Giving birth is one of the greatest and most personal things a woman can do. Control of the situation should be given to the mother, but it often is not. In a personal account, Heidi Metcalf shared her distressing experience while giving birth with BBC news. She had endured a Caesarean section to deliver her baby and then– without being notified or asked– was immediately wheeled into a separate room to- as she described- “have her placenta ripped from her body.” Heidi stated that she felt like a bystander to her own care, trapped in a system where her voice was silenced and her well-being seemed secondary. She felt violated by the experience, and while she– a nurse– knew that the emergency surgery had been necessary, it had happened without her consent and before she even knew how badly she was bleeding.

A few weeks after giving birth she went back to the same hospital and notified them of her concerns with how everything had played out that day.

The staff called her hysterical.

The BBC news interviewed 5 other women with similar stories about devastating healthcare experiences.

Nadiah Akbar was told by a doctor in her city that the extreme exhaustion and fatigue she had been feeling was caused by “stress” of leading a busy life. 

Tests would later show it was thyroid cancer.

Years later, while in remission, she moved to Australia where staff at a hospital there linked a tear in her hip socket and slipped disk in her back– along with the immense pain they had caused– to "depression".

She had to pay for two MRI scans out of pocket before she was correctly diagnosed.

Laura said that she does not go to healthcare appointments without her husband anymore. She feels as though she is taken more seriously when her concerns are voiced by a man.

It took doctors three years to diagnose her with a traumatic brain injury.

All of the women who were interviewed said that it wasn’t until a male was involved that the diagnosis had been accurate and they finally got proper treatment.

Globally, women's healthcare research is lagging far behind that of men, despite women making up approximately half of the world's population, according to World Bank Open Data. Research priorities are consistently slanted towards the “male model”. A 2021 study published by Nature Communications highlighted the gender gap that still exists in medical research, with numerous studies on medical disorders done based on male physiology and fully excluding female physiology. This discrepancy continually results in delayed diagnosis, unnecessary suffering and inadequate treatment for women worldwide.

For your mothers, for your sisters, for your friends and for your daughters.

Not only are medical conditions that are apparent in both males and females proving this inequality, according to the National Institutes of Health, research on female-specific conditions such as endometriosis and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome are also being underfunded. They said that endometriosis affects approximately 1 in 10 women of reproductive age (~11- 55) worldwide. Symptoms of endometriosis can include severe pain, infertility and can significantly dampen life quality, according to Mayo Clinic.

Every single day.

Promoting equity in research is not just a women’s issue. It can benefit all of society. By understanding the unique aspects of women's health, we can pave the way for healthier communities as a whole, and a more equitable healthcare system. If healthcare providers listen to, respect and genuinely research women’s needs, we’ll save lives and reduce the unnecessary suffering.

Thankfully, there are some agencies already advocating for women’s health.

While it’s currently the lowest ranked state for women, according to Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the state of Louisiana does have female advocacy programs. For instance, Lift Louisiana aims to build a liberated and equitable Louisiana, regardless of race, gender and ability. They provide (now banned) abortion resources, pregnancy resources and legal help for women who need it. They are non-profit, but ask for donations to support their cause. (For more information visit https://www.liftlouisiana.org

Cleveland Clinic is an American-based agency that educates and researches all things medical. They partnered Maria Shriver to start a movement called “Women’s Alzheimer's Movement” (WAM). Their goal is to reduce the risk for Alzheimer disease in women, alongside other neurological disorders, and to advance sex-based research and education for women. They include touching stories of women who have been diagnosed with neurological disorders, and urge everyone  to help advocate for women’s health research. (Read more at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/landing/wam

The Society for Women’s Health Research is the thought leader in advancing women’s unique health needs. Since 1990, they have been in pursuit of women’s equity in healthcare and medicine. Their policies are built to empower, educate and help women all over the world with anything medical they may be dealing with. They provide information on many female disorders as well as female aspects to other disorders. They are a global society and anyone can access their page here: https://swhr.org/  

While these resources– among many others– are great for women to access, and those supporting this cause to consult, they are not enough to solve the issue that so many women face daily. Did you know that YOU can help bring advancements to this cause? YOU can help your mothers, sisters, friends and daughters. So this begs the question…

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

SUPER SIMPLE: Sign this petition to bring awareness to women's health. Every signature boosts awareness and can help the special women in your life get the accurate medical research and necessary medical attention they need. All the stories you hear of women with negative experiences in healthcare could happen to anyone in your life. Signing is quick and easy, and your signature could truly save lives.

 

ONE STEP FURTHER: Send the link of this petition to family group chats, friends study groups or even just to your bestie! Spreading awareness can be as easy as three extra clicks!

 

A BIT MORE EFFORT: Advocate for change within your community. Whether it’s putting up posters surrounding women's health, starting conversations with your neighbors or planning small speeches around your city. Education creates change and standing up for women who have been ignored and mistreated can even boost her confidence to stick up for herself in the future.

 

ONE STEP FURTHER: Write to local or even national news outlets, asking for help as well as further advocacy on this issue.

 

HOLY SMOKES YOU’RE AMAZING: Any donations for this cause to be invested in women's health insurance or women’s health research goes far, but there is always more work to be done. Setting up things like fundraisers, or partnering businesses in your area to donate can go miles in the race to help women. By investing in women’s health research, we can develop better treatment plans and fund more research teams for women all across the globe and establish healthier, stronger lives for females. 

 

As a young woman, I research these things and the more I learn, the more I fear for my future. The ignorance of doctors and inaccuracies of modern healthcare make me wonder what my pregnancy will be like? What will happen if I tear a major joint? How will doctors dictate my medical future? Stand with me to end this, and let’s make women's healthcare– for my sake and for others– a more important aspect of life.

Together, we can create a better world for the people who create OUR world.