Women’s Pain Concerns Often Dismissed by Medical Professionals, Report Indicates

Emily Brown, from Worcester, began reporting period-related issues to her GP when she was 16. It took several years for Ms Brown’s severe pain to be acknowledged, eventually leading to a diagnosis of endometriosis. This situation aligns with a report from Members of Parliament, which has cautioned that medical professionals frequently disregard the concerns of women experiencing painful health conditions, including endometriosis – an experience Ms Brown finds very familiar. “It wasn’t until [four years later], when it started getting very debilitating, that I was taken seriously by anyone,” she said. Ms Brown, 28, manages an online support group for women with endometriosis and stated that her personal ordeal is far from unique. She elaborated, “I’ve seen stories of women who have been brushed off, who have been ignored, who have… been told things that frankly aren’t true. Like pregnancy’s going to cure your endometriosis.” Ms Brown firmly added, “There isn’t a cure.” Gina Shutler, 35, from Weobley, was initially informed by her female GP that she did not have endometriosis, despite presenting with symptoms. The pain was at times so intense that it required her to take time off work, yet she accepted her GP’s information. “We’re led to think that it’s to be expected that you’re in pain once a month,” Ms Shutler remarked. The severity of Ms Shutler’s symptoms led her to leave a successful career at the Ministry of Defence, as she found it challenging to remain seated at a desk for extended periods. She now performs her work from home. She expressed, “It’s been very difficult trying to decide what things I can and can’t do with my life,” and continued, “I don’t know if the pain’s going to get worse.” Ms Shutler concluded, “It makes so many things uncertain, it’s really difficult to work out how to live your life sometimes.” Ms Brown contended that “medical misogyny” is an integral part of the healthcare system. She pointed out, “Women make up approximately 70% of chronic pain patients, but only 80% of the pain medication has been tested [on women],” adding, “It’s all been tested on men.” She advocates for improved training for medical professionals concerning women’s health. “We need to go in at a base level and really be educating people on women’s bodies,” Ms Brown stated. She concluded by saying, “We are all fighting for people to take our pain seriously.” For further content, follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.