We Never Really Studied the females’ Body!

A social media artist known as “Farideh” on Instagram has recently gained attention with a thought-provoking song titled We Never Really Studied the female’s Body. Through her lyrics, she sheds light on the systemic neglect of women's health, a critical issue often overlooked in research, medical practice, and society at large.

Women’s Health: Overlooked and Undervalued

If you’re a woman, you’ve likely faced unexplained pain, exhaustion, or discomfort at some point. Whether it’s managing menstrual cycles, navigating pregnancy and childbirth, or coping with menopause, women are often met with dismissive attitudes from healthcare providers. These experiences are too frequently brushed aside as mere “emotional” or “hysterical” reactions, stemming from deep-rooted gender biases. Yet, these challenges are real, affecting the physical and mental well-being of millions of women daily.

Menstrual Health: A Neglected Public Health Issue

Let’s begin with menstrual health, a vital aspect for those with a uterus. Between puberty and menopause, the average woman will experience approximately 459 menstrual cycles, equivalent to 6.25 years of her life managing menstruation [1]. Despite this, menstrual health has long been underfunded and understudied. One glaring issue is "period poverty," a condition where women lack access to menstrual products, education, and sanitation. Globally, over 500 million women suffer from inadequate menstrual hygiene management (MHM), impacting their health, education, and overall well-being [2].

The societal implications are profound. In challenging environments, dealing with menstruation during adolescence can increase girls' vulnerability to sexual violence, stigma, and discrimination, leading to long-term adverse health effects [3].

Childbirth and Long-Term Complications

While the fight for women's reproductive rights continues to dominate headlines, it is equally vital to ensure that women are not left to suffer from long-term complications after childbirth.

A recent study published in The Lancet Global Health reveals that every year, over 40 million women face long-term health problems resulting from childbirth. This study highlights the often-overlooked postnatal conditions that can persist for months or even years after delivery [4].

Even if we momentarily set aside immediate childbirth complications, it is crucial to focus on preventing long-term health issues. Up to 35% of women report ongoing pain months or even years after childbirth, yet their pain is frequently dismissed or inadequately treated. Women often describe feeling neglected during this critical recovery phase, underscoring the urgent need for improved postpartum care and better training for medical professionals [5].

Fictional Headlines: Artistic Interpretation Inspired by BBC & The Guardian

Menopause: The Silent Struggle

Menopause is another phase where women’s health is consistently overlooked. The Society for Women's Health Research Menopause Working Group identified significant gaps in patient care, policy, and clinician education. A limited understanding of menopause among healthcare providers often results in delayed diagnoses and poor symptom management, leaving many women suffering in silence [6].

Gender Bias in Healthcare

Gender bias remains a significant barrier to equitable care. Historically, medical research has centered on male subjects, creating a gap in understanding women’s unique health needs. This phenomenon, known as “Yentl syndrome,” describes how women must often “prove” they are as sick as men to receive appropriate care. Studies show that women, particularly Black women, experience significant disparities in care quality, often leading to delayed treatments and poorer health outcomes [8].

Decades of racial–ethnic disparities in reproductive health, including contraceptive use, sexually transmitted infection care, and maternal morbidity and mortality, further exacerbate these challenges [9].

Medical Gaslighting and Misdiagnosis

Medical gaslighting—where women’s symptoms are dismissed as psychological rather than physical—is pervasive. Women routinely report being told that their symptoms are “all in their head,” leading to delayed diagnoses, untreated conditions, and worsening health [10]. This systemic issue forces many women into self-advocacy, pushing for tests and treatments while battling the stigma of being labeled “difficult” or “overly emotional” [11].

"Brave Men" and "Emotional Women": A literature review on gender bias in healthcare shows that gendered norms about pain, rooted in hegemonic masculinity and androcentrism, shape patient treatment. Awareness of these norms, and their potential to reinforce stereotypes, is crucial in both research and clinical practice to combat bias and promote more equitable care [12].

Research and Funding Gaps

What is the most significant missed opportunity in healthcare? It is the lack of adequate funding for research on women's health issues [13].

One of the most significant missed opportunities in healthcare is the chronic underfunding of research focused on women’s health [13]. Despite growing awareness, research and data collection in areas historically labeled as “women's health” continue to be inadequately funded. This lack of investment marginalizes the health risks and experiences of women, particularly women of color and transgender individuals [14]. 

The Historical Exclusion of Women from Clinical Trials

Historically, women were systematically excluded from clinical trials, beginning with the FDA's 1977 decision to prohibit the participation of women of childbearing potential due to safety concerns. This exclusion led to a critical gap in understanding how drugs and treatments affect women. Although the 1993 NIH Revitalization Act was a turning point, mandating the inclusion of women and minorities in clinical research, the legacy of this exclusion still affects women's healthcare today [15].

Researchers often justified the use of male subjects by arguing that men were cheaper and easier to study. However, this practice has had serious consequences. The resulting gender bias has placed women at greater risk for adverse drug reactions, leading to unnecessary suffering and, in some cases, even death [16].

The Role of Policy and Advocacy

Improving women’s health requires more than just better medical practices; it demands systemic changes in policy and advocacy. Policymakers must prioritize the unique health needs of women throughout their lives, ensuring access to affordable and nondiscriminatory healthcare [17]. Addressing these issues will advance the goal of achieving health equity among all citizens and will improve health care outcomes for women of future generations [18].

The Power of Art in Advocacy

I've always been impressed by the ability of creative artists to communicate their messages in a simple, beautiful, and rhythmic way—often more effectively than any article. It's incredible to witness how a woman can produce music from her home studio that deeply resonates with others and conveys a powerful message. As a health advocate, I typically focus on intricate interventions, but sometimes the most impactful solutions are right in front of us. Art is undoubtedly a potent force, prompting me to question whether numerous studies are truly necessary to validate its effectiveness, considering how a single song can motivate me to delve into a whole body of literature just to share its message.

Conclusion

Farideh's musical piece, titled We Never Really Studied the Female Body,, emphasizes the critical importance of implementing systemic changes in women's healthcare. While there have been advancements, the persistent lack of adequate funding for women's health research and the longstanding exclusion of women from clinical trials have resulted in an ongoing deficiency in knowledge and quality care. Essential reforms in healthcare protocols, research financing, and policies are necessary to enhance health outcomes for women. By giving priority to the specific health requirements of women, not only will health equity be promoted, but it will also guarantee that forthcoming generations of women receive the comprehensive and rightful care they deserve.

References

1.           Mohd Tohit, N.F. and M. Haque, Breaking the Cycle: Addressing Period Poverty as a Critical Public Health Challenge and Its Relation to Sustainable Development Goals. Cureus, 2024. 16(6): p. e62499.

2.           Jaafar, H., S.Y. Ismail, and A. Azzeri, Period Poverty: A Neglected Public Health Issue. Korean J Fam Med, 2023. 44(4): p. 183-188.

3.           Regional Health-Americas, T.L., Menstrual health: a neglected public health problem. Lancet Reg Health Am, 2022. 15: p. 100399.

4.           Organization., W.H., More than a third of women experience lasting health problems after childbirth, new research shows. The Lancet Global Health. 2023, December 7).

5.           Molin, B., et al., "The ignored pain" - experiences of encounters with healthcare from the perspective of women with pain persisting after childbirth - a qualitative study. Sex Reprod Healthc, 2024. 39: p. 100929.

6.           Aninye, I.O., M.H. Laitner, and S. Chinnappan, Menopause preparedness: perspectives for patient, provider, and policymaker consideration. Menopause, 2021. 28(10): p. 1186-1191.

7.           Merone, L., et al., Sex Inequalities in Medical Research: A Systematic Scoping Review of the Literature. Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle), 2022. 3(1): p. 49-59.

8.           Washington, A. and J. Randall, "We're Not Taken Seriously": Describing the Experiences of Perceived Discrimination in Medical Settings for Black Women. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities, 2023. 10(2): p. 883-891.

9.           Sutton, M.Y., et al., Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Reproductive Health Services and Outcomes, 2020. Obstet Gynecol, 2021. 137(2): p. 225-233.

10.        Merone, L., et al., "I Just Want to Feel Safe Going to a Doctor": Experiences of Female Patients with Chronic Conditions in Australia. Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle), 2022. 3(1): p. 1016-1028.

11.        Zirnsak, T., et al., "I have to fight for them to investigate things": a qualitative exploration of physical and mental healthcare for women diagnosed with mental illness. Front Public Health, 2024. 12: p. 1360561.

12.        Samulowitz, A., et al., "Brave Men" and "Emotional Women": A Theory-Guided Literature Review on Gender Bias in Health Care and Gendered Norms towards Patients with Chronic Pain. Pain Res Manag, 2018. 2018: p. 6358624.

13.        Bird CE. RAND Corporation. Underfunding of Research in Women's Health Issues is the Biggest Missed Opportunity in Health Care. Santa Monica, CA; 2022. Available from: https://www.rand.org/blog/2022/02/underfunding-of-research-in-womens-health-issues-is.html [Last accessed: June 23, 2022].

14.        Schubert, K.G., et al., To Address Women's Health Inequity, It Must First Be Measured. Health Equity, 2022. 6(1): p. 881-886.

15.        Office of Research on Women's Health. (n.d.). NIH Inclusion Outreach Toolkit: How to Engage, Recruit, and Retain Women in Clinical Research. National Institutes of Health. .

16.        Schiebinger, L., Women's health and clinical trials. J Clin Invest, 2003. 112(7): p. 973-7.

17.        Peters, S.A.E., et al., Women's health: a new global agenda. BMJ Glob Health, 2016. 1(3): p. e000080.

18.        Daniel, H., et al., Women's Health Policy in the United States: An American College of Physicians Position Paper. Ann Intern Med, 2018. 168(12): p. 874-875.

Kindly note that you can access Farideh's song on Instagram by clicking on this link: Farideh (@ilovefarideh) • Instagram photos and videos