Breaking down the gender health gap
द्वारा सहकर्मी समीक्षा की गई Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGPद्वारा लिखित
मरीज की संपादकीय दिशानिर्देशों
- डाउनलोडडाउनलोड
- साझा करें
- Language
- चर्चा
- ऑडियो संस्करण
- Google पर पसंदीदा स्रोतों में जोड़ें
मुख्य सामग्री पर जाएंमूल रूप से प्रकाशित 28 Feb 2025
The gender health gap is a term some of you may know well, while others might have only come across it in passing. You may have never heard of it at all. While awareness of this issue varies, it's a critically important topic that impacts women's health in ways that demand our full attention. This gap represents a serious form of gender inequality in healthcare.
इस लेख में:
के लिए वीडियो चयन General women's health
नीचे पढ़ना जारी रखें
What is the gender health gap?
The gender health gap refers to long-term differences in how healthcare is provided to and experienced by women compared to men. It's caused by a historical underrepresentation of women in medical research and bias in healthcare. As a result, women face poorer health outcomes, less access to appropriate care, and lower-quality medical treatment.
According to Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan, Physician in Sexual Health and HIV Medicine, London, UK, this medical gender gap can also affect transgender and non-binary people due to institutional transphobia and discrimination.
Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan
"Disparities are seen in a number of health conditions such as pain management, heart disease and mental health," says the author of UNHEARD: The Medical Practice of Silencing. "There is also a lack of knowledge and services for conditions that affect mostly women such as endometriosis and menopause."
How the gender health gap affects women's health and quality of life
सामग्री पर वापस जाएंThe women's health gap has a severe impact on your physical and mental health and overall quality of life.
Dhairyawan explains this is often due to delayed investigations, medical diagnosis and treatment. She adds that some conditions that affect women more frequently are often misdiagnosed or overlooked.
These can include:
Autoimmune diseases - such as lupus.
Conditions that share symptoms of fatigue and pain - such as fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
"These gaps may also affect your economic status if you're unable to work due to illness," she says. "Your close relationships - especially with family - may too be impacted."
Dhairyawan adds that while women may live longer than men, they spend a greater portion of their lives in poor health.
Breaking down the gender health gap
Audio production: Victoria Raw
Visuals: Ben Hudson
नीचे पढ़ना जारी रखें
The underrepresentation of women in research
सामग्री पर वापस जाएंMedical research has traditionally focused on men, leaving gaps in our understanding of women's bodies and how they respond to diseases and treatment.
"Women have been historically excluded from drug trials if they may be pregnant or are breastfeeding," says Dhairyawan. "This means that we have little safety data when it comes to using medicines in the perinatal period - leading to possible undertreatment."
The challenges women face in accessing healthcare
सामग्री पर वापस जाएंPersistent gender inequality in healthcare prevents many women from accessing the care they need.
Dhairyawan highlights a major issue - that women are more likely than men to report feeling unheard, dismissed, or disbelieved by their doctors.
She says additional challenges may include:
Lack of time and resources to attend healthcare services.
Caring responsibilities.
Domestic abuse.
Limited understanding of how to access healthcare.
Social stigma or cultural taboos.
Poor healthcare experiences due to gender bias.
Shortage of female doctors.
Restrictive laws and policies.
"As well as sexism, certain women may experience further inequalities," Dhairyawan explains. "This may be due to poverty, class, ethnicity, religion, ability, and sexual orientation."
नीचे पढ़ना जारी रखें
The long-term effects of the gender health gap
सामग्री पर वापस जाएंYou might think the gender health gap only affects women. However, its effects are widespread and impact everyone.
Dhairyawan warns: "The gender gap has huge impacts on society due to the economic cost of women being unwell and unable to work - and to their families and partners.
"It’s therefore urgent for all of us that it is addressed."
Dhairyawan adds that while initiatives such as the Women’s Health Strategy in England recognise that women have different needs at various stages of life, there's still much more to be done to close the gender health gap.
She recommends the following as starting points:
Better education on women's health for healthcare professionals.
Investment into specific services such as women's health hubs - focusing on sexual and reproductive health.
Policies to ensure sex and gender are monitored in research studies.
The recruitment of more women in healthcare positions.
Increased funding for conditions that mostly affect women.
What you can do to help
सामग्री पर वापस जाएंThe gender health gap is not an issue created by women. Neither should it be our responsibility to bridge the disparities we've faced due to systemic inequalities. It’s a societal issue that requires collective action to address and correct.
Dhairyawan suggests that, despite these challenges, women can become a collective and powerful force for change by uniting their voices as patient groups or organisations.
How to get fairer treatment
Dhairyawan recommends the following takeaway tips to ensure fair and equal healthcare treatment:
Thoroughly prepare for your healthcare appointment.
Educate yourself about your condition.
Consider bringing a friend for support.
Know how to ask for a second opinion.
Understand how to voice a complaint if necessary.
रोगी के लिए चयन General women's health
महिलाओं का स्वास्थ्य
श्रोणि दर्द: सामान्य कारणों के लिए महिलाओं की मार्गदर्शिका
आपके श्रोणि क्षेत्र में अचानक, चुभने वाला दर्द विभिन्न स्वास्थ्य स्थितियों का लक्षण हो सकता है, विशेष रूप से महिलाओं में। अधिकांश मामलों में श्रोणि दर्द आमतौर पर चिंता की बात नहीं होती। हालांकि, संभावित कारणों को समझने से आपको मानसिक शांति मिल सकती है और यह जानने में मदद मिल सकती है कि डॉक्टर के पास कब जाना चाहिए।.
विक्टोरिया रॉ द्वारा
महिलाओं का स्वास्थ्य
Should vaginal mesh surgery be banned?
When Kath Sansom first went to her GP, worried about incontinence, she was a fit and active mother of two teenage daughters who, like many women of a certain age, had started to experience embarrassing leaks during exercise. "I was referred to a consultant, and the vaginal mesh operation was very much sold to me as a quick and simple fix. I was told I'd be a day case, out in 20 minutes, home in time for tea, and back at my desk in a week," she explains. In reality though, Sansom says she came out in so much pain she could hardly walk - and she's not the only one.
सारा ग्राहम द्वारा
नीचे पढ़ना जारी रखें
लेखक के बारे मेंपूरा जीवन परिचय देखें
Victoria Raw
विशेष लेखक
BA (Hons), English Literature
Victoria is a content writer with Patient whose special interests focus on mental wellbeing, societal trends and the impact of technology on our health.
समीक्षक के बारे मेंपूरा जीवन परिचय देखें
Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGP
स्वास्थ्य के लिए मुख्य चिकित्सा अधिकारी, ऑप्टम यूके
MBChB, MRCGP(2013), BMedSci (hons), DFSRH, DRCOG, PGDipDerm (Distn)
डॉ. कृष्णा वखारिया एक एनएचएस जीपी हैं। वह कार्डिफ विश्वविद्यालय में प्रैक्टिकल डर्मेटोलॉजी में स्नातकोत्तर डिप्लोमा के लिए नियमित परीक्षक भी हैं और साथ ही ऑप्टम यूके में स्वास्थ्य के लिए मुख्य चिकित्सा अधिकारी भी हैं।.
लेख का इतिहास
इस पृष्ठ की जानकारी योग्य चिकित्सकों द्वारा सहकर्मी समीक्षा की गई है।.
Next review due: 28 Feb 2028
28 Feb 2025 | मूल रूप से प्रकाशित
द्वारा लिखित:
Victoria Rawद्वारा सहकर्मी समीक्षा की गई
Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGP
पूछें, साझा करें, जुड़ें।.
चर्चाओं को ब्राउज़ करें, प्रश्न पूछें, और सैकड़ों स्वास्थ्य विषयों पर अनुभव साझा करें।.
अस्वस्थ महसूस कर रहे हैं?
अपने लक्षणों का ऑनलाइन मुफ्त में मूल्यांकन करें
पेशेंट न्यूज़लेटर के लिए साइन अप करें
आपकी साप्ताहिक खुराक स्पष्ट, विश्वसनीय स्वास्थ्य सलाह की - जो आपको सूचित, आत्मविश्वासी और नियंत्रण में महसूस करने में मदद करने के लिए लिखी गई है।.
सदस्यता लेने पर आप हमारी स्वीकार करते हैं गोपनीयता नीति. आप किसी भी समय सदस्यता समाप्त कर सकते हैं। हम कभी भी आपका डेटा नहीं बेचते।.