May is Women’s Health Month, a time dedicated to recognizing, understanding, and prioritizing the health needs that are unique to women. From heart disease to reproductive disorders, women face a variety of conditions that require more tailored attention, yet many of these issues remain underdiagnosed, understudied, or misunderstood. At RMC, we’re using this month to highlight the disparities in women’s healthcare and empower women to advocate for their well-being.
Key Takeaways
- Historically, women’s health has been underfunded and under-researched.
- There are many common health conditions that present differently in women than in men.
- Women are more likely to experience autoimmune disorders, reproductive health issues, and osteoporosis.
Why Do We Know Less About Women’s Health?
Despite the undeniable importance of women’s health, men’s health has been prioritized by medical research for much of history. In fact, women were largely excluded from clinical trials until the early 1990s because it was assumed that male physiology was the default and could be broadly applied to both sexes. This oversight has led to significant gaps in how we understand, diagnose, and treat conditions in women, which has resulted in serious, real-world consequences.
Women are more likely to be misdiagnosed, especially with conditions like heart disease, which can manifest differently than it does in men. For example, a woman experiencing a heart attack may experience nausea, fatigue, or jaw pain rather than the typical chest and arm pain most men describe. Yet, because most clinical guidelines are based on research centered on males, these symptoms may be overlooked.
Recognizing the disparity in research for women’s and men’s health is the first step. Women’s Health Month serves as a good reminder that we must continue pushing for equitable research and tailored care for women. Increased awareness and advocacy are just two ways that we can fight late diagnoses and poor outcomes caused by a lack of information.
Understanding Conditions That Disproportionately Affect Women
While some health issues occur exclusively in women, there are some that affect both sexes but present symptoms more frequently or severely in women. Here are several conditions every woman should understand and monitor.
Reproductive Health: More Than Just Fertility
A woman’s reproductive health includes everything from menstruation and fertility to menopause and beyond. Until recently, we didn’t know just how common disorders like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are. They affect millions of women worldwide, and yet, they are so often underdiagnosed or misunderstood.
- Endometriosis can cause severe pain, infertility, and gastrointestinal symptoms; however, it can take, on average, 7–10 years to receive a proper diagnosis.
- PCOS is a hormonal disorder that impacts female metabolic health and fertility. It has also been linked to weight gain, an increased risk of diabetes, and insulin resistance.
Without a proper diagnosis or understanding of these conditions, they can have a ripple effect on one’s mental and physical health. Early intervention can make a significant difference in preventing complications and effectively managing a patient’s symptoms.
Uterine Conditions
The uterus plays a central role in many aspects of a woman’s health, but uterine disorders are often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. Conditions like fibroids, adenomyosis, and uterine cancer can cause highly concerning symptoms such as heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, and extreme bloating.
- Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of tissue that form on the uterus. They can be small and asymptomatic or large enough to cause intense discomfort and fertility problems.
- Adenomyosis occurs when the uterine lining tissue grows into the uterine wall and can be very painful. This condition is often mistaken for endometriosis.
- Uterine cancer risk increases as women age, especially after menopause. It causes especially worrying symptoms like postmenopausal bleeding, which should never be ignored.
Women are often told that pain is just a part of a woman’s reproductive health by healthcare providers. However, persistent, painful symptoms deserve to be closely evaluated and treated, and a thorough gynecological exam can make a big difference.
Breast Health
As a cornerstone of women’s preventive care, breast health should always be taken seriously. Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the U.S., with 1 in 8 women developing the disease at some point in their lives. However, with an early diagnosis, breast cancer is highly treatable.
Regular self-exams, clinical breast exams, and yearly mammograms after age 40 are essential to early detection. For high-risk individuals, such as those with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, clinical exams should start earlier. Beyond cancer, there are noncancerous breast conditions that can occur in women, like fibrocystic changes or cysts. These growths are usually harmless but can cause some pain or discomfort.
Knowing your body can help you recognize any changes early, and all women should prioritize staying current on their screenings and talking with their healthcare provider about their personal risk.
Autoimmune Disorders and Chronic Illnesses
Studies show women account for almost 80% of all autoimmune disease cases. This includes disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis that occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body.
Autoimmune disorders are notoriously difficult to diagnose due to their broad range of symptoms. They often include fatigue, joint pain, and inflammation, which can contribute to an almost infinite number of illnesses. But for various reasons, these conditions are often dismissed or misattributed to patient anxiety or stress.
Additionally, chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome also affect women significantly more than men. In order to improve long-term outcomes and speed up diagnosis for these debilitating conditions, there needs to be greater investment in women-centered research.
Bone Health & the Risk of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is another condition that is more likely to affect women than men, especially after a woman has gone through menopause. That’s because as estrogen levels decline, so does bone density, increasing he risk of fractures, spinal problems, and mobility loss. This is defined as osteoporosis.
To better manage their bone health, women should invest in preventive care, including bone density scans and increasing their calcium/vitamin D consumption. Other methods to prevent osteoporosis as women age include engaging in weight-bearing exercise and avoiding smoking and consuming too much alcohol.
Raising awareness for this silent disease during Women’s Health Month is essential, as it often goes undetected until a fracture occurs.
Mental Health Care
Caring for one’s mental health has become less stigmatized in recent years; however, it is not always treated with the weight it deserves. Mental health can affect one’s daily life just as much as physical health. For women, hormonal fluctuations related to menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause can influence their mood and contribute to depression, anxiety, and mood disorders.
Although women are twice as likely as men to experience major depressive episodes, their symptoms are often attributed to being emotional rather than caused by a hormonal imbalance and taken seriously. Conditions like postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and perimenopausal mood shifts should all be treated seriously, whether that be by individualized care, medication, or therapy.
Just like physical conditions and diseases, mental health struggles deserve professional attention, especially when they interfere with a woman’s daily life.
Take Charge of Your Health at RMC This Women’s Health Month
At RMC, we believe every woman deserves access to accurate information, compassionate care, and early intervention for conditions that uniquely affect her. As more than simply a calendar event, Women’s Health Month is a time to advocate for equitable medical care and research.
Whether you’re trying to manage a chronic condition, experiencing reproductive health concerns, or simply need a wellness check, the specialists at RMC’s Women’s Health Services are here to listen, support, and guide you. They provide quality care in a comfortable setting for every woman. Contact us today to take the first step in prioritizing your health.