lack of tailored healthcare research and gender-specific medical guidelines has real-world consequences that stretch far beyond the clinical environment. These issues risk influencing every aspect of women's lives, from their health and well-being to their professional lives and economic stability.

Delayed Diagnoses and Misdiagnosis

One of the most direct impacts of this disparity is the frequency of delayed diagnoses and misdiagnosis among women. Since much of the medical knowledge base is derived from studies predominantly focused on male subjects, symptoms that present differently in women are often misunderstood or overlooked. For example, heart attacks in women often have different symptoms than those in men, including nausea, dizziness, and fatigue, which can lead to misdiagnosis or dismissal of serious conditions. Conditions like autoimmune diseases, which predominantly affect women, often take years to diagnose due to a lack of specific research and awareness among healthcare providers about how these conditions manifest uniquely in women.

Inadequate Treatment and Care

The consequences of misdiagnosis are compounded by the inadequacy of treatment options available for women. Treatments derived from research conducted mainly on male subjects may not be as effective for women, leading to poorer health outcomes. For instance, the standard dosages for some medications do not account for differences in body composition and metabolism between genders, which can affect drug efficacy and side effects in women. This oversight can lead to a trial-and-error approach to managing women's health conditions, which not only prolongs suffering but also increases healthcare costs for women.

Mental Health and Quality of Life

The lack of gender-specific research has significant implications for women's mental health as well. Conditions like depression and anxiety are more prevalent among women, and the efficacy of psychological therapies and medications can vary significantly based on gender. Without research that accounts for these differences, women are often left with less effective mental health care, impacting their overall quality of life.

Economic and Professional Impact

The health disparities experienced by women also have profound economic and professional implications. Women suffering from chronic, misdiagnosed, or inadequately treated conditions are more likely to experience frequent absences from work, reduced productivity, and even premature retirement. The economic burden of medical expenses combined with lost earnings can lead to significant financial instability for women. This economic impact extends beyond the individual to affect families and communities, reinforcing the gender gap in economic well-being and professional opportunities.

The Advocates: Women Driving Change

Standing up to this huge bias in healthcare is no easy feat, but there are people in the industry making a difference. Of those, many pioneering women in medicine are providing exceptional care while spearheading reforms to bridge the gender gap in medical research and policy. These advocates come from diverse backgrounds in healthcare, including physicians, researchers, and policymakers, and their efforts are key to shaping a more equitable healthcare system.

Leaders in Research and Medicine

Although it is the work of many that will inevitably find balance in the gender gap in healthcare, including initiatives such as Global Health 50/50, there are a few notable female healthcare professionals to discuss. Professor Dame Lesley Regan has dedicated her career to addressing women's health disparities. As one of the first women to hold a professorship in obstetrics and gynaecology in the UK, her career has been marked by her commitment to improving healthcare services for women and research into conditions like endometriosis.

Policymaking and Institutional Change

Beyond individual medical professionals, women in policymaking roles are also instrumental in driving systemic change. Dr. Sue Mann serves as a National Clinical Director at the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), where she develops strategies to incorporate equity in healthcare practices and policy-making. Her leadership extends to addressing the social determinants of health, ensuring that policies change not just medical practice but also the broader environmental factors affecting women's health.

Grassroots Movements and Community Health

At the grassroots level, women are leading community health initiatives that directly address the needs of local women. These leaders often work in under-resourced areas, providing essential services while advocating for larger systemic change. Their efforts are core to bringing attention to specific health issues prevalent in their communities, such as maternal mortality and access to reproductive health services, which are often neglected in broader health policies.

The Way Forward: Accelerating Action for Equity

To address these systemic issues in women’s healthcare, collaboration will be a big part of progress. This includes the active participation of diverse stakeholders, from healthcare providers and researchers to policymakers and patient advocates. Key initiatives could involve increasing funding for women-specific health research, incorporating gender as a major factor in medical training, and advocating for policies that ensure healthcare equity. Organisations such as Women in Global Health and research institutions like the Office of Research for Women’s Health are already making strides by amplifying the voices of women in healthcare, advocating for systemic changes, and promoting gender equity in health leadership and decision-making.

A Difficult Road Ahead for Women’s Healthcare

The road to equitable healthcare is long and fraught with challenges that directly affect women every day. However, by acknowledging and addressing these gaps and supporting the women leading the charge for change, society can ensure a healthier future for all. With the right outlook, we can improve healthcare outcomes for women and also advance the overall effectiveness of the healthcare system, creating a ripple effect that benefits everyone.

At Globe Locums, we recognise the need for greater equity in healthcare and are proud to support women in medicine and healthcare leadership. Whether you’re a healthcare professional looking for new opportunities or an organisation seeking skilled locum staff, we’re here to help.