If you've ever walked out of a medical appointment feeling confused, dismissed, or like you had to prove your pain, you're not imagining it. The truth is, women's health has long been overlooked in the medical world. And we’re still catching up.

So why is it still so hard to get answers when something feels off in your body? And what can we do about it?

A Medical System Built Around Men

Historically, medical research has been dominated by one default: the male body.

For decades, clinical trials, drug studies, and health research excluded women, either entirely or in ways that didn’t account for our unique biology. Until as late as 1993, women weren’t even required to be included in most U.S. government-funded medical studies. Let that sink in.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the ripple effects of this are still felt today, with women often waiting years for diagnoses, especially for conditions like endometriosis or PCOS.

Why were women left out of research?

There were a few (very outdated) reasons:

• “Too complicated” – Researchers often said women’s hormone fluctuations made us “too difficult” to study consistently.

• Pregnancy risks – Many studies excluded women of childbearing age due to concerns about harming a potential fetus.

• Men = the standard – The assumption was that men’s bodies were the norm, and women’s would respond the same way. (Spoiler: they don’t.)

The Research Gap Is Hurting Us

When women aren’t included in research, we all lose. Here’s what that looks like:

• Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women, yet on average it still takes 7–10 years to get a diagnosis.

• PCOS affects up to 1 in 10 women globally, yet funding and education around it is disproportionately low.

• Autoimmune diseases - which affect women up to 4 times more than men — are underfunded and under-researched.

• According to the British Medical Journal, women are more likely to suffer side effects from medication because most drugs have historically been tested on men.

And yet, we’re still being told “it’s probably just stress” or handed the Pill as a fix-all.

Why Can’t I Get Answers?

This isn’t just about research, it’s also about how the system treats women. Many of us have experienced what’s now called medical gaslighting, being told our symptoms are in our heads, exaggerated, or just part of being a woman.

Here’s why it happens:

• Doctors aren’t taught enough about us – Unless they specialise in gynae, women’s health is often a tiny part of med school.

• Bias is baked into medicine – Studies show women’s pain is less likely to be taken seriously, and more likely to be labelled emotional or psychological.

• The “band-aid” approach – Too often, hormonal issues are met with “just go on the Pill” rather than being properly investigated.

We don’t think you should have to beg for answers about your own body.

So What Can We Do?

Until systemic change happens, here’s how we can protect ourselves and each other:

1. Advocate for Yourself

Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, speak up. Ask for further testing. Get a second opinion. You deserve to be heard.

2. Find Providers Who Actually Get It

Look for GPs, specialists, or holistic practitioners (like naturopaths or integrative doctors) who take women’s health seriously, and who treat you like the expert of your own body.

3. Stay Curious and Informed

The more you know about your hormones, cycle, and symptoms, the easier it becomes to ask the right questions and push back when things don’t add up.

4. Support the Change

Follow and donate to women’s health research. Talk about it. Share your story. Every time we speak up, we challenge the idea that this is “just how it is.”

There’s Hope - And It Starts With Us

There is momentum building. More researchers are focusing on women’s health. More doctors are calling out the gaps. More women are asking hard questions and demanding better care.

But while we wait for the system to catch up, know this:

Your pain is real. Your symptoms matter. You’re not making it up.
And you're definitely not alone.

Have you struggled to get answers for a health issue? We’d love to hear your story. Share it in the comments or send us a message - we believe you. Always.