It was an absolute honour to attend the Women’s Health Conference in London this week, bringing together clinicians, policymakers, campaigners and others passionate about improving women’s health.
As a researcher specialising in women’s health social research, I was excited to have the opportunity to learn, be challenged and exchange ideas with people who share that passion. And I wasn’t disappointed.
There has (quite rightly) been a lot of discussion recently about the gender health gap. But some of the evidence shared during the conference was still shocking.
More than eight in ten respondents (84%) to the government’s Women’s Health Strategy survey reported occasions when they, or a woman they had in mind, had not been listened to by healthcare professionals.
Healthy life expectancy for women in England has fallen to just 61.3 years in 2022-24, down from 63.7 years in 2017-19.
One in ten women who have worked during the menopause have left a job because of their symptoms.
The latest MBRRACE-UK figures show that Black women in England are nearly three times as likely to die during or shortly after pregnancy as White women.
These aren’t just statistics. They represent women whose symptoms have been dismissed, whose opportunities have been limited, and whose health has suffered.
As Professor Dame Lesley Regan put it so eloquently, we need to stop admiring the problem and start doing something about it.
Three themes particularly stood out for me.
1. Digital healthcare: opportunity or another barrier?
Dr Raj Arora spoke about how the ‘front door’ to healthcare is increasingly digital. We’re turning to ‘Dr Google’ and social media for advice, particularly about subjects that still feel embarrassing or taboo.
And there are real opportunities here. Trusted information from healthcare professionals can be free, accessible, visual and available at 2am when you’re worrying about symptoms.
But there’s a darker side too. Misinformation is rife, and women’s health is increasingly a commercial opportunity, with no shortage of people ready to sell us products and treatments that may have little evidence behind them.
For me, the challenge is how we harness the benefits of digital healthcare without creating new inequalities or leaving women to navigate a confusing landscape of conflicting advice.
2. Fragmented services and the postcode lottery
We heard powerful examples of how fragmented commissioning arrangements can prevent women from accessing relatively straightforward treatments.
Dr Zara Haider highlighted the difficulties women can face accessing hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) for non-contraceptive purposes. These can be quick to fit and offer important benefits, including managing heavy menstrual bleeding, yet women can face long waits, lengthy journeys or the prospect of paying privately, depending on local arrangements.
It’s a particularly frustrating example of how the way services are organised can get in the way of providing appropriate care.
And it reflects a wider problem across women’s health, including fertility treatment, where access can depend heavily on where you live.
3. Above all, women need to be listened to
This was perhaps the strongest theme of the day, and the one that resonated most with me, both personally and professionally.
Speakers shared powerful experiences of living with conditions including PMDD and endometriosis, and the difficulties of getting symptoms recognised and diagnosed.
Dr Farah Ahmed and Professor Margaret Ikpoh reflected on the limitations of the traditional ten-minute GP appointment. How do we move beyond ‘what’s wrong today?’ to understanding the whole story?
Aparna Belapurkar also demonstrated the value of involving women, particularly those from disadvantaged communities, in shaping the services they use.
As a researcher, this is something I feel particularly strongly about. We cannot design effective, accessible services without understanding the people who need them. And that means listening to women whose voices are too often missing from the conversation, not just those who are confident, articulate or already engaged with healthcare services.
It also means recognising that there is no single ‘women’s experience’. Age, ethnicity, income, disability, geography and personal circumstances all shape our experiences of healthcare, and the barriers we face.
From listening to action
I came away from the conference feeling two things. Frustration that so many of these problems are longstanding and well documented. But also genuine optimism, inspired by the expertise, commitment and determination of the people working to change things.
At M·E·L Research, we’re privileged to hear firsthand about women’s experiences of healthcare through our research across areas including menopause, fertility and breast cancer. These are often deeply personal and sometimes difficult conversations. They reinforce the importance of sensitive, inclusive and trauma-informed approaches to research, and of creating spaces where women feel comfortable sharing their experiences.
But listening is only the starting point. The real value comes from using those experiences to challenge assumptions, inform decisions and design services with women, not simply for them.
You can read our published women’s health reports, here:
If there was one message I took away from the day, it was this: we don’t need more evidence to demonstrate that the gender health gap exists. We need to make sure that the evidence, and women’s voices, are used to drive meaningful change.
As a researcher, and as a woman with lived experience of some of these challenges, that’s something I’m determined to play a part in. And if you’d like to play a part too, I’d love to hear from you.
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Get in touch with the M·E·L Research team today via our ‘Get in touch’ form below to see how our expert researchers can support your goals. Alternatively, you can email the team at info@melresearch.co.uk.
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