Irish women face delayed diagnoses and workplace silence due to gender bias in healthcare, new Laya Healthcare research reveals.
A new report has revealed widespread dissatisfaction among Irish women with how their health concerns are treated, both in clinical settings and the workplace.
The Laya Healthcare research, which surveyed over 1,000 adults, highlights a persistent gender health gap that is contributing to delayed diagnoses, untreated symptoms, and reduced quality of life.
“Poorer health impacts women’s quality of life, career progression, and adds strain to Ireland’s healthcare system”
According to the findings, more than half of women aged 25 to 44 reported feeling dismissed when raising health concerns with medical professionals. Four in ten women said they believed their symptoms were misunderstood, which they felt led to a delayed or incorrect diagnosis.
Thirty-seven per cent of women said they had delayed seeking medical help on multiple occasions due to concerns they would not be taken seriously.
Workplace impact
Dr Sumi Dunne, a general practitioner with a focus on women’s health, said the results reflect what she sees in her practice.
“For too long, women’s pain – especially period and pelvic pain – has been normalised or in some instances not heard,” she said. “This research clearly shows the huge impact this has, not just on physical health, but on mental wellbeing and even career growth.”
The study found that 87% of women surveyed had experienced at least one female-specific health condition, such as urinary tract infections, menopause symptoms, or heavy menstrual bleeding. Among women aged 18 to 44, over 90% reported experiencing menstrual or pelvic pain, with 9% experiencing it at least weekly.
The research also examined the impact of these issues in the workplace. Two-thirds of women said they had taken painkillers to get through the workday, and 90% of women aged 25 to 44 said they had downplayed or hidden symptoms at work. Nearly half of working women said they felt uncomfortable discussing female health issues in the workplace, often due to embarrassment or fear of being perceived as unreliable.
The data also suggested that the gender of a manager may influence how comfortable women feel discussing health issues. Among women with male managers, 28% said they had felt uncomfortable many times when discussing female health concerns, compared to 12% of those with female managers.
Symptoms dismissed
Sandra Murphy, a Laya Healthcare member who has experienced endometriosis, said her symptoms were dismissed for years.
“It affected my sleep, work, and relationships, and I felt ignored,” she said. “Getting the right care changed my life, but too many women are still facing avoidable pain, delayed diagnoses, and poor access to treatment.”
Sinéad Proos, Head of Health and Wellbeing at Laya Healthcare, said the research is intended to support clinicians and employers in addressing the issue.
“This research isn’t about criticism but about listening to women’s voices and finding ways to better support clinicians with education, research, and resources,” she said. “Poorer health impacts women’s quality of life, career progression, and adds strain to Ireland’s healthcare system.”
Laya Healthcare has introduced measures such as offering members a choice of male or female GPs through its video consultation service and providing faster access to diagnostics for female health conditions.
AXA, which owns Laya Healthcare, has committed €3.4m through its AXA Research Fund to support more than 20 global projects focused on gender health inequalities. In Ireland, this includes funding for Dr Michelle Lavin at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, who is researching ways to reduce postpartum haemorrhage.
The initiative is part of AXA’s broader campaign titled “Being a woman shouldn’t be a risk,” which aims to close knowledge gaps in female health and improve outcomes through research and policy change.
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