Chapter 07

Know more. Demand more. Change more.

The gender health gap won't close on its own. Here are the EU's evidence-based policy recommendations — and what you can do personally to help close the gap.

Personal awareness

Being aware starts with knowing the gap exists

The gender health gap affects virtually every woman. But because it is embedded in the systems we trust — doctors, hospitals, science — it is often invisible. Awareness is the first form of resistance.

What to know when you see a doctor

  • Women's pain is routinely underestimated — advocate for yourself if dismissed
  • Ask for sex-specific information: how does this condition or medication affect women differently?
  • Chest pain in women may not feel like "classic" heart attack symptoms — it can be nausea, jaw pain, fatigue
  • If a diagnosis doesn't feel right, seek a second opinion — women are 7× more likely to have heart conditions misdiagnosed
  • Know that your symptoms may not match what's in the textbook, because the textbook was written about men

Medications and your body

  • Women experience adverse drug reactions twice as often as men — always ask about side effects specific to women
  • Drugs approved on male trials may be less effective or harmful for women — this is not rare, it's systemic
  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, most medications have not been tested on you — discuss this with your provider
  • Be aware that dosing recommendations may not account for women's different body composition and metabolism
  • Track and report any adverse drug reactions — your data helps improve safety for all women

Know the conditions that affect women most

  • Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer of women in the EU — don't let the "male disease" myth delay your care
  • If you have severe period pain, don't accept it as normal — endometriosis is real and takes years to diagnose
  • Autoimmune diseases affect 80% more women than men — chronic fatigue and pain deserve proper investigation
  • Menopause affects your heart, bones, and mental health — it deserves the same medical attention as any chronic condition
  • Urinary incontinence and pelvic floor issues are common and treatable — don't let stigma prevent you from seeking help

How to raise awareness

  • Share this website and its data with friends, family, and on social media
  • Talk to younger women in your life about their rights to proper diagnosis and treatment
  • Contact your MEP or local representative to demand better enforcement of gender-inclusive clinical trials
  • Support organisations working on women's health, endometriosis awareness, and healthcare equity
  • Ask your healthcare provider: "Is this evidence based on women as well as men?"
Red flags you should know

Symptoms women are most likely to have dismissed

Because medical training is based on how conditions present in men, the female-specific presentations of many serious conditions are often overlooked — both by doctors and by women themselves.

Heart Attack in Women

  • Jaw, neck, or back pain
  • Unusual fatigue for days before
  • Nausea and lightheadedness
  • Shortness of breath without chest pain
  • Pressure or squeezing in upper abdomen
  • Not just the "classic" crushing chest pain

Endometriosis Warning Signs

  • Severe, debilitating period pain
  • Pain during or after sex
  • Heavy or irregular periods
  • Pain when using the toilet during period
  • Chronic pelvic pain between periods
  • Difficulty getting pregnant

Autoimmune Disease Signs

  • Persistent, unexplained fatigue
  • Recurring joint pain or swelling
  • Dry eyes, mouth, or vaginal dryness
  • Skin rashes or sensitivity to sun
  • Hair loss in patches
  • Symptoms that come and go unpredictably

If you experience these symptoms and feel dismissed by a healthcare provider, you have the right to a second opinion. These are not "in your head."

European Parliament Study

EU Policy Recommendations

The European Parliament study (PE 778.519, November 2025) provides 10 areas of concrete policy recommendations for EU decision-makers.

1

Data Collection & Clinical Trials

Invest in women's health researchIncorporate sex- and gender-disaggregated data at local and regional levels across all health conditions
Mandatory sex reporting in trialsEnsure clinical trial reporting systematically accounts for sex, gender, and subgroup differences
Increase female trial participationIncluding transgender people and those from marginalised ethnic groups
Accelerate the EHDSImplement the European Health Data Space to enable secure sharing of clinical trial data across Member States
2

Cardiovascular Disease

Make CVD in women a strategic prioritySystematic identification of sex-specific CVD risk factors and improved access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
Design a female CVD risk calculatorTailored to female physiology and life-course factors, including menopause and pregnancy history
Standardise protocolsMinimise sex-based disparities in CVD care and implement risk assessment for women of childbearing age
Multidisciplinary care pathwaysInvolving cardiologists, obstetricians, and oncologists for integrated women's cardiovascular care
3–6

Female-Specific Conditions

EndometriosisCollaborative research funding; improved medical training for early diagnosis and inclusive care
Uterine fibroidsPublic awareness campaigns in underserved communities; fund early detection and less invasive treatments
STIs & neglected tropical diseasesPerson-centred care; improved access for migrant women including hepatitis and TB screening
Urogynaecological disordersPelvic floor education in antenatal care; media campaigns to reduce stigma around urinary incontinence and POP
7

Obstetric & Gynaecological Violence

Harmonise definitionsCommon legal framework and terminology across all EU Member States for obstetric and gynaecological violence
Systematic data collectionEIGE should lead development of methodologically harmonised systems incorporating patient experiences
Confidential reportingAccessible and confidential reporting systems for victims; civil society-led awareness campaigns
Interdisciplinary researchFund research on intersectional discrimination and integrate awareness into public education
8–10

Diagnosis, Education & Broader Policy

Precision medicineApply sex-specific approaches and improve access to gender-specific healthcare and resources
Revise medical curriculaIntegrate sex and gender differences comprehensively; increase gender balance among medical teachers and researchers
Design inclusive technologiesAI models and medical devices suitable for diverse anatomical needs, not just the average male body
Workplace policiesFlexible arrangements for menopause and pregnancy; increased women in leadership roles in healthcare institutions
Spread the word

Your voice matters

The gender health gap persists in part because most people don't know it exists. Share these facts. Start the conversation. Follow us for more.

Share these facts:

Sources

Key references

European Parliament Study — Primary Source
Davaki, K. (2025). Gender Inequalities in Medical Research, Drug Development and Access to Care. PE 778.519. europarl.europa.eu
World Economic Forum
Closing the Women's Health Gap: A $1 Trillion Opportunity to Improve Lives and Economies. weforum.org, 2024
Eurostat — Life Expectancy
Mortality and Life Expectancy Statistics, 2023. ec.europa.eu/eurostat
European Society of Cardiology
EU 27 Cardiovascular Realities 2025 Report. escardio.org
EIGE
Gender Equality Index 2021 Report: Gender and Intersecting Inequalities in Access to Health. eige.europa.eu
EU Agency for Fundamental Rights
Violence Against Women: An EU-wide Survey. fra.europa.eu, 2024
Westergaard et al.
Population-wide analysis of differences in disease progression patterns in men and women. Nature Communications, Vol. 10, No. 666, 2019.
Sosinsky et al.
Enrollment of female participants in United States drug and device phase 1–3 clinical trials between 2016 and 2019. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 2022.
International Osteoporosis Foundation
SCOPE 2021: A New Scorecard for Osteoporosis in Europe. Archives of Osteoporosis, Vol. 16, No. 82, 2021.