I was recently reminded of the challenges women face in primary care when a close friend’s mother was finally diagnosed with a rheumatological condition – after battling with symptoms for over a decade.

One of the reasons she was able to get clarity is that my friend is now a doctor, and advocated for her during GP visits. During previous visits, her complaints were often dismissed and attributed to factors such as her cultural background, her lifestyle as a housewife and carer, and even previous medical history.

Much of this was assumption, rather than thorough medical investigation. My friend reported on the patronising tone of some medical professionals and her mother’s subsequent stress every time she had to go back to the surgery.

Sadly, this story isn’t unique. The UK government’s 2021 call for evidence surveyed nearly 100,000 individuals, and revealed 84% of women felt their healthcare professionals were not listening to them.

Women’s health isn’t just about female-specific conditions, it is also about general conditions that disproportionately affect us. Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, affects over 5 million people globally, and 90% of those affected are women, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. On average, it takes nearly six years for people with lupus to be diagnosed, from the time they first notice their lupus symptoms.

Understanding why diagnosis can take so long and challenging our subconscious biases (towards people within our own communities as well as others) is key to offering more sensitive and tailored care solutions that focus on reducing unnecessary pain for patients.

What can we do straight away to address this issue?

Talk to each other. Sharing our own experiences and wisdom, and learning from the experiences of others, breaks taboos.

Encourage family and friends to advocate for you/each other. A trusted person in the consultation room can provide reassurance, ask important questions and make sure the patient feels fully informed and empowered.

Raise awareness through community or online campaigns. Broader awareness of health issues can only strengthen the business case for women’s health and femtech companies. To brainstorm how you can do this, book time to meet with me or email me at sarah@thoughtsparkagency.com.

October is Lupus Awareness Month 💜 in the UK. Lupus targets various parts of the body, from joints to vital organs. As Lupus UK notes, rarely do two people have exactly the same symptoms. To break down what these symptoms are, the organisation has put together a helpful symptom body map for both men and women: https://lupusuk.org.uk/the-symptoms/.