Gender inequity is a prominent concern in many parts of the world, and it has been a persistent issue in the healthcare industry.

Women and men can suffer from different diseases, and diagnosis of a disease depends upon historical, clinical, and laboratory findings. However, gender plays an important role in the diagnosis of diseases. In many cases, women’s health complaints are disregarded or misdiagnosed.

The report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies revealed that women are more probable to face misdiagnosis, underdiagnosis, and delayed diagnosis of various diseases.

The Gender Disparity in Diagnosis of Diseases

The ability to diagnose diseases accurately is the cornerstone of medical treatment. However, when it comes to gender, diagnosis of diseases has been a subject of gender disparities.

Women are more prone to several diseases such as heart diseases, osteoporosis, depression, and autoimmune disorders. Despite knowing that women have different symptoms of diseases than men, healthcare providers pay less attention to women’s healthcare complaints.

Gender Biasness in Healthcare Industry

Gender biasness is a leading cause of misdiagnosis of diseases among women. Healthcare providers rely on biased norms and perceptions that women are exaggerating their symptoms, and they are not taken seriously.

Due to this biasness, women’s health problems are often attributed to stress, hormonal changes, or anxiety instead of underlying health issues.

Misdiagnosis of Heart Diseases in Women

Heart diseases have become common among women, with around 290,000 women dying each year in the United States because of heart disease. Heart diseases may show different symptoms in women as compared to men.

Unfortunately, women are more likely to experience incomplete diagnoses of heart diseases. Women may have different symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, or chest pain. However, healthcare providers tend to overlook these symptoms and rarely order heart diseases tests or misdiagnose the symptoms as stress or anxiety.

The Impact of Misdiagnosis on Women’s Health

The consequences of misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of diseases can significantly affect women’s lives. Such situations can lead to complications that could have been prevented if the diagnosis was made in time.

Misdiagnosis may also affect women’s life by causing significant financial burden and extensive medical treatment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, gender disparity in the diagnosis of diseases is a significant concern in the healthcare industry. The systematic biases and gender norms against women can lead to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of diseases.

Improving gender equity in healthcare is of utmost importance and requires all healthcare providers to recognize and address the gender disparities in diagnosis of diseases.