Last Saturday, August 26, 2023, was Women's Equality Day, which commemorates the day in 1920 when women were finally granted the right to vote after decades of suffrage movements and protests. The 19th Amendment was passed on this date, prohibiting any United States citizen from being denied the right to vote on the basis of sex. This victory paved the way for women's rights and gender equality.
Despite this accomplishment, there is still a long way to go to achieve full equity for women, especially in healthcare. Even with all the medical advances over the past century, women face more health issues and biases in healthcare than men. Some key women's health disparities that persist today include:
Higher rates of chronic illnesses: Women have higher rates of chronic conditions like arthritis, anxiety, depression, migraines, and autoimmune disorders. However, these "women's diseases" are often undertreated and under-researched.
Maternal mortality: The maternal mortality rate in the US is the highest among developed countries at 17.4 deaths per 100,000 births. Despite all the medical advancements in recent years, this number is rising. Furthermore, population-based disparities exist, with Black and Native American women approximately 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. (This report from The Commonwealth Fund compares the rates in the US compared to 10 other developed countries.)
Breast cancer: There is no doubt that we have made great strides in the 21st century - from better prevention strategies, earlier detection, and cutting edge treatments. Technological advancements combined with targeted therapies have made all of this possible. Even so, breast cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. There are a myriad of statistics - 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
Cervical cancer: Speaking of advancements, cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers through a combination of HPV vaccination and preventative pap smears. Even though we have a clear roadmap for prevention, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, over 13,000 US women are diagnosed yearly.
Osteoporosis: Over 80% of all adult cases of osteoporosis occur in women - meaning a higher risk of fractures and poor outcomes following fractures. Though treatable, osteoporosis is underdiagnosed and undertreated - for reasons ranging from lack of access to screening, unclear coverage/reimbursement policies, poor care coordination/fragmented care, and limited data on racial and ethnic differences. (This publication from 2022 goes into further detail on the disparities.)
Metabolic health: Everyone is talking about metabolic health these days, thanks to Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and more to come - we've learned the corresponding impact/benefit on other correlated chronic conditions, like heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and more. In women, poor metabolic health can affect more aspects of lives - ranging from infertility, symptoms of menopause, cognitive health, sleep, obesity/weight gain, mental health, and more.
When celebrating Women's Equality Day, it's important to recognize how far women’s healthcare rights have come in the last century and acknowledge how far we still need to go to achieve true equity. We must continue advocating for policies and research that make women's health a priority, not an afterthought. Things like improved sex education, affordable contraception access, better maternal care, and equal inclusion in clinical trials.
There has been progress no doubt but this day is also a reminder that the fight for comprehensive, unbiased women's healthcare continues.
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