Women’s Health Statistics: How Confident is the UK About Women’s Health?
Our Latest Women’s Health Research Reveals What People Know, Where the Gaps Are, and Why It Matters
Women’s health affects millions of people every day — yet many conditions remain misunderstood, under-diagnosed, or absent from everyday conversation. At M·E·L Research, we believe that needs to change.
Click the image to view the ‘Women’s Health in Society: Bridging the Knowledge Gap’ Report
To mark International Day of Action for Women’s Health, we surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,500 UK adults, gathering insight into public knowledge, trusted sources, and workplace experiences around: Menopause, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), ovarian cancer and fertility issues.
The results offer a mix of encouraging progress and persistent knowledge gaps. While some conditions are becoming more widely recognised, others remain largely unknown — and support, especially in the workplace, still has a long way to go. Let’s delve into the women’s health statistics:
What Do People Actually Know About Women’s Health?
We asked people how well-informed they feel about a range of conditions. The differences were striking:
Menopause is the best-known condition, with 49% of women saying they feel well-informed. However, just 22% of men said the same.
Endometriosis was less understood, with only 19% of women and 10% of men saying they know a lot about it.
PCOS and PMDD showed the lowest awareness levels overall. Just 10% of respondents felt well-informed about each. In fact 49% of people had never heard of PCOS and 40% had never heard of PMDD. A further 28% recognised the term ‘PMDD’ but didn’t know what it meant
Fibromyalgia, ovarian cancer, and fertility issues fell somewhere in between. For instance, only 13% of people reported knowing a lot about fibromyalgia, and 23% said the same for fertility issues.
Across all conditions, women consistently reported higher awareness than men — but even among women, confidence varied significantly depending on the condition.
Where Do People Turn for Trusted Information on Women’s Health Issues?
When it comes to finding reliable information about women’s health, three sources stood out across the board:
NHS services were the most trusted, with 70 to 76% of respondents choosing this as their primary source.
Condition-specific websites came next, trusted by 42 to 54%, depending on the condition.
People with lived experience were also highly valued, mentioned by 35 to 39% of respondents.
Social media influencers were the least trusted source, indicating that while personal stories matter, people still want expert-led, evidence-based information.
There’s Strong Support for Change in the Workplace
Alongside questions of awareness, our research also looked at how people feel about women’s health in the workplace. The results show overwhelming support for better policies, culture, and communication:
80% believe employers should be more understanding of women’s health issues.
75% think employers need better advice and guidance on how to support employees.
60% said cultural taboos still make it difficult to talk openly about these issues at work.
Respondents also highlighted specific areas where employers could take action, including:
Training managers to recognise when health may affect performance
Ensuring fair performance reviews for employees managing health conditions
Including women’s health topics in corporate wellbeing programmes
Supporting employees who are helping loved ones manage health challenges
Considerations for the Future of Women’s Health in Society
The research points to several areas where action is needed — not just to improve awareness, but to create a more supportive environment for everyone affected by these conditions:
Targeted education campaigns to address gaps around lesser-known conditions like PCOS and PMDD
Accessible, trusted information resources developed in partnership with healthcare providers
Inclusive workplace policies that reflect the realities of health and wellbeing
Support networks for those experiencing women’s health conditions, as well as those supporting them
Cultural change initiatives that break down stigma and encourage open dialogue
A Note from our Managing Director, Karen Etheridge:
“This research matters because women’s health deserves to be understood, prioritised, and properly supported, not just on International Day of Action for Women’s Health, but every single day. By listening to real experiences and highlighting where knowledge gaps exist, we can help shape more inclusive conversations, better services, and workplaces where people feel seen and supported through every stage of life.”
About the Research
This women’s health research was conducted by M·E·L Research as part of our April 2025 omnibus survey, in partnership with The Menopause Charity. The omnibus is a twice-yearly study designed to capture public opinion on key social and behavioural issues. For this wave, we focused on women’s health, surveying a nationally representative sample of 1,500 adults across the UK. The study explored awareness, understanding, and support for a range of conditions including menopause, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, PMDD, PCOS, ovarian cancer, and fertility issues, with a particular focus on trusted information sources, workplace support, and societal attitudes.
If you are interested in partnering on the next wave of our Omnibus please email Beth Harcourt.
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