Women are misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed in healthcare

The Struggles of Women in Healthcare: Misdiagnosis, Underdiagnosis, and Delayed Treatments

It seems that the U.S. medical community forgot that their mother, sister, daughter were female.  We have never been more technologically advanced, yet women face a unique set of challenges when it comes to healthcare, with misdiagnoses, underdiagnoses, and delays in receiving appropriate treatments. It’s downright common. Too common. Too acceptable. These issues are not only affecting their immediate health but also contributing to systemic inequalities in the healthcare system. From maternal mortality rates to cardiovascular diseases and strokes, many women are left without the care they need and deserve. One significant factor in these challenges is the insufficient funding for research and medical advancements specifically related to women's health.

The Risk of Maternal Mortality in the U.S.

Among developed nations, the United States stands out for having the highest maternal mortality rate, a stark and concerning reality. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 700 women die each year in the U.S. due to complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. The risk is even higher for women of color, with Black women being more than three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to white women. This tragic trend is linked to a variety of factors, including systemic healthcare inequities, lack of access to care, and insufficient attention to women's needs, especially in the postpartum period. Furthermore, many pregnancy-related complications, such as preeclampsia or hemorrhage, can go undiagnosed or unmonitored, leaving women at greater risk for complications.

The Link Between Reproductive Health and Heart Disease

Reproductive health issues are also directly linked to long-term health outcomes, particularly heart disease, yet they remain underdiagnosed and inadequately treated. Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and even complications from pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, can increase a woman’s risk of developing cardiovascular diseases later in life. Despite this connection, heart disease is often seen as primarily a concern for men, leading to the dismissal or underestimation of cardiovascular risk in women. According to the American Heart Association, nearly 50% of women who experience preeclampsia during pregnancy will go on to develop heart disease within a few years, yet many are not monitored for long-term cardiovascular health after pregnancy.

Stroke Risk and Stress in Women

Recent research highlights another significant risk for women: stroke. A study published in Neurology revealed that women who experience moderate stress have a 78% higher risk of suffering from a stroke. Stress has been identified as a major risk factor for strokes, and this link is especially critical in women. While the physical impact of stress on the body is well-documented, the specific ways it affects women’s brain health and overall well-being often go under the radar. Women are more likely to face chronic stress due to social, economic, and caregiving pressures, yet the healthcare system often fails to consider stress as a contributing factor in women’s health conditions, particularly in cardiovascular and neurological diseases.

Underfunding of Women’s Health Research

A key factor contributing to the misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of women’s health issues is the severe underfunding of research on women's diseases. While the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has an annual budget of $46 billion, only about 10% of this budget is dedicated to women’s health issues. This disparity is stark considering that women make up more than half of the population, yet their health concerns are consistently underfunded. In comparison to conditions more commonly affecting men, women’s health diseases receive significantly less research funding. For example, while diseases like prostate cancer have seen significant funding and research progress, conditions such as endometriosis, which affects one in ten women, have remained severely underfunded and under-researched. This lack of funding translates directly into inadequate treatments, fewer clinical trials focused on women, and missed opportunities for early detection and accurate diagnosis.

The Consequences of Misdiagnosis and Delayed Treatments

The misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of women’s health conditions has far-reaching consequences, not just in terms of immediate health outcomes but also in long-term physical, mental, and emotional health. When symptoms of diseases are misunderstood or dismissed, women often experience prolonged suffering or worsening of their conditions. For example, heart disease symptoms in women are often overlooked or misattributed to anxiety, stress, or even menopause rather than being recognized as a legitimate threat to health. Additionally, women with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia or autoimmune disorders often report feeling that their symptoms are not taken seriously, leading to frustration and delayed treatment.

A Call for Change

The healthcare system must be reformed to address these critical issues. First and foremost, greater investment in women’s health research is essential. By increasing funding for studies on women’s diseases, we can develop a deeper understanding of the unique ways in which women experience illnesses and find more effective treatments. This means not only more resources for reproductive health but also a broader focus on diseases that disproportionately affect women, including heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and neurological conditions.

Additionally, healthcare providers need to be better educated on the specific ways in which women present symptoms for various conditions. This would help to ensure earlier diagnoses and more tailored treatments, ultimately improving the quality of care for women. Policy changes are also needed to address the inequities in maternal health, particularly for women of color, and to ensure that all women have access to the prenatal and postpartum care they need.

Conclusion

The high rates of maternal mortality, the links between reproductive health and heart disease, and the risk of stroke due to stress all underscore the urgent need for systemic changes in how women’s health is approached. As the NIH and other institutions allocate a disproportionate amount of funding to male-centric diseases, women continue to face the consequences of underfunded research, misdiagnosis, and delayed treatments. To combat these disparities, greater funding for women’s health issues is critical, as is improved education and awareness within not only the medical community, but every community. The health of women is not a niche issue—it’s a fundamental human concern. That’s why we created Loopwell. Our mission is to make well-being knowledge, insights, practical tools,  and experiences more accessible. No woman should ever wait for the government to help improve their lives. It’s time for women to come together to advocate for each other.