Is there still a gender gap in healthcare in the UK?

For decades, we have seen evidence that women are far more likely to experience delays, misdiagnosis or dismissal of their symptoms.

This is particularly true when their condition is complex, poorly understood or historically under-researched.

I believe these issues reflect a wider problem in how women’s health has been studied, prioritised and treated across the healthcare system.

What the research shows about the gender healthcare gap

According to Nurofen’s Gender Pain Gap Index Report, 81 per cent of women aged 18 to 24 reported that their pain had been dismissed or overlooked, compared with 73 per cent of men of the same age.

Many women come to us after years of seeking answers. They describe repeated GP appointments where symptoms were minimised, explained away as stress or hormones or treated without proper investigation.

By the time an accurate diagnosis is made, their condition has often progressed and the opportunity for earlier treatment has been lost.

Endometriosis is one of the clearest examples. On average, it takes close to eight years for someone with endometriosis to receive a diagnosis.

During that time, many patients live with chronic pain, fertility issues, disruption to work and daily life and growing frustration over receiving a diagnosis that does not reflect their issues.

Some are repeatedly prescribed painkillers or hormonal treatments without being referred for specialist assessment.

Which medical research is getting funding

The disparity in research funding and medical focus also tells its own story.

Cancer research consistently receives the highest share of medical research funding in the UK, accounting for nearly one-fifth of all public and charity-backed health research expenditure.

However, conditions affecting large numbers of women receive significantly less attention than conditions affecting men.

Erectile dysfunction, which impacts a minority of men (around 19 per cent), has historically attracted far more research funding than premenstrual syndrome (PMS), despite PMS affecting the vast majority (around 90 per cent) of women at some stage in their lives.

Research indicates that ED is still studied roughly five times more than PMS.

This imbalance influences everything from medical training to treatment pathways.

When conditions are under-researched, they are less likely to be recognised quickly or correctly by both the public and medical professionals.

When symptoms fall outside outdated clinical assumptions, patients are more likely to be told their concerns are psychological or exaggerated.

The result is delayed diagnoses, inappropriate treatment and avoidable harm.

If someone believes they have received poor care, they may have grounds for a medical negligence claim, which is when they come through our doors for help.

Awareness of the gender health gap

There is growing recognition of a gender health gap in the UK.

Studies and parliamentary reports have highlighted poorer outcomes for women across multiple areas of healthcare, including pain management, cardiac care and reproductive health.

However, while awareness appears to be improving, meaningful change is slow to follow.

Of course, as a society, we recognise that healthcare professionals work under pressure and within stretched systems, but systemic pressure does not excuse repeated failures to listen to patients, to investigate symptoms properly or to challenge long-standing biases in clinical decision-making.

Women should not have to fight to be taken seriously. They should not need years of appointments before someone looks beyond surface-level explanations. No one should.

How our medical negligence team can help you

At Attwaters, we act for individuals whose care fell below an acceptable standard.

Where delayed diagnosis has caused avoidable harm, we help clients understand what went wrong and pursue accountability.

Closing the gender gap in healthcare will require better research, improved training, stronger patient advocacy and a willingness to make change happen.

Until that happens, the legal system remains one of the few routes available to challenge failures and push for higher standards.

If you would like help making a claim for compensation for negligent care, please get in touch with our team to discuss your next steps.