The Gender Health Gap

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Have you ever wondered why we're still using euphemisms for female body parts in 2024? Or why your doctor dismissed pain that kept you bedridden for days? The shocking truth is that women's health remains shrouded in medical mystery —not because we lack the capability to understand it, but because we've systematically failed to prioritize it.

In this eye-opening conversation with Saskia and Lucy, founders of "What Nobody Told Us," we dive deep into the alarming gender health gap and its real-world consequences. When a December 2023 report revealed the dismal state of reproductive healthcare, these two friends decided enough was enough. They're now building a platform to provide the education many of us never received, challenging the status quo that has normalized women's pain and dismissed their concerns for generations.

The statistics are staggering: less than 2.5% of public funding goes toward reproductive health research, and females represent only 37% of clinical trial participants. This research gap means treatments developed for men are simply applied to women without proper testing. Meanwhile, women with conditions like endometriosis wait an average of eight years for diagnosis while being labeled "difficult" when they advocate for themselves.

Perhaps most troubling is how this medical gaslighting begins early. From hiding tampons up our sleeves as teenagers to being told severe menstrual pain is just something to endure, we internalize shame about normal bodily functions. Lucy, a doctor herself, describes the heartbreaking experience of watching patients light up when they finally feel heard—often for the first time in their healthcare journey.

Whether you're looking to understand your own body better or want to join the fight for healthcare equality, this conversation offers both validation and hope. The gender health gap wasn't created overnight, and closing it will take all of us speaking up, sharing stories, and refusing to accept pain and dismissal as inevitable parts of having a female reproductive system.

Follow @whatnobodytoldus on Instagram to join their growing movement and access the reproductive health information nobody told you —but everyone deserves to know.

Disclaimer: This podcast represents the opinions of Dr. Bridget Melton, MD and licensed therapist Marissa Volinsky, MS, LPC, NCC. The contents of our podcast and website should not be taken as medical advice. The contents of our podcast and website are for general informational purposes only, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any condition or disease or substitute for medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician, mental health professional, or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before starting or discontinuing treatment.

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