Medical misogyny: The cost of ignoring women’s health

Women’s bodies have been treated as medical mysteries, not because they are complex, but because they have been excluded. From research funding to clinical trials, a gender data gap runs deep through modern medicine, shaping who gets believed, who gets diagnosed, and who gets left behind.

Less than 2.5% of medical research funding goes to women’s reproductive health – despite women and girls making up more than  half the world’s population ¹ .

This imbalance is not an accident; it reflects a pattern of medical misogyny,  a system that undervalues, underfunds, and misunderstands women’s health.

The consequences are devastating. Women are being dismissed, misdiagnosed, or left in pain for years before receiving answers. Many turn to online communities for help after being told by doctors that their symptoms are “normal”, that they are “making a fuss about nothing”.  For people with endometriosis, the average diagnosis time is nearly nine years. Nine years of pain, endless appointments, and disbelief.

Importantly, medical misogyny is also an intersectional issue. Certain groups of women and girls face even greater barriers to care. For example, women from South Asian backgrounds are thought to have a higher risk of developing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), yet research and information remain limited. Women who are immigrants or whose first language is not  English often face additional exclusion and communication barriers when accessing care. Factors such as ethnicity, income, disability, and immigration status all influence how women experience the healthcare system and who essentially is heard.

These inequities ripple far beyond the clinic. They impact women’s education, careers, and economic security. Chronic pain, fatigue, and untreated conditions can limit women’s ability to work or study, while also taking a toll on mental health and fertility. Research by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists found that over 76% of women waiting for gynaecological care in the UK suffered deteriorating mental health. Some women reported having to quit their jobs due to severe mental health issues and experiencing chronic pain.

But these aren’t just personal losses ; they’re also economic ones. A healthcare system that fails women also weakens the economy. Research illustrates that women with severe period pain miss an average of 18 workdays per year. Those with heavy periods lose 11 days, and Women with severe period pain linked to conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids (secondary dysmenorrhea) lose around 16 workdays each year. The cost of this absenteeism is staggering: an estimated £3.7 billion a year from severe period pain, £4.7 billion from heavy periods, and £2.2 billion from secondary dysmenorrhea. These figures expose a truth that’s often ignored: sexism in healthcare is also an economic issue. When women’s pain is dismissed, their productivity, potential, and participation in society are diminished.

Gender bias in medicine isn’t just a health gap; it’s an equality gap that touches every corner of the economy.

Addressing it requires more than empathy; it requires investment. Research that reflects women’s bodies, education that equips clinicians to recognise gendered symptoms, and policy that centres women’s health as a public and economic priority.

Ending medical misogyny means closing the gender health gap, not only because it’s fair, but because it’s essential. A system that listens to women, funds their health, and values their wellbeing is one that benefits society as a whole. It’s time we stop calling women’s health a “niche issue”.

Parisa Karamlou is a Donor Outreach and Fundraising Volunteer at White Ribbon Alliance UK. She holds a Master of Global Affairs from the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Her research explores human rights, gender equality, and global development, with a focus on the intersection of policy and social justice.

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The views and opinions expressed in this blogpost are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy position of the Women’s Budget Group.