PCOS

Millions of women worldwide suffer from the common hormonal condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS. Even though it is common, many women endure years of suffering before being properly diagnosed and treated. This is a gender bias issue, not just a medical one. Women's health issues have long been disregarded and ignored by the healthcare system, causing needless despair. This bias causes delayed diagnoses, insufficient treatment options, and emotional pain associated with outdated cultural notions of femininity for those with PCOS.

One of the most noticeable aspects of gender bias in PCOS is how it challenges traditional norms of womanhood. Women with PCOS experience a range of symptoms, including weight gain, irregular periods, excessive body hair, and infertility. These symptoms induce shame and embarrassment since they fail to conform to the norms of femininity. As one source describes, “Women with PCOS were not only threatened by the clinical aspects and long-term medical complications of this disease, but their ‘womanhood’ is also completely disrupted, and the embarrassment of physical unattractiveness and shame of the possible ‘deviation’ from proper femininity,’ because of lack of the ability, makes them feel abnormal to bear children.” This perception of being “less of a woman” due to an uncontrollable medical condition only deepens the emotional and psychological toll PCOS takes on individuals.

In addition to social stigma, gender bias is a significant issue in the medical industry. Instead of taking into account a hormonal imbalance, women with PCOS sometimes complain that doctors ignore their symptoms or attribute them to lifestyle decisions. Many receive incorrect diagnoses for years or are advised to "lose weight" as the main course of treatment. Systemic bias is the cause of this delay in receiving appropriate medical care; it is not accidental. As one source explains, diagnosis delays are due to “medical gaslighting. What she means is that women have historically been excluded from medical research, so doctors don’t recognize gynecological symptoms, and instead assume the patient is being overdramatic or hysterical.” This ingrained bias prevents women from receiving timely and effective treatments, worsening their condition over time.

The gender bias surrounding PCOS is not just a personal struggle—it is a societal issue that needs urgent attention. Women should be treated with dignity, have their concerns acknowledged, and have their symptoms examined seriously. We need to advocate for more inclusive research, increased medical education on PCOS, and a change in the way we think about women's health. If you or someone you know is struggling with PCOS, advocate for yourself, seek out specialists, and don’t settle for dismissive care. It's time for us to request that women everywhere receive better healthcare.

Sources:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3965857/

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/failing-femininity-how-pcos-advocacy-confronts-gender-based-medical-discrimination