Women are being forced to undergo painful gynecological conditions due to ‘medical misogyny’ in the NHS, a damning report reveals

Women are suffering painful gynecological conditions due to ‘medical misogyny’ within the NHS, a damning report has found.

Doctors often have a poor understanding of women’s health, meaning they fail to recognize symptoms and dismiss patients’ pain, the report says.

This is fueled by a ‘pervasive stigma’ around reproductive health issues and a lack of education about common conditions such as endometriosis, heavy periods and adenomyosis.

As a result, victims suffer painful discomfort that ‘disrupts every aspect of their daily lives’, including their education, careers, relationships and fertility, according to MPs on the Commons Committee on Women and Equalities, which published the report today.

Many are forced to ‘suck it up’ or find the money for expensive private care, it adds.

The report shows that a lack of research, treatments and specialists, together with the ‘de-prioritisation’ of gynecology services, has led to these waiting lists growing faster than any other specialty.

Meanwhile, women’s symptoms are often “normalized,” meaning it can take years before diagnosis and care are provided.

Pictured is Zainab Kaleemulla who waited ‘more than a decade’ to be diagnosed with endometriosis after GPs dismissed her symptoms dozens of times

It is estimated that neglecting women’s health in the workplace costs the UK economy £20 billion a year, with some forced to leave their jobs.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says Britain is in the midst of a ‘gynecological care crisis’, with more than 750,000 women on the waiting list.

MPs highlighted how women undergo ‘harrowing experiences’ with procedures such as having a contraceptive coil fitted or a hysteroscopy – a test to see inside a woman’s womb.

Presenter Naga Munchetty, who previously shared her traumatic experience of having an IUD inserted and spoke out about the poor care she received for adenomyosis (when the uterine lining grows into the uterine muscle wall), gave evidence alongside reality TV star Vicky to the committee Pattison, who has a premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which causes severe mood swings.

GP practices were singled out in the report, highlighting a ‘clear lack of awareness and understanding of women’s reproductive health among GPs’.

The MPs made recommendations to improve care, including ensuring doctors are up to date on the latest diagnostic tests and treatments.

Committee chair Sarah Owen said: ‘Our research has shown that misogyny in medicine is causing women to suffer pain and their conditions to go undiagnosed. Women find their symptoms dismissed, waiting years for life-changing treatment…

“All the while, their conditions worsen and become more difficult to treat.”

Emma Cox, CEO of Endometriosis UK, said: ‘It takes an average of almost nine years to be diagnosed with endometriosis in the UK – it shouldn’t. Without a diagnosis there is no access to management and treatment.’

NHS England said: ‘Too often in the NHS we hear from women whose health concerns have been dismissed, which is why we are taking action to improve services for women, including rolling out women’s health centres.

‘The hubs will give thousands more women access to specialist support in the community, which will not only improve access and women’s care experience, but also help upskill healthcare professionals.’

A Department of Health spokesperson said: ‘It is completely unacceptable that women with reproductive conditions are not receiving the care they need.

“That’s why we will overhaul women’s health care and put women’s equality at the heart of our agenda.”