The Policy Gap in Women’s Health: Why Endometriosis is Still Underfunded
Introduction From the starting blocks of international swimming arenas to the thin mattresses of hospital beds; my turning point came through a healthcare system that dismissed and misdiagnosed my pain. Unfortunately, my tale of misdiagnosis, dismissal, and delay, is emulative of a broader trend in our healthcare system, where women wait an average of 8 to 10 years to receive an official endometriosis diagnosis, giving rise to personal, financial, and economic costs often overlooked and underestimated. This article argues that such neglect and misunderstanding of women’s health conditions is the result of the systemic gender bias that plagues our healthcare systems. This...