Gender Health Gap

Women generally live longer than men, but they spend a larger proportion of their lives in poor health. Despite this, they receive less health monitoring and are often prescribed medications that can be harmful. These realities highlight an ongoing issue: gender-based health disparities. The UK has one of the widest gender health gaps among G20 nations, and the growing body of evidence shows that more action is needed to address this historical form of discrimination.

The lack of research into women’s health reflects societal attitudes that downplay or normalise issues like severe menstrual pain, heavy bleeding, and menopause symptoms. These conditions are often dismissed as things women should "just deal with," leading to delayed diagnoses and inadequate treatment. This neglect can result in life-threatening misdiagnoses and preventable deaths.

A study from Manchester Metropolitan University highlighted the struggles of women with endometriosis, a condition affecting 1.5 million women in the UK. The study found that many women feel dismissed by healthcare providers, a phenomenon described as ‘medical gaslighting.’ There is currently no cure, and due to a lack of open dialogue and education about menstruation and associated pain, it takes an average of seven to eight years for women to receive a diagnosis. The discrimination in women’s healthcare is compounded by additional factors such as race, class, physical ability, and geographic location. For instance, Black women in the UK are nearly four times more likely to die within six weeks of childbirth compared to white women and Asian women face nearly double the risk. Women from minority backgrounds are also underrepresented in medical research, which worsens health outcomes in these communities.

The UK government launched its Women’s Health Strategy in 2022, following an analysis of nearly 100,000 responses from women. The strategy, which seeks to reduce the gender health gap over the next decade, included £25 million in funding for women’s health hubs across England, as well as increased access to information on women’s health issues.

A £2 million investment in a randomised control trial on endometriosis and surveys on reproductive health were also part of the plan. Dame Lesley Regan, the UK’s Women’s Health Ambassador, whose post has been extended to December 2025, emphasised the importance of creating these health hubs, which will provide women with centralised care. This approach aims to streamline services and ensure women aren’t burdened by navigating complex healthcare systems on their own.

By mid-2023, progress had been made which included health hubs, a dedicated women’s health area to the NHS website, easier access to HRT and greater IVF transparency through a new tool on GOV.UK to allow people to look up information about NHS-Funded IVF treatment in their area.

The Labour Party acknowledged women’s health in its 2024 General Election manifesto, although the topic did not receive extensive attention. Its manifesto included specific commitments aimed at addressing key aspects of women’s health, such as improving patient safety in maternity care. Labour says it plans to implement improvements in Trusts that fail to provide adequate maternity care and to train thousands of midwives to reduce the mortality gap for Black and Asian mothers.

The manifesto also includes an Action Plan on public health, which addresses violence against women by targeting
violent content online through the Online Safety Act. Additionally, the party recognises that healthcare access is unequal across the country and pledges to reduce these inequalities while revitalising women’s health as part of its reform of the NHS.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has provided guidance to the government in the form of a proposed Women’s Health and Well-being Strategy, which outlines five key goals:

 

1. Women’s health across the life course: This approach recognises that women’s healthcare needs to evolve through different stages of life, from adolescence to old age. Labour must ensure that women have access to the necessary resources, education, and training at all stages, particularly during key transitions such as menopause.

2. Centring women’s voices, especially the marginalised: Labour’s strategy must prioritise listening to all women’s healthcare experiences, particularly those from historically marginalised groups. These groups often face exacerbated negative experiences, and addressing this requires deliberate effort.

3. Integration of sexual and reproductive health services: Currently, the commissioning of sexual and reproductive health services in the UK is fragmented, with services run by decentralised bodies. Labour must address this issue to provide women with more holistic care across their lives.

4. Increased investment in sexual and reproductive health: Public health spending cuts have disproportionately affected women’s health services. The new government must reverse these cuts to improve access and outcomes.

5. Supporting women’s health in the workplace: Labour’s plan must recognise that women’s health issues such as menstrual disorders, endometriosis, fertility treatments, and menopause also impact workplace participation. Creating inclusive work environments is essential for women to thrive both professionally and personally.

As efforts intensify to close the gender health gap, the government must recognise these issues and shift towards prioritising women’s health. By addressing inequalities and ensuring that women’s health is supported throughout all aspects of life, the UK can take important steps toward achieving healthcare equity for all women.


WHAT IS THE 'GENDER HEALTH GAP'?

A health gap refers to differences in healthcare access, outcomes, or disease prevalence between different groups. The gender health gap highlights the biases and inequalities women face within the healthcare system, which often result in poorer outcomes for women.

This imbalance is particularly evident in the UK, where one-third of women experience reproductive or gynaecological issues, yet only 2.5% of public health research focuses on reproductive health.

By contrast, five times more research funding is allocated to erectile dysfunction, which affects 19% of men, than to premenstrual syndrome, which affects 90% of women.

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