Women’s pain has long been overlooked, often dismissed as trivial by medical professionals. This isn’t just anecdotal; it’s backed by years of research illustrating how women frequently encounter barriers to receiving the appropriate care they desperately need. Today, this issue is brought to light through the stories of two women, Jessica Grant and Mackenzie Ashby, both living with endometriosis, and the systemic problems they face on their journeys toward effective treatment.
Grant, 27, and Ashby, 37, work together as veterinary technicians in Fredericton, Canada. Their profession teaches them about compassion and urgency when animals are suffering, yet they are left grasping for the same levels of care themselves. They are trapped by chronic pain from endometriosis, where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus, creating painful adhesions and often debilitating symptoms. For both Grant and Ashby, lives have been minimized to endless waiting lists, prescribed medications, and the nagging doubt of whether their pain is ‘valid’ enough for treatment. When they witness animals receiving more prompt medical attention than them, it feels like being part of the punch line of a cruel joke.
The challenges these women face go beyond just getting the right diagnosis. Grant was misdiagnosed multiple times before being informed, after years of painful episodes, of her condition. She recalls making several visits to the emergency room, where doctors misinformed her about urinary tract infections instead of recognizing the endometriosis looming within her body. Today, she’s on the waitlist for surgery, which could take anywhere from 12 to 24 months, during which her pain has continued unabated.
Across the province of New Brunswick, gynecologist Dr. Craig Morton is trying to make waves with his exemplary training on endometriosis surgeries. His situation highlights the broader systemic issues of healthcare access: operating room time is scarce, which adds to the multi-year waitlists. While Grant’s pain escalated to the point of requiring medication so potent it pushed her body through menopause, Ashby faced waves of symptoms marked by significant hospital visits and, at times, malnutrition.
Ashby traces her story from the societal norm of dismissing painful periods to the moments when she had to fight through her own doubts and those of medical professionals who brushed her concerns aside. The framing of women’s pain historically, and even presently as emotionally driven, has deep roots. Emerging from philosophical viewpoints dating back to the third century BCE, where Aristotle’s ideas pushed the envelope of misunderstanding women’s health, the modern medical framework seems to vacillate between “if you’re complaining, your pain threshold is the issue” and “it’s just part of being female.”
Considered the gold standard for treating endometriosis and improving the quality of life for those with the disease, excision surgery is rarely available, and wait times are abysmally long. Both Grant and Ashby have grappled with feelings of hopelessness and frustration as they anticipate surgeries with no clear date on the horizon. Ashby notes she has sought care outside her home province and even considered going as far as another country, expressing distress at the price tag which can soar up to $30,000.
The systemic neglect for women's pain isn't just confined to endometriosis. It's exhibited across various health sectors. Research indicates women often experience higher levels of pain than men, yet somehow find their pain overlooked or misdiagnosed. Women are more likely to receive sedatives than effective pain management; for example, girls as young as 15 report greater back pain only to be overlooked by health professionals. Medical management to which men may have access is often denied to women.
The pain surrounding such medical negligence is often compounded by historical biases. The notion of hysteria—originally believed to be linked solely to the female reproductive system—permeated through to modern understandings of women's health, creating perceptions where emotional responses were prioritized over actual, physical suffering.
Both Grant and Ashby’s experiences reflect how these conventional biases still murmur through the halls of healthcare. For Ashby, the suggestion from her medical professionals to have children to relieve endometriosis symptoms seems outdated and utterly dismissive. Are women’s bodies expected to play host to pain for the sake of growth? The notion peddled hints at societal expectations rather than addressing medical realities.
Despite the heavy blanket of neglect, experts note signs of progress. National Institutes of Health studies now require the inclusion of sex as a biological variable, meaning women’s unique health issues are gaining more recognition. Between 2021 and 2022, there was at least representation with around 55% of medical students being female, paving the pathway for more empathy within clinical settings. There’s also growing awareness around illnesses like endometriosis, which once would have faced cultural stigmas.
Addressing the innate subjectivity of pain might be one way forward. Experts like David Thomas suggest adopting solid, measurable methods to assess pain could change how women’s health needs are approached. With such changes, the hope is to create data so compelling it can no longer be ignored by medical professionals.
For women grappling with pain, advocacy can be taken up at two fronts: one with healthcare providers and the other at larger systemic levels. Experts encourage women to assertively communicate their pain, advocate for their health, and seek out practitioners who take them seriously. A common starting point cited by Dr. Paula Castaño is to compile questions before visiting the doctor, ensuring specific discomforts or symptoms are clearly articulated. Having trusted support during appointments can help alleviate anxiety, empowering women to voice their experiences with confidence.
Further, experts encourage women not to let dismissals at the doctor's office deter them. Consistency and perseverance, they underline, are pivotal for receiving due care. Darnall suggests remaining calm and restate concerns if they go unaddressed—the persistent voice remains powerful and must be amplified. This resilience reflects the many women who continue to fight for validation of their pain—a battle sounding every bit as important as it is difficult.
Among Grant, Ashby, and many other women like them, their stories ignite change within the healthcare community, pushing to acknowledge women’s pain as valid. The cultural shift toward recognizing female-centered healthcare needs could signify more than mere cosmetic change—it might pave the way for future generations to walk on roads of pain-free existence.
