Why Women’s Health Research is Overlooked

Picture this: Nisha, a vibrant 36-year-old media professional and mother of two, sits in her doctor’s office, completely stunned and confused. The words “ovarian cancer” ring in her ears. How could this happen? She exercises regularly. She eats healthy food that she cooks herself. Her BMI is perfectly okay. As Nisha grapples with this diagnosis and its seriousness, she wonders, why she didn’t know about this disease before. 

Nisha’s story is not unique. Thousands of women throughout the world go through this, daily. Still, we’re not talking about it nearly enough, and worse, women’s health is still sorely underfunded and under-researched. 

You might be thinking, “Wait a minute, what about all those pink ribbons? Aren’t we already focused on women’s cancers?” Well, yes and no. While breast cancer awareness has made impressive strides, which is fantastic, other gynecologic cancers often fly under the radar. We’re talking about ovarian, cervical, uterine, and other cancers that affect women’s reproductive systems. 

But why does this matter to you? Well, if you’re a woman, this directly impacts your health. If you’re not, chances are you have women in your life whom you care about—mothers, sisters, partners, friends. This is about all of us.

So, let’s dive into the world of women’s health research (or lack thereof). We’ll explore why there’s such a gap, why it’s crucial to close it, and what we can do about it. 

The Shocking Truth: Disparity in Women’s Health Research

Let’s talk numbers for a second, because they tell a story that might surprise you. According to 2024 projections, breast cancer is set to become the most common type of cancer in the world. That’s right, the most common. Not lung cancer, not skin cancer, but breast cancer. A disease that primarily affects women.

Now, you’d think with such a prevalent issue, research labs and clinical trials would be overflowing with female participants? Unfortunately, that’s hardly the case. 

A meta-analysis (essentially, a study of studies) looked at about 1,500 research studies found that only 38% of the participants were women. That’s right, even though women make up roughly half the population, only around four out of every ten research participants were women.

This imbalance raises some serious questions:

1. How can we fully understand diseases that primarily affect women if women are underrepresented in research?
2. Are we potentially missing crucial insights that could lead to better treatments or even cures?
3. What message are we sending to women about the importance of their health?

But here’s the real issue: this isn’t just about numbers. It’s about real people. It’s about ensuring that when they face a health crisis, the treatments available have been thoroughly researched with them in mind. When the typical participant in these studies tends to be an average male, the treatments that are developed also tend to work on them better. It disregards the biological distinctions between male and female bodies. 

So, the next time you hear about a new medical breakthrough, it might be worth asking: “Was this tested on women too?” Until we close this research gap, we’re fighting health battles with one hand tied behind our back.    

The Real-World Impact of Under-representation

The lack of funding and research on these cancers has real-world implications. Some of them include: 

Misdiagnosis and Delayed Treatment

Imagine Nisha, experiencing persistent abdominal pain. She visits her doctor, who, based on existing research (remember, largely skewed towards male participants), might dismiss it as just stress or hormonal issues. Why? Because the symptoms of ovarian cancer can mimic other common conditions, and we simply don’t have enough women-specific research to guide better diagnoses (McGregor, 2020). By the time Nisha gets a correct diagnosis, her cancer could be at an advanced stage, significantly impacting her treatment options and prognosis.

Wrong Medication

Until the 1990s, most drug trials excluded women entirely! The reasoning? Women’s hormonal cycles might “complicate” the results. The consequence was that medications hit the market without any real understanding of how they affect female bodies. Take the sleep aid Ambien, for instance. It wasn’t until 2013 that we realized women metabolize it differently than men, leading to higher risks of next-day drowsiness and car accidents for women taking the standard dose (Greenblatt et al., 2019).

The Ripple Effect on Families and Communities

When women’s health is compromised due to inadequate research, it doesn’t just affect the individual. It impacts families, workplaces, and entire communities. Consider a mother not able to care for her children due to undiagnoed health issues, a student having to drop out of college because of untreated and undiagnosable illness, or a female CEO stepping down because her condition wasn’t properly understood or treated.

So, what does all this mean? It means that right now, women are walking around with a higher risk of misdiagnosis, improper treatment, and overlooked health issues. How many breakthroughs have we missed? How many lives could have been saved or improved if we’d had a balanced approach to health research from the start?

This isn’t just about equality in numbers. It’s about equality in health outcomes, in quality of life, in the chance to live your best, healthiest life regardless of your gender.

Why Are Women Underrepresented in Cancer Research?

The answer to this question, as it turns out, is a bit complicated. Let’s break it down.

It’s Not Just a Women’s Issue

First off, it’s important to note that many barriers to clinical trial enrollment are common across all patients, regardless of gender. These include:

• Limited awareness of trial opportunities (How can you participate if you don’t know trials exist?)
• Limited availability of trials for specific cancer types and stages at local institutions (What if the right trial isn’t happening near you?)
• Overly strict eligibility criteria (Sometimes the rules for who can participate are so narrow that they exclude many potential participants)

But for women, there are some additional hurdles.

Misperceptions and Attitudes

Believe it or not, some sponsors and medical professionals have negative attitudes towards women as study participants. These attitudes include:

• Thinking women are harder to recruit 
• Believing women are more vulnerable to unwilling participation 
• Assuming women complicate scientific design

The Convenience Factor

Here’s where it gets fascinating. A study in Massachusetts looked at barriers to enrolling in breast cancer prevention trials. They found that a woman is 10.5 times less likely to enroll if she feels the trial would be too inconvenient. Let that sink in for a moment. 

But what counts as “inconvenient”? Things like: 

• More frequent office visits
• Greater travel requirements
• Need to keep daily logs or follow specific treatment regimens
• Disruptions to daily life and family responsibilities

Juggling work, family, and personal life is already a circus act for many women. Adding complex trial requirements on top of that? It’s a lot to ask. We also have to consider that most women, especially in India, are solely responsible for the entire household and childcare responsibilities. Nowadays, many women handle the household and childcare responsibilities while holding down full-time jobs as well. 

The Doctor-Patient Relationship

The same study revealed something crucial: the relationship between the patient and their doctor plays a central role in getting women to join clinical trials. Two key factors stood out:

• The doctor needs to have sufficient expertise and knowledge about the trial
• The doctor must be able to effectively communicate the value of the trial to the patient

In other words, if your doctor doesn’t understand the trial or can’t explain why it’s important, you’re much less likely to participate. It’s not just about having the information—it’s about how that information is shared. 

So, what does all this mean? It means that the underrepresentation of women in cancer research isn’t just about women not wanting to participate. It’s a complex web of systemic issues, misconceptions, practical challenges, and communication gaps. 

Shining A Light: The Power of Awareness

You know how they say knowledge is power? Well, in the world of women’s health research, it’s more like knowledge is a catalyst for change. When people understand the issue, amazing things start to happen:

• More women ask about clinical trials: When you know trials exist, you’re more likely to ask your doctor about them. 
• Doctors get better at discussing trials: The more patients ask, the more doctors realize they need to be informed. 
• Funding priorities shift: When the public cares about an issue, politicians and funding bodies start to pay attention. Your voice matters more than you might think!
• Stigma decreases: The more we talk about women’s health issues, the less taboo they become. And less stigma means more research, more open conversations, and better health outcomes. 

Get Involved: Be the Change

Feeling inspired? Great! Here’s how you can join the fight:

• Spread the word: Share this blog post (shameless plug, I know), or create your own social media posts about women’s health research. Use hashtags like #WomensHealthMatters or #ResearchForHer.
• Participate in awareness events: Join a charity run, attend a seminar, or participate in a fundraiser. Every little bit helps!
• Donate: If you can, consider donating to organizations focused on women’s health research. Even small amounts add up!
• Volunteer: Many research institutions and advocacy groups need volunteers. Your time can be just as valuable as money.
• Talk to your doctor: Ask about clinical trials. Even if you don’t participate, you’re sending a message that this matters to you.
• Educate yourself and others: Keep learning about women’s health issues and share what you learn with friends and family.

Remember, every conversation you start, every post you share, and every event you attend ripples out into the world. You might not see the immediate impact, but trust me, it’s there.

So, what will your first step be? Are you ready to shine a light on women’s health research? The power to create change is in your hands – let’s make some noise!