The gender health gap.
Women spend 25% more time in poor health compared to men. An average of nine years in poor health, affecting not just her health but also the workplace and community through absenteeism and presenteeism.
This 2024 report by the McKinsey Health Institute quantifies it in terms of being equivalent to seven days of poor health per woman every year.
Why the Gender Health Gap Exists
The gender health gap is, in a large part, a result of the lack of medical trials conducted on women, leading to ineffective treatments for women (we’re not smaller men). Personal awareness is also a significant factor.
Women’s health is often defined as just sexual and reproductive health and maternal health. But this actually accounts for only ~5% of the actual health burden. The vast majority, 56% of the health burden, is from conditions that affect women disproportionally (headaches, autoimmune diseases, depression) or manifest differently (atrial fibrillation, colon cancer.) [1]
Women are particularly vulnerable between the ages of 15 and 50, when sex-specific conditions like endometriosis and menopause are most prevalent. But the burden stretches across the life span, with nearly half of the impact affecting working-age women (20-64 years), impacting their economic independence and wellbeing.
The Top 10 Conditions
Just 10 health conditions, including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), depression, and migraines, account for over 50% of the potential economic benefit of closing the gender health gap globally. These conditions disproportionately affect women, particularly during their working years, when the economic impact is greatest.
The top 10 conditions by GDP impact:
- Menopause
- PMS
- Depressive disorders
- Migraine
- Other gynaecological diseases
- Anxiety disorders
- Ischemic heart disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Asthma
- Drug-use disorders
For example, better management of PMS alone could result in a large financial benefit annually. Far from being a trivial or inevitable part of life, PMS symptoms can be significantly reduced with access to and interventions from health professionals.
It’s also important to note that some top conditions, such as depression, can be triggered or exacerbated by underlying issues like infertility, amplifying their effects on women’s health and productivity.
A Path Forward
Tackling this issue requires personal awareness and investment in gender-inclusive research, healthcare delivery, and innovation. While costs are involved, the benefits are enormous, improving not only women’s lives but also those of their families and communities. Better maternal care, for example, reduces the risk of long-term conditions like type 2 diabetes and supports healthy aging.
Ultimately, health equity means tailoring care to each person’s needs, regardless of gender, identity, race, or income. For women, this starts with recognition of their health needs, of their unique biological realities, and of their right to equal care.
We create greater awareness of various women’s health conditions in our Women’s Health webinar. The perfect webinar for International Women’s Day, World Menopause Day, or all year round. Contact us if you would like the webinar delivered to your workplace.
[1] . Conditions that affect women disproportionately are defined as conditions with a higher prevalence in women compare to men but not a higher disease burden per case. Conditions that affect women differently are defined as conditions with a higher disease burden per case in women compared to men.
