‘Medical misogyny is leaving women in pain,’ says WEC chair Sarah Owen MP

There’s a “clear lack of awareness and understanding” of women’s reproductive health conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis and heavy menstrual
bleeding among primary healthcare practitioners, despite their widespread prevalence in the UK, according to a new report by the Women and Equalities
Committee (WEC).

This is causing considerable delays in diagnosis and treatment, leaving women and girls to “suck it up” and endure pain and discomfort, it stated.

The report identifies pervasive stigma associated with gynaecological and urogynaecological health, a lack of education and ‘medical misogyny’ as factors
contributing to poor awareness of these conditions.

Labour MP Sarah Owen, chair of the Committee, said: “Our inquiry has shown misogyny in medicine is leaving women in pain and their conditions undiagnosed.”

“Women are finding their symptoms dismissed, are waiting years for life changing treatment and in too many cases are being put through trauma-inducing procedures.
All the while, their conditions worsen and become more complicated to treat.”