Did you know that women and people with vaginas were not required to be included in U.S. clinical research until June 10th, 1993?
Pour a glass of wine while that sinks in.
Many of the studies forming the foundation of modern medicine were conducted decades before 1993 which means that most of what is considered “standard of care” in medicine was built primarily on male physiology.
To this day, women are diagnosed an average of four years later than men across hundreds of diseases. Women are more likely to die from heart attacks. More likely to experience adverse drug reactions. More likely to have their pain dismissed or minimized.
This phenomenon is referred to as the Gender Health Gap.
The Gender Health Gap encompasses disparities in healthcare access and outcomes between genders. These differences are underpinned by a complex interplay of biological, social and environmental factors. Essentially there are holes in clinical research, education, diagnosis and treatment that need to be filled.
When we don’t study something, we don’t understand it well.
When we don’t understand it well, we miss things.
And when we miss things, patients suffer.
Here are just a few realities that illustrate how deep these gaps go:
Only 1% of global healthcare research and innovation is invested in female specific conditions beyond cancer (1).
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., yet only one-third of clinical trial participants are women (2).
Women presenting with heart attack symptoms are more likely to be told they are stressed or anxious than to receive a full cardiovascular workup (3).
PCOS is one of the most common hormonal conditions in women of reproductive age, yet up to 70% of cases go undiagnosed. And among 112 internal medicine residency programs studied, nearly 40% did not include PCOS in their curriculum (4).
If this makes you frustrated, you’re not alone.
If this validates something you’ve experienced in your healthcare journey, I see you.
If this ignites something in you, good! Let’s go.
At Back to Balance, closing the Gender Health Gap is a clinical commitment. Symptoms are not brushed aside, they are explored. If you are tired of feeling dismissed and you are ready for personalized care and a doc who stands firmly in your court, I invite you to schedule a 15-minute discovery call with me or Dr. Back.
Warmly,
Dr. Bowen
1) “Unlocking Opportunities in Women’s Healthcare.” McKinsey & Company. 2022.
2) “The WHAM Report: The Case to Fund Women’s Health Research.” Women’s Health Access Matters. 2021
3) Lichtman, Judith H et al. “Sex Differences in the Presentation and Perception of Symptoms Among Young Patients with Myocardial Infarcation: Evidence from the VIRGO Study (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients).” Circulation. 2018. PMID: 29459463
4) Cases, Rachel S et al. “Program Directors’ Perceptions of Resident Education in Women’s Health: A National Survey.” Journal of women’s health. 2017. PMID: 27505148.