New research from Laya Healthcare, part of AXA, highlights a gender health gap in Ireland, which shows a clear difference in how men and women perceive their healthcare experience in Ireland. This "gender health gap" means women can face delayed diagnoses, limited access, and less focus in research. Closing this gap is a global challenge that requires collective responsibility.

The research emphasises that meaningful progress in this area depends on listening to women, learning from their experiences, and collaborating and empowering individuals, the medical community and employers to open the conversation and ultimately close the gap.

The "Trust Problem"

This research highlights the gender gap in Irish healthcare. It uncovers the hidden pain, shame, and common feeling of being dismissed, including:

Feeling Dismissed: Over half of women aged 25-44 (56%) have felt dismissed at least once when discussing health concerns.

Delaying treatment: Women are more likely than men to put off seeing a doctor because they fear not being taken seriously. Shockingly, 37% of women (compared to 23% of men) delayed seeking help many times for this reason.

Feeling of delayed diagnosis: Four in ten women said they felt their health concerns were misunderstood, which they perceived led to a delayed or incorrect diagnosis.

Dr Sumi Dunne, a GP specialising in women's health, added:

"As a doctor, these findings reflect what I see in my practice every day. For too long, women's pain - especially period and pelvic pain - has been normalised or, in some instances, not heard. This research clearly shows the huge impact this has - not just on physical health, but on mental wellbeing and even career growth.

This gap is caused by a number of factors, and I think even small initial steps can make a big difference and help close the gap. It's crucial that healthcare professionals have time to listen to women's experiences, and ensure they get the appropriate care at the right time, without bias or delay because of their gender".

The Hidden Scale of Women's Health Issues

The study found that women's health conditions are very common, but they don't always get the attention they should.

Almost Everyone Affected: 87% of women surveyed have experienced at least one female health-related condition, examples of which include urinary tract infections, menopause symptoms, PMS and heavy menstrual bleeding.

Widespread Pain: 83% of Irish women suffer from menstrual or pelvic pain, with over 90% of younger females (18-44) experiencing pelvic or menstrual pain, and 9% experiencing it at least weekly.

This research highlights the scale of the problem, but it's women's stories that show the true impact. Sandra Murphy, a laya healthcare member and content creator, shared her experience of suffering from endometriosis.

"For years, I lived with debilitating pain that was dismissed as 'just period pain'. It affected my sleep, work, and relationships, and I felt ignored. Getting the right care changed my life - but too many women are still facing avoidable pain, delayed diagnoses, and poor access to treatment. In this day and age, that simply shouldn't be the case."

The "Workplace Struggle"

Health challenges can significantly affect women in the workplace, impacting both their performance and overall well-being. The survey found that:

Silence at Work: Almost half of working women felt uncomfortable talking about a female health issue at work. This was mainly because they felt embarrassed or didn't want to seem weak or unreliable.

Hiding Symptoms: 90% of women aged 25-44 have felt the need to downplay or hide their symptoms at work.

Working Through Pain: Two in three (66%) women are likely to take painkillers to get through the workday, compared to 36% of men.

Interestingly, 47% of women with a female manager felt uncomfortable discussing female health issues sometimes or often, compared to 58% of women with a male manager. When looking at those who felt uncomfortable many time...