In a recent episode of the Neuroverse podcast, hosts Clara and Carolina are joined by Anais Kruger Ruiz, a master’s student in women’s health at UCL, to discuss a critical yet often overlooked topic: the persistent gender biases in medical research. Their conversation dives into the history and consequences of excluding women from medical studies, as well as the ongoing challenges women face in receiving appropriate healthcare.
Centuries of Exclusion
Anais highlights a disturbing fact—historically, women have been systematically excluded from medical research. For centuries, medical data was collected almost exclusively from male participants, with the results then generalized to women. This long-standing norm has resulted in a healthcare system that doesn’t fully account for the unique complexities of female bodies. Shockingly, medications are often dosed based on what’s considered safest for men, with little regard for how these drugs might affect women.
For centuries, medical data was collected almost exclusively from male participants, with the results then generalized to women...
Artwork by Raji Salan
...the main reason cited was the "complicated" nature of female reproductive systems, particularly hormonal changes that occur throughout life, during pregnancy, and in menopause.
Why were women left out? Anais explains that the main reason cited was the "complicated" nature of female reproductive systems, particularly hormonal changes that occur throughout life, during pregnancy, and in menopause. Instead of researching these complexities, women were ignored in studies, leaving huge gaps in understanding how diseases manifest and how treatments should be adjusted for them.
The Consequences: Misdiagnoses and Medical Oversights
The consequences of this exclusion are severe. Anais shares personal stories of women in her life who have suffered from misdiagnoses, enduring years of uncertainty before finally receiving accurate diagnoses for conditions like autoimmune diseases. For some women, it can take up to 15 years to get a correct diagnosis. Autoimmune conditions, which disproportionately affect women, are still poorly understood.
Anais also shares an alarming statistic: it takes an average of 7 to 8 years for women to be diagnosed with endometriosis, a painful condition that affects millions. Many women have to attend more than 10 appointments with their GP before being referred to a specialist. Despite its prevalence, endometriosis, along with other conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), remains underfunded and under-researched. In fact, just 1% of pharmaceutical research funding goes toward conditions primarily affecting women, with most of that focused on breast cancer.
Systemic Bias in Pain Management and Diagnosis
A significant issue discussed is the disparity in how women’s pain is treated. Studies show that women are often given less pain relief than men, even when describing the same intensity of pain. This bias extends to diagnoses, with conditions like autism being under-recognized in females. The conversation touches on how women, due to societal pressures, may learn to "mask" symptoms more effectively, which leads to underdiagnosis in cases like autism. These gender biases in medicine have real-world effects, delaying treatment and worsening outcomes for countless women.
Vaginal Health and the Overlooked Microbiome
Another topic explored in the episode was the fascinating yet under-researched area of the vaginal microbiome, stressing the need for greater understanding of how gut health impacts vaginal health. The connections between recurring yeast infections, gut imbalances, and the overall complexity of the vaginal microbiome remain largely unexplored in mainstream medicine. Women dealing with chronic infections often receive limited help, with treatments focused on short-term fixes rather than addressing underlying causes.
There is also a lack of thorough testing for conditions that mimic common issues like yeast infections. Anais points out how infections caused by bacteria like ureaplasma are often misdiagnosed, leading to ongoing health problems. Women frequently have to rely on private healthcare to get proper testing, leaving many without answers.
A Call for Inclusive Research
Anais makes it clear that the gaps in women’s healthcare research do not just affect cisgender women. Non-binary people and trans men also face significant barriers when seeking care, particularly in areas like reproductive health. This lack of inclusivity in research further exacerbates healthcare inequalities for these groups.
The episode also touches on the fact that BAME (Black, Asian, and minority ethnic) women suffer even greater disparities in healthcare, with Black women in the UK being five times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. These intersecting inequalities point to a dire need for more inclusive and diverse medical research that reflects the realities of all women and gender minorities.
Conclusion: An Urgent Need for Change
This episode of Neuroverse brings to light the deep-rooted inequalities in women’s health research and the medical system at large. Women have long been treated as afterthoughts in research, with devastating effects on their health and wellbeing. It’s time for change. More funding, more research, and more inclusive healthcare are urgently needed—not just for reproductive health but for the wide range of conditions that disproportionately affect women.
The conversation makes it clear: women’s health is not a niche issue. It’s a major, systemic problem that needs to be addressed if we’re ever to achieve true equality in healthcare.
For anyone interested in learning more about these important topics, this episode is a vital listen.
For more fascinating discussions, follow Neuroverse on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and give us a follow on Instagram and Twitter at @neuroverse_pod to keep up to date with us!
This article was written by Shivali Verma and edited by Clara Lenherr
Shivali Verma is a Master’s student in Brain and Mind Sciences at UCL. She is most interested in researching neurodegeneration, and is passionate about bridging the gap between scientific complexity and everyday understanding.
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