Why is Women's Health Research SO BEHIND?

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Women continue to have worse health outcomes than their male counterparts, and the healthcare system is partly responsible.

Why is Women’s Health Research So Behind Men’s?

According to the KFF Women's Health survey, nearly 50% of women have reported that they have had a negative interaction or experience with a healthcare provider. My own experience as a woman of color reflects that as well. The doctor's office has never been a place I've felt seen or heard. I have always felt like a number on paper to the staff, rather than a person. Visits always feel rushed and cold. Doctors and therapists I have encountered are quick to write a script but slow to discuss the root causes of the ailments, so I can actually heal. Some have even gone as far as minimizing my symptoms and experiences.

In addition to this, women’s health has historically been under-researched compared to men’s, creating significant gaps in medical understanding, diagnosis, and treatment. This imbalance stems from a long history of science being male-centered. For decades, the “standard” human in medical research was male—both in human studies and in animal testing. Women were often excluded from clinical trials due to concerns about hormonal fluctuations, menstrual cycles, or potential pregnancy risks, which researchers viewed as “complicating variables.” As a result, much of modern medicine was built on data that doesn’t accurately reflect women’s biology.

This bias has led to serious consequences. Many diseases present differently in women—such as heart attacks, autoimmune disorders, and ADHD—yet symptoms are often misdiagnosed or dismissed. Medications developed primarily on male subjects can also produce different side effects or effectiveness in women due to hormonal and metabolic differences.

Cultural and institutional factors have deepened the divide. Historically, women’s pain and health concerns have been minimized or attributed to emotional causes, contributing to delayed diagnoses and inadequate care. Moreover, research funding has often prioritized male-dominated health issues, leaving conditions like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and menopause underfunded and misunderstood.

In recent years, there’s been growing recognition of these disparities. Advocates and scientists are pushing for gender-inclusive research that studies women in all their diversity.

Can you imagine neglecting to research 50% of the population, but thinking you are doing all we can for the health of our society? Bridging this gap isn’t just about fairness—it’s essential for advancing science, improving outcomes, and ensuring that all people receive accurate, evidence-based healthcare. Let me know your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

Best in Health,

Coach Nai

References:

Kaiser Family Foundation. (2022). KFF women’s health survey: Experiences with health care. https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/

Mazure, C. M., & Jones, D. P. (2015). Twenty years and still counting: Including women as participants and studying sex and gender in biomedical research. BMC Women’s Health, 15, 94. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-015-0251-9

National Institutes of Health. (2016). NIH policy on sex as a biological variable. https://orwh.od.nih.gov/sex-gender/nih-policy-sex-biological-variable

Holdcroft, A. (2007). Gender bias in research: How does it affect evidence-based medicine? Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 100(1), 2–3. https://doi.org/10.1177/014107680710000102

Pinn, V. W. (2003). Sex and gender factors in medical studies: Implications for health and clinical practice. JAMA, 289(4), 397–400. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.289.4.397

Regitz-Zagrosek, V. (2012). Sex and gender differences in health: Science & society series on sex and science. EMBO Reports, 13(7), 596–603. https://doi.org/10.1038/embor.2012.87

Institute of Medicine. (2001). Exploring the biological contributions to human health: Does sex matter? National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/10028

U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2015). NIH has improved its inclusion of women in research, but challenges remain. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-16-13

Mirin, A. A. (2021). Gender disparity in the funding of diseases by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Journal of Women’s Health, 30(7), 956–963. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2020.8682

Hoffmann, D. E., & Tarzian, A. J. (2001). The girl who cried pain: A bias against women in the treatment of pain. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 29(1), 13–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-720X.2001.tb00037.x