Women’s Health: The Understudied, Underrecognized, and Undertreated

It has long been recognized that research in women’s health lags significantly behind research into men’s health issues. In fact, the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health in the United States has described women as being “the three U’s”: understudied, underdiagnosed, and undertreated.”

For conditions that primarily affect women, it is particularly important to have access to current information based on valid research.

COVID-19 & Women’s Health: Frequently Asked Questions

Are women at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 than men?
Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe during pregnancy?
Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe during breastfeeding?
Can mothers with COVID-19 have contact with their baby and provide childcare?
Can mothers with COVID-19 pass the virus to their babies via breastfeeding?
Can an expectant mother pass COVID-19 to her fetus?
If I am pregnant, when should I be tested for COVID-19?
What resources are available to help promote my health during this pandemic?

For answers to these important questions, read more.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic and often painful condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterine cavity. This tissue can attach to organs such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and even the bladder or intestines, causing inflammation, scarring, and severe pelvic pain, particularly during menstruation. Symptoms often include heavy periods, fatigue, infertility, and gastrointestinal issues. Despite affecting approximately 1 in 10 women of reproductive age globally, endometriosis is notoriously underdiagnosed, with the average time to diagnosis ranging from 7 to 10 years.

The causes of endometriosis remain largely unclear, though theories range from retrograde menstruation to immune system dysfunction. Treatment options are limited and often include hormonal therapies or invasive surgeries, with no known cure. The chronic nature of the condition, coupled with its impact on quality of life and fertility, makes it a major public health concern. Yet, many women report their symptoms being dismissed or misattributed, highlighting a systemic issue in how women’s pain and health concerns are handled by medical professionals.

The lack of awareness and limited treatment options for endometriosis are symptoms of a broader issue: the historical underfunding and underprioritization of women’s health research. For decades, medical research has primarily focused on male physiology, with women being excluded from clinical trials until the early 1990s. This has resulted in significant gaps in knowledge about conditions that predominantly affect women, including endometriosis – delaying progress in diagnosis and treatment.

Although some progress has been made in recent years, funding for women’s health continues to lag behind. In many countries, research dollars dedicated to endometriosis are disproportionately low compared to the number of people affected and the severity of the disease. Greater investment in women’s health is not only an issue of equity, but also one of public health necessity. Increasing funding and attention to conditions like endometriosis can lead to earlier diagnoses, better treatments, and improved outcomes for millions of women worldwide.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas. It affects an estimated 2-4% of the population, with women comprising about 80-90% of diagnosed cases. In addition to persistent pain, individuals with fibromyalgia often experience sleep disturbances, cognitive difficulties (sometimes called “fibro fog”), and heightened sensitivity to touch, sound, or temperature. Despite its debilitating nature, fibromyalgia remains poorly understood and frequently misunderstood, both in the medical community and in broader society.

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, though it is believed to involve a combination of genetic, neurological, and environmental factors. Research suggests that people with fibromyalgia may have heightened pain sensitivity due to abnormal processing of pain signals in the brain and spinal cord. Yet, because it lacks a clear biomarker and does not cause visible inflammation or tissue damage, many patients struggle to have their symptoms taken seriously. This often leads to years of misdiagnosis or dismissal, further compounding the psychological and physical toll of the illness.

Like endometriosis, fibromyalgia highlights the systemic gaps in women’s health research. For decades, conditions that disproportionately affect women-especially those involving chronic pain-have received less research funding and clinical attention. Fibromyalgia was only officially recognized by major health organizations in recent decades, and many clinicians still receive limited training in diagnosing or managing it. As a result, patients are often shuffled between specialists and subjected to a trial-and-error approach to treatment, which may include medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes.

This under-recognition stems in part from long-standing gender biases in medicine, where women’s symptoms, especially pain, are more likely to be minimized or labeled as psychosomatic. The neglect of fibromyalgia in research and clinical settings reflects the broader underfunding of women’s health issues. As science begins to catch up, there is a growing call to allocate more resources to studying chronic pain conditions and to address the gender disparities that persist in healthcare. Only through increased investment and awareness can conditions like fibromyalgia be fully understood and treated with the urgency they deserve.

Migraines

Migraines are a complex neurological disorder characterized by intense, throbbing headaches often accompanied by nausea, visual disturbances (auras), and extreme sensitivity to light, sound, or smell. They can be debilitating, lasting anywhere from a few hours to several days. While migraines affect both men and women, they are significantly more common in women, particularly during their reproductive years. In fact, women are three times more likely than men to experience migraines, largely due to hormonal fluctuations related to menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.

Despite how common and disabling migraines are, especially in women, they are still widely misunderstood and underdiagnosed. Many women report that their migraines are dismissed as “just headaches” or linked solely to stress or anxiety, rather than treated as the serious neurological condition they are. Migraine is one of the leading causes of disability among women globally, yet effective treatments remain limited and highly individualized. Many women must navigate a long, frustrating journey through trial-and-error medications and lifestyle changes, often with little guidance or long-term relief.

This widespread misunderstanding of migraines is not an isolated issue, it reflects a broader pattern of neglect in women’s health research. For decades, the medical community has largely prioritized male subjects in clinical trials, which has led to gaps in understanding how conditions manifest differently in women. Migraine research, in particular, has been historically underfunded relative to its prevalence and impact. While it is a leading neurological condition in terms of global disability, it receives a fraction of the funding allocated to other disorders with comparable or lesser burden.

The gender gap in medical research contributes not only to delays in diagnosis and treatment but also to societal stigma around women’s pain. Conditions like migraines are often minimized or misattributed to emotional or psychological causes, especially when the patient is female. Bridging this gap requires a commitment to funding research that centers women’s health experiences, training clinicians to recognize and treat these conditions seriously, and advocating for policies that reflect the real impact chronic illnesses have on women’s lives. Only then can migraines- and women’s health more broadly- receive the attention and investment they urgently deserve.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal disorders affecting women of reproductive age, estimated to impact between 8-13% globally. It is characterized by a combination of symptoms including irregular menstrual cycles, elevated levels of androgens (male hormones), and the presence of multiple small cysts on the ovaries. PCOS can also lead to weight gain, acne, excess facial and body hair (hirsutism), and insulin resistance. It is one of the leading causes of infertility, yet many women go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years due to the variability of symptoms and a lack of awareness among healthcare providers.

PCOS is a complex, systemic condition that extends beyond reproductive health. It is associated with increased risks of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, endometrial cancer, and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Despite its broad impact, there is no single diagnostic test or universally agreed-upon treatment plan, which often leaves patients navigating fragmented care and inconsistent guidance. Many are told to simply “lose weight” or go on birth control, with limited exploration of the root causes or long-term health implications.

The lack of progress in understanding and treating PCOS underscores a larger issue: women’s health research has been historically underfunded and deprioritized. PCOS was first identified nearly a century ago, yet it remains under-researched compared to other conditions of similar prevalence and severity. Research funding for PCOS is disproportionately low, especially considering its links to metabolic and cardiovascular disease. This contributes to delayed diagnoses, inadequate treatment options, and a persistent lack of awareness, even among medical professionals.

As with many other conditions that primarily affect women, PCOS illustrates the consequences of gender disparities in medical research and education. Women’s symptoms are too often dismissed or attributed to lifestyle, and many women report feeling unheard or unsupported in their healthcare journey. Addressing PCOS effectively requires not just better research and funding, but a cultural shift in how women’s health is valued, studied, and treated. Until that happens, millions of women will continue to suffer unnecessarily from a condition that could, and should, be better understood.

Post-Partum Depression

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious mental health condition that affects women after childbirth, marked by persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, and a sense of disconnection from the baby. While it’s common for new mothers to experience the “baby blues” in the first few days after delivery, postpartum depression is more intense, longer-lasting, and can interfere significantly with daily functioning. It’s estimated that about 1 in 7 women experience PPD, though the actual number may be higher due to underreporting and stigma.

The causes of postpartum depression are complex and multifaceted, involving hormonal changes, psychological adjustment to motherhood, lack of sleep, and social or emotional stressors. Despite being highly treatable through therapy, medication, and support, many women do not receive adequate care. Barriers include lack of screening, fear of judgment, and limited access to maternal mental health resources. Left untreated, PPD can affect a mother’s well-being, her ability to bond with her baby, and the overall development and health of the child.

Postpartum depression sits at the intersection of two major blind spots in healthcare: mental health and women’s health. Historically, research into maternal mental health has been limited, underfunded, and slow to progress. Women’s emotional experiences during and after pregnancy were often dismissed as hormonal or expected parts of motherhood, rather than recognized as serious medical concerns. As a result, PPD was neglected in both research agendas and clinical training for decades, leaving many women to suffer in silence.

The systemic neglect of postpartum depression reflects the broader underinvestment in women’s health research. Despite the profound impact that maternal mental health has on families and communities, it continues to receive only a fraction of the attention and funding it deserves. Addressing this gap means prioritizing maternal mental health in research, expanding access to care, and breaking down stigma around perinatal mood disorders. Supporting mothers’ mental health is not just a women’s issue, it’s a public health imperative.