Did you know that diseases, treatments, and certain medications can affect women and men differently? Yet, before 1993, women were almost never included in clinical trials. Yes, health research and medical science have a long, sexist tradition of ignoring women’s healthcare. This oversight about women and illness has left us clueless about how certain treatments and reproductive or gynaecological health problems impact women. It raises the risk of harmful side effects.
The painful lack of research begins way back in the lab with mice studies. Researchers often sideline female mice because they need more care and attention due to their hormone cycle and behavioural variation. As a result, past research relied primarily on male mice. If you’re not starting with enough research on female mice, how are you going to get accurate results for women?
Women and illness: What data says
A 2011 analysis showed that male mice were used in single-sex neuroscience studies over five times more often than female mice. This lopsided approach means women are more likely to be misdiagnosed with mental and neurological conditions.
Even if the situation with mice has improved today, this long-standing medical disparity has far-reaching effects. The result? A flawed understanding of the female body, all because male mice were easier to manage.
The assumption has been that if it works for men, it’ll work for women too. Why is this a problem? Because it means sex-specific effects of illness, whether they’re negative or positive, are overlooked. This male-centric, sexist mindset assumes men are the “default” mode of existence, perpetuating a cycle of biased medical understanding.
Endometriosis and the Research Gap
Every month, millions of women endure discomfort or pain from their periods. For some, the pain is so severe it could signal endometriosis. It affects about 10% of women of reproductive age, meaning around 247 million girls and women globally, including roughly 42 million in India. Endometriosis is found in one out of every three women with infertility, 70% of those with unexplained infertility, 60% of women with chronic pelvic pain, 30% of adolescent girls with secondary dysmenorrhea, and 30% of women with adenomyosis.
Despite millions suffering from this condition, there’s been a shocking silence about it. Why don’t we talk about it? Because endometriosis only affects women, it receives less funding and less attention compared to other conditions. Apparently, that’s not enough to make it a priority. It’s like the medical community collectively decided, “If it’s not happening to men, how important can it be?”
More concerning data about women and illness
Less than 2.5% of publicly funded research looks into female reproductive health. And the situation gets worse because there’s a bigger focus on conditions, primarily ones that affect men. For instance, there is five times more research dedicated to erectile dysfunction, even though it only affects a mere 19% of men. Meanwhile, premenstrual syndrome, affecting a concerning 90% of women, remains unnoticed and overshadowed by more male-centric medical concerns.
Even when researchers do a study, it might not show the whole truth about endometriosis for everyone. A while back, there was this study claiming that tall, thin women were more prone to endometriosis. But what about shorter, heavier women? Doctors might have been more sceptical about their pain, possibly blaming their symptoms on their weight. Sure, the study might fit with diagnosed cases in thin women with endometriosis, but it does not speak for everyone dealing with the condition.
Undernourished and overlooked
Women and young girls still disproportionately suffer from malnutrition more than men. Women also suffer more from iron deficiency anaemia, with 30% of all women and 37% of pregnant women affected, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). As a result, malnutrition-related deaths are mostly among women.
According to NFHS 5, 57% of women suffer from iron and folic acid deficiency anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia among adolescent girls aged 15-19 is also concerning, with rates at 59.1% in 2019-21 compared to 54.1% in 2015-16.
Due to their larger body size, men might need more nutrients. However, this applies to only a few nutrients compared to women. Women have higher overall micronutrient needs, heavily influenced by life stages like menstruation, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause. They need more iron, folate, and calcium. Additionally, women often eat smaller portions than men, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
Women and Illness: The awareness gap
Is the general public aware of this? Unfortunately, no. This neglect reflects how overlooked women’s health is. A mother is expected to ensure her child is fed, a wife must tend to her husband’s needs, and a pregnant woman must focus on her baby’s nutrition. So why do we ignore the nutritional needs of women themselves?
The lack of proper nutrition among women is a result of poverty and unfair socio-cultural norms that restrict their control over what they eat. Sadly, women often find themselves pushed to the sidelines during meal times, left with less food and only eating once the family is satisfied. Gender norms also contribute to this inequality in food distribution within patriarchal households, putting women at a disadvantage.
For example, in emergencies when food supplies run low, women and girls are more likely to suffer from undernutrition or malnutrition compared to men and boys. Many mothers, in particular, often eat less to ensure there is enough food for their children or family. It is especially true in most countries where women handle all the cooking.
Sure, there’s no shortage of supplements out there specifically for women. But ask someone to name them, and they’ll likely only mention iron, B vitamins, and folate. What about protein, though? Many women still aren’t getting enough. Even older women, who could use more protein, end up being told to focus on calcium instead.
Autism, ADHD, Heart Attack, the List Goes on
There’s this idea of “female autism,” suggesting that autism looks different in women. But really, autism doesn’t come in gender-specific versions. So-called “female” autism is basically just autism being hidden. But doctors don’t overlook it as easily in boys. The real issue is doctors do not recognise autism in girls.
Take this example: when a boy withdraws, he’s labelled as unsocial and is showing a sign of autism. But if a girl does the same, she’s usually just called shy. It’s like there are different rules for boys and girls in the diagnosis game.
Another condition often overlooked in females is ADHD. And to top it off, there’s the age-old misdiagnosis of ADHD in women as anxiety. How convenient it is to slap the wrong label on women’s health issues, isn’t it? In 2010, boys were 133% more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls, but by 2022, that gap narrowed to 28%.
A study in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe found that women admitted with severe heart attacks were more likely to die and less likely to get statins to prevent future attacks. Also, women were 50% more likely than men to get the wrong diagnosis after a heart attack.
Women and illness: The final thoughts
Women’s health concerns are often sidelined or dismissed, perpetuating a cycle of biased medical understanding and unequal treatment. It’s evident that much of medical treatment for women, if not all, is built around the male model. Unfortunately, this often results in misdiagnoses for women. Even today, disparities persist, with male-centric research overshadowing conditions that predominantly affect women, such as endometriosis. Sure, progress is happening, but it remains slow.
Research Sources
Sex bias in neuroscience and biomedical research
6-year study finds tall, slim girls are at greater risk of endometriosis
Endometriosis and inflammatory immune responses: Indian experience
Why do we still not know what causes PMS?
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content, which we define broadly to include media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
