“TAKE MY SYMPTOMS SERIOUSLY” — MANY U.S. WOMEN SAY THEY’RE STILL FIGHTING TO BE HEARD BY DOCTORS

“TAKE MY SYMPTOMS SERIOUSLY” — MANY U.S. WOMEN SAY THEY’RE STILL FIGHTING TO BE HEARD BY DOCTORS

A new survey by Gallup and Pivotal highlights a concerning gap in healthcare experiences: about one-third of women in the U.S. say they struggle to get doctors to take their symptoms seriously.

Among those women, more than half said their health issues have affected their work and home lives.

Gallup senior partner Stephanie Marken said access to quality healthcare is already a challenge for many Americans, but for women, simply getting an appointment can feel like “half the battle.”

Once they see a healthcare provider, women report negative experiences at higher rates than men — including feeling dismissed, having their pain minimized, or leaving without the information they need.

The survey also found that 42% of women said they have had to speak up or advocate for their health, compared with 26% of men.

The issue can have serious consequences. Some medical conditions can present differently in women, and researchers and health organizations have documented cases where differences in symptoms contribute to delayed diagnosis or treatment.

The survey also reported that men were diagnosed faster than women even when they had the same medical condition.

???? Everyone deserves to feel heard when they seek medical care.

Have you or someone you know ever felt like a doctor dismissed a health concern that later turned out to be serious?