Investing in Women’s Health: A Win for Society and Economy

Women's health, an often-neglected area in the medical field, deserves more attention. With half of the world's population being female, there is a pressing need to emphasize this area. The failure to adequately address women's unique health needs has significant implications not only for women, but also for public health, economics, and society as a whole¹.

Significant disparities exist between men and women in the medical field, particularly in the context of acute emergency medicine. An illuminating example lies in the treatment of acute coronary syndrome and myocardial infarctions. While the stereotypical chest pain is a common symptom for men, women often present with indigestion, epigastric pain, nausea, or vomiting. These symptoms, often labeled as atypical, are actually common presentations in female patients. The lack of recognition of these gender-specific symptoms can delay treatment and worsen outcomes for women experiencing heart attacks².

The neglect of women's health extends to preventative medicine as well. Menopause is a condition unique to women, characterized by the loss of important hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. It is a natural, inevitable part of aging for women, yet research into tailored therapy and medications to optimize the process and improve women's quality of life during menopause is lacking³.

So, why is this the case? A complex interplay of societal, medical, and institutional factors contributes to the neglect of women's health. There is a persistent view that women's health revolves solely around reproductive health, which leads to a narrow and insufficient approach to women's overall health⁴. The underrepresentation of women in clinical trials and medical research also plays a significant role in th