For years, women have fought for the right to vote, receive equal pay and have a credit card without their husband’s approval. But it seems there is still a long way to go for true equality.
One of those areas of unequal treatment is the doctor’s office. Women are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed.
There’s a gender bias in medicine
For years, most medical research focused on men, excluding women entirely. It was previously assumed that a man’s physiology could serve as a template for all genders. In actuality, it ignored the fact that men and women can experience the same disease differently in both symptoms and treatment.
Furthermore, women’s symptoms are often minimized to stress or hormonal issues. Some common examples where women’s medical conditions were overlooked include:
Heart disease
It’s the leading cause of death for women, yet many women aren’t diagnosed in time to receive treatment. A woman’s symptoms are different from a man who experiences chest pain extending to the left arm. Their signs may include:
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Jaw pain
- Extreme fatigue
The public and many medical professionals fail to understand these differences, leading to worse outcomes for women.
Autoimmune disorders
Women account for approximately 78% of autoimmune cases. Still, it can take years to get an accurate diagnosis due to the symptoms being vague and fluctuating, including digestive issues, joint pain and fatigue. These are often dismissed as being stress-related, leaving the women to live in pain and discomfort.
Endometriosis
For years, it was assumed that women with pelvic pain were experiencing heavy menstrual cycles. However, 1 in 10 women of reproductive age have endometriosis, a painful condition where tissue similar to the uterus lining grows outside it. Even with this knowledge, it can still take an average of 4 to 11 years to receive a diagnosis.
The problem of misdiagnosis is much worse for women of color.
Physicians have a duty of care for their patients. This includes continuing education to stay informed of women’s health issues. Failure to do so could be considered a breach of duty.
Healthcare should serve everyone and be free from bias. If your doctor failed to diagnose your condition, you may want to speak with a legal representative about a medical malpractice lawsuit.