Women Live Longer, But Face Poorer Health Care

Women are more likely to have their pain dismissed, their symptoms misread, and their conditions diagnosed too late. This is the result of a medical system that was not designed with women in mind.

For the past 25 years, the world has made significant progress in advancing women’s right to health, particularly in sexual and reproductive care. Women are now living longer than ever before, but they are not necessarily living better.

Across the world, UN data shows that women are still less likely to be taken seriously, accurately diagnosed, or appropriately treated. From misdiagnosis to entrenched medical bias, gaps in healthcare systems continue to affect women’s health, safety, and quality of life.

Although healthcare is a fundamental human right, it is still not guaranteed for all, and inequality persists in one of the most critical areas of everyday life.

Women are more likely to have their pain dismissed, their symptoms misread, and their conditions diagnosed too late. According to UN Women, this reflects “a medical system historically designed without women in mind.”

From the tools used in examinations to the data that shapes diagnosis and treatment, these gaps are deeply embedded in healthcare systems, with serious real-world consequences.

What the data shows

There has been measurable progress, according to UN Women. Between 2000 and 2023, maternal mortality declined by 40 per cent, from 328 to 197 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Adolescent fertility rates also fell, from 66.3 to 38.3 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19 between 2000 and 2024. Skilled birth attendance rose from 60.9 per cent to 86.6 per cent, while the proportion of women using modern family planning methods increased from 73.7 per cent to 77.1 per cent.

However, these gains remain uneven. In the least developed countries, adolescent births rose from 4.7 million in 2000 to 5.6 million in 2024.

Women are also living longer than men. Female life expectancy is around 72.2 years, compared to 68.4 years for men. But women spend more of those years in poor health. In 2021, women spent an average of 10.9 years in poor health, compared to 8.0 years for men.

This includes chronic conditions such as musculoskeletal disorders, gynaecological diseases, migraines, and depression.

Six uncomfortable truths

1. Outdated tools remain in use

The speculum, widely used in pelvic examinations, has changed little since its design in the 19th century. Despite major advances in medicine, many diagnostic tools have not evolved to prioritise women’s comfort, dignity, and safety.

Efforts to redesign such tools are emerging, particularly through women-led innovation, but adoption across public healthcare systems remains limited.

2. Longer lives, poorer health

Although women live longer, they spend a greater proportion of their lives in poor health, around 25 per cent more than men.

This often means prolonged experiences of chronic pain, fatigue, and untreated conditions, alongside higher rates of misdiagnosis.

3. Research and funding gaps persist

Conditions affecting women are often under-researched and underfunded. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which affects a majority of women and girls, receives comparatively less attention than conditions such as erectile dysfunction.

For decades, this imbalance has shaped how women’s pain is understood, or more often misunderstood, dismissed, normalised, and left unaddressed.

Some policy changes are emerging. In 2023, Spain introduced paid menstrual leave, joining countries such as Japan, Indonesia, and Zambia. However, stigma and limited awareness continue to affect uptake.

4. Delayed diagnosis is common

Endometriosis affects around one in 10 women and girls globally, approximately 190 million people. Yet diagnosis can take between four and 12 years.

These delays reflect a broader pattern in which women’s pain is normalised or dismissed, leading to prolonged suffering and delayed treatment.

5. Historical exclusion from research

Until 1993, women were largely excluded from clinical trials. As a result, many treatments were developed based primarily on male biology.

This has had long-lasting effects. Women are more likely to experience adverse drug reactions, and their symptoms are more likely to be misinterpreted. Conditions that mainly affect women, including autoimmune diseases, remain under-researched.

These gaps persist even today, including in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, where datasets may still underrepresent women.

Recent research has highlighted the importance of integrating sex and gender into clinical studies, including during the COVID-19 response, to ensure treatments are safe and effective for everyone.

Another major issue is the underrepresentation of women in healthcare leadership. This matters because female doctors and leaders often prioritise patient-centred care, evidence-based practice, and policies that improve women’s health outcomes.

6. Symptoms that don’t match the model

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among women. However, widely recognised symptoms are still based largely on male patterns.

Women may experience different warning signs, including fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, and pain in the jaw or back. These differences can delay diagnosis and treatment, increasing the risk of death.

Because these signs are less widely recognised, some women are sent home instead of receiving proper treatment.

The way forward

Addressing these disparities requires healthcare systems that reflect women’s realities. This includes more inclusive research, better data, improved diagnostic tools, and greater recognition of women’s symptoms and lived experiences.

Strengthening women’s leadership in healthcare is also critical. Evidence shows that greater inclusion can improve patient outcomes and help reduce mortality rates.