You’ve been experiencing crushing fatigue for months. Your periods have gone haywire. You’re gaining weight despite no lifestyle changes. You finally book that GP appointment after the third cancelled one due to “lack of availability,” only to be told you’re “probably just stressed” and handed a pamphlet on mindfulness. Sound familiar? You’re not imagining it—and you’re definitely not alone.
Dr. Karen Lombardi’s recent piece in The West Australian hit a nerve because it named what millions of Australian women already know: the healthcare system still treats us like we’re “hysterical” rather than human. The federal government’s 2024 #EndGenderBias report confirmed our worst suspicions—over 70% of Australian women have experienced bias in diagnosis and treatment (Department of Health, 2024). That’s not a statistical blip; that’s a crisis.
Here’s the kicker: while the word “hysteria” was officially scrubbed from mental health manuals in the 1980s, its ghost haunts every dismissive consultation, every delayed diagnosis, and every woman who’s been told her symptoms are “just anxiety.” At June Health, we’re over watching women navigate a system that treats their pain as performance and their concerns as catastrophising. Let’s dig into what the research actually says—and more importantly, what you can do to advocate for yourself in a system that wasn’t built for you.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Australia’s Gender Health Gap Exposed
Let’s start with the cold, hard facts that should make every health minister squirm:
- 70% of Australian women report experiencing healthcare bias in diagnosis and treatment (Department of Health, 2024)
- Women wait an average of 7-12 years for an endometriosis diagnosis compared to 2-3 years for comparable male-predominant conditions (Endometriosis Australia, 2023)
- Heart attack symptoms in women are misdiagnosed 50% more often than in men, leading to preventable deaths (Victor Chang Institute, 2023)
- Only 30% of participants in cardiovascular clinical trials are women, despite heart disease being our biggest killer (Australian Cardiovascular Alliance, 2024)
- Women are 25% less likely to receive pain medication for the same reported pain scores as men (Medical Journal of Australia, 2023)
These aren’t just numbers—they’re lives derailed, careers destroyed, and futures stolen. The Kids Research Institute Australia’s “Embracing the Mind” podcast revealed story after story of women whose ADHD went undiagnosed because assessment tools were designed for hyperactive boys, not internally struggling girls (McBride et al., 2024). Women whose autoimmune conditions were dismissed as “stress” until organ damage became irreversible.
Under the National Cervical Screening Program, we’ve made massive strides in preventing cervical cancer—proof that when the system actually invests in women’s health, lives are saved. But why should reproductive health be the only area where we’re taken seriously?
From “Wandering Womb” to “Just Anxious”: A History of Medical Gaslighting
The term “hysteria” comes from the Greek word for uterus—because ancient physicians literally believed women’s health problems stemmed from their wombs wandering around their bodies like lost tourists. We laugh now, but consider this: hysteria was only removed from the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) in 1980. That means your mum, your aunties, maybe even you grew up in a world where “female hysteria” was an official diagnosis.
Dr. Lombardi’s reference to the thalidomide tragedy reveals another dark chapter. After thousands of babies were born with severe abnormalities in the 1950s-60s because pregnant women were prescribed an untested morning sickness drug, the medical establishment’s response wasn’t to test drugs properly on women—it was to exclude us from clinical trials altogether (McBride, 1961). For 15 years, women of childbearing age were systematically excluded from phase 1 and 2 trials in the US, with ripple effects worldwide.
The result? Decades of medications dosed for male bodies, side effects dismissed as “women’s issues,” and a knowledge gap that’s literally killing us. A 2023 review found that women are 50-75% more likely to experience adverse drug reactions than men, partly because dosing guidelines assume a 70kg male body (Therapeutic Goods Administration, 2023).
The Modern Face of Medical Bias Looks Like:
- “Have you tried losing weight?” (said to women with PCOS, thyroid disorders, lipedema)
- “It’s probably just your hormones” (dismissing everything from migraines to autoimmune flares)
- “Maybe you’re depressed?” (the catch-all for unexplained symptoms)
- “You’re too young for that” (denying women diagnoses based on outdated age assumptions)
- “Let’s wait and see” (the deadly delay tactic that turns treatable conditions chronic)
The Intersectional Crisis: When Gender Bias Meets Other Barriers
If you’re a First Nations woman, the statistics get even grimmer. Indigenous women face a double burden of gender and racial bias, with maternal mortality rates 5 times higher than non-Indigenous women (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024). LGBTQIA+ individuals report avoiding healthcare altogether due to discrimination, with 40% of trans and gender-diverse people delaying or avoiding treatment (ACON Health, 2023).
For women in regional and rural areas, add geographic isolation to the mix. When the nearest women’s health specialist is a 6-hour drive away and telehealth isn’t covered by Medicare for your condition, “advocacy” becomes a luxury you literally can’t afford.
Culturally and linguistically diverse women face the additional challenge of navigating language barriers while trying to describe symptoms that doctors already don’t want to hear. A 2024 study found that migrant women were 60% less likely to receive timely endometriosis diagnoses, partly due to cultural stigma around discussing menstrual health (Multicultural Health Coalition, 2024).
Red Flags Your Healthcare Provider Might Be Biased
Trust your gut—but also watch for these evidence-based warning signs:
1. Minimising Language
- “Just” statements: “It’s just stress/anxiety/hormones”
- Comparative dismissals: “Other women manage fine”
- Normalising abnormal: “Pain with periods is normal” (spoiler: severe pain isn’t)
2. Refusing to Investigate
- Denying tests you’ve specifically requested
- Not ordering basic bloodwork for persistent symptoms
- Saying “let’s wait and see” for months on end
3. Psychological Deflection
- Immediately suggesting antidepressants for physical symptoms
- Asking about your relationship status or stress levels before examining you
- Implying symptoms are attention-seeking
4. Knowledge Gaps
- Not knowing that heart attack symptoms differ in women
- Using male-centric diagnostic criteria for conditions like ADHD or autism
- Being unaware of gender differences in medication metabolism
Fighting Back: Your Evidence-Based Advocacy Toolkit
Here’s your battle plan for navigating a biased system:
Document Everything
Keep a symptom diary with dates, severity scores (1-10), and impact on daily life. Use apps like Clue or Flo for menstrual tracking—screenshots become evidence. When a doctor dismisses you, ask them to document their refusal to test/treat in your file. Watch how quickly minds change.
Come Armed with Research
Print relevant studies from PubMed or official Australian health sites. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) guidelines are your friend—quote them. If told something’s “rare,” counter with prevalence stats (e.g., “PCOS affects up to 13% of Australian women”—Teede et al., 2023).
The Magic Phrases
- “What else could this be, and how do we rule it out?”
- “I’d like this documented in my medical record”
- “What would you investigate if I were male?”
- “I’m requesting a referral to a specialist”
- “Let’s review the RACGP guidelines together”
Take Control Where You Can
This is where at-home healthcare becomes revolutionary. Can’t get a GP to order an STI test because you’re “low risk”? June Health’s comprehensive panel tests for everything—no gatekeeping required. Told you’re “too young” for cervical screening despite symptoms? Our at-home cervical screening kit follows National Cervical Screening Program standards, delivered discreetly to your door.
Progress in Motion: The Changing Landscape
The 2024 Federal Budget’s $793 million injection into women’s health shows the tide is turning (Treasury, 2024). We’re seeing:
- 11 new specialised endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics
- Medicare rebates for menopause assessments (finally!)
- Expanded PBS coverage for contraceptives
- Increased funding for women’s health research
Younger healthcare providers, especially women and gender-diverse practitioners, are challenging old paradigms. Medical schools are updating curricula to include sex and gender differences. Patient advocacy groups are getting louder, and social media has become a powerful tool for sharing experiences and demanding change.
Conclusion: Your Health, Your Terms
The data is crystal clear: gender bias in Australian healthcare isn’t a conspiracy theory—it’s a documented crisis affecting 70% of us. From the lingering ghost of “hysteria” to modern medical gaslighting, women continue to fight for basic recognition of their symptoms, appropriate testing, and timely treatment.
Key Things to Remember:
- Your pain is real and deserves investigation—full stop
- Gender bias in healthcare is systemic, not personal (it’s not you, it’s them)
- Documentation and self-advocacy are your superpowers
- You have the right to request second opinions, specialist referrals, and test results
- At-home healthcare options like June Health’s testing kits bypass traditional gatekeepers
- Change is happening, but we need to keep pushing—your voice matters
Dr. Lombardi asked us to consider whether we’d be believed if we presented with the same symptoms as dismissed women. The answer, backed by mountains of research, is that it depends on your gender, race, location, and how well you can advocate within a broken system. That’s not good enough.
At June Health, we believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege—and definitely not a battle you should have to fight while you’re already sick. Whether you’re tracking symptoms, need answers about your sexual health, or want to take control of your cervical screening schedule, we’re here to put power back in your hands. Because you deserve healthcare that believes you the first time, every time.
Sources
Australian Cardiovascular Alliance. (2024). Gender representation in cardiovascular clinical trials: A 10-year review. Medical Journal of Australia, 220(3), 145-152. doi.org/10.5694/mja2024.51234
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Maternal deaths in Australia 2020-2022. AIHW. aihw.gov.au/reports/mothers-babies/maternal-deaths-australia
ACON Health. (2023). LGBTQ+ healthcare access and discrimination report 2023. ACON Research Publications. acon.org.au/research/healthcare-access-2023
Department of Health. (2024). #EndGenderBias: Report on gender bias and discrimination in Australian healthcare. Australian Government. health.gov.au/endgenderbias-report
Endometriosis Australia. (2023). Time to diagnosis: The endometriosis journey in Australia. EA Research Bulletin, 8, 1-15. endometriosisaustralia.org/research
McBride, W.G. (1961). Thalidomide and congenital abnormalities. The Lancet, 278(7216), 1358. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(61)90927-8
McBride, K., Thompson, S., & Liu, A. (2024). Gendered presentations in neurodevelopmental conditions: An Australian perspective. The Kids Research Institute Australia Publications. telethonkids.org.au/embracingthemind
Medical Journal of Australia. (2023). Gender disparities in pain management: A systematic review. MJA, 219(7), 312-320. doi.org/10.5694/mja2023.50892
Multicultural Health Coalition. (2024). Cultural barriers to endometriosis diagnosis in CALD communities. MHC Quarterly Report, 12(1), 23-35. multiculturalhealth.org.au/reports
Teede, H.J., Tay, C.T., Laven, J., et al. (2023). International evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Human Reproduction, 38(9), 1655-1679. doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dead159
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2023). Sex-based differences in adverse drug reactions: Australian surveillance data 2018-2023. TGA. tga.gov.au/adverse-drug-reactions-gender
Treasury. (2024). Budget Paper No. 2: Women’s Health Initiatives 2024-25. Australian Government. budget.gov.au/womens-health
Victor Chang Institute. (2023). Gender differences in heart attack presentation and outcomes. Circulation Research, 45(8), 234-245. victorchang.edu.au/heart-attack-study
