News
Understanding Why Medicine Has Failed Women So Much
Unfortunately, there is no doubt about it: women’s healthcare has been overlooked throughout history. The medical gender bias is still alive and kicking today, with women often experiencing a more difficult time with diagnosis and healthcare compared to men. The problem runs very deep, which means tackling the issue has proven difficult for medical researchers and healthcare workers.
What Problems Do Women Face When Receiving Healthcare?
No healthcare system is absolutely perfect, particularly when it comes to inclusivity. Women have faced a lot of problems in healthcare over the years. One example is how hard it is for women to get diagnosed with certain conditions – for example, women often have to wait over seven years to get a diagnosis of endometriosis, a condition that can cause severe pain and discomfort. When compared to men, women also have a harder time getting diagnosed with ADHD, autism, and cardiovascular disease. So, why does this happen?
A Look at Ancient History
The inequality women face in healthcare is nothing new. In fact, it stretches all the way back to the ancient world. The gender bias in Ancient Greece was covered by Caroline Criado-Perez in her non-fiction book “Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men.” It discussed many of the healthcare issues women faced back then, highlighting that Aristotle – the Greek philosopher – wrote about the female body as though it was a mutilated form of a man’s. It’s unfortunate that, even in this century, much medical research still focuses on the male body as though it is the absolute standard rather than exploring the nuances and differences between male and female bodies and their often-differing symptoms.
Excluding Women from Clinical Trials
There’s a huge reason why women have experienced failures in medicine so often throughout the years, and it has to do with medical research. Throughout history, women have often been excluded from clinical trials, with medical researchers focusing their research on only males, assuming that the findings would apply to everyone. Of course, this wasn’t true and has had serious consequences, with women receiving a harder time with diagnosis and treatment because of these blind spots. The good news is that inclusivity in clinical trials – particularly regarding women – has been more of a priority in recent years, although the gap still isn’t fully closed.
A Lack of Focus on Women’s Health Issues
Not enough research has been done on women’s health, especially health concerns that are specific to women. Problems with menopause, the menstrual cycle, and post-maternity care have been overlooked time and time again. This has dire consequences, and there’s even been a step backwards when it comes to maternal care for women, with the death toll of women during pregnancy or after increasing to 13.41 deaths per 100,000 between 2020-2022.
Is Anything Being Done?
Yes. While history and even the current day may look bleak, the future doesn’t have to be. As mentioned, clinical trials are becoming increasingly inclusive, ensuring that necessary research is being done on both male and female bodies. Plus, the UK government has announced a new women’s health strategy in 2024, with their strategy in 2022 having already made some improvements, with women having better access to women’s health hubs and affordable HRT. While the gender bias in healthcare runs deep and requires a lot more work to overhaul, these steps are clearly in the right direction.
Digital diagnostics company Medichecks has acquired specialist menopause health platform and clinic My Menopause Centre.
The deal is part of Medichecks’ move into clinical services and follows its earlier purchase of Leger Clinic, creating what the company describes as a hormone health offering for women and men across the UK.
Medichecks and My Menopause Centre will combine digital services with clinical governance. The acquisition aims to enhance Medichecks’ ability to deliver integrated testing, diagnosis and ongoing clinical support.
The combined group plans to grow its specialist hormone health services, supporting patients across the UK with clinical care throughout different stages of their hormone health journey.
Helen Marsden, co-founder of Medichecks, said: “At Medichecks, our mission is to make healthcare more accessible, evidence-based and patient-centred.
“Helen and Clare have built an outstanding, clinically credible platform that is transforming menopause care for women across the UK.
“Medichecks now owns two CQC Outstanding-rated clinics, the only clinics in their respective sectors to achieve this rating, and we are deeply committed to delivering safe, compassionate and patient-centric care.
“We’re proud to continue the founders’ legacy while supporting the next stage of growth, ensuring more women can access high-quality menopause care when they need it most.”
The CQC, or Care Quality Commission, is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
The acquisition supports Medichecks’ plans to make hormone healthcare more accessible by delivering integrated testing, diagnosis and ongoing clinical support for patients across the UK.
Helen Normoyle, co-founder and chief executive of My Menopause Centre, said: “We set out to build something resilient, clinically credible and scalable, not just fast.
“Our mission has always been to make menopause care compassionate, accessible and grounded in evidence. Medichecks shares that vision.
“Their digital platform, commitment to clinical excellence and patient-centred care make them the ideal partner to take My Menopause Centre into its next chapter.
“This milestone reflects not only a strong product, but a remarkable team and community.
“I’m deeply proud of what we’ve built and excited to see My Menopause Centre grow further under Medichecks’ leadership.”
Menopause specialist Dr Mary Claire Haver has been appointed as the first chief agewell officer at virtual care clinic Midi Health.
In the role, Dr Haver will work with Midi’s clinical team to develop the AgeWell platform, described as a proactive health model that integrates perimenopause and menopausal care with metabolic health, bone density, brain health and cardiovascular risk assessment.
The platform aims to provide preventative care targeting what the company describes as the primary drivers of female mortality and disability: heart disease, bone loss and cognitive decline.
Joanna Strober, chief executive and co-founder of Midi Health, said: “Longevity care has historically ignored women’s biology, especially during the critical windows of midlife and menopause.
“At Midi Health, we are committed to extending healthspan, not just lifespan, and making that care accessible to millions of women as a core pillar of their health.
“By collaborating with Dr Haver, we are ensuring women continue to have access to care designed for their bodies, their hormones, and their real lives.”
Dr Haver is board-certified in obstetrics and gynaecology, a Menopause Society certified practitioner, a certified culinary medicine specialist and an adjunct associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at The University of Texas Medical Branch.
After a career in academic medicine, Dr Haver founded The Pause Life, described as a science and education-based resource for women navigating perimenopause and the menopause transition.
Through her books, unPaused podcast and digital platform, she has provided education on midlife health.
Dr Mary Claire Haver said: “I have spent my career advocating for women to receive the science-backed, no-nonsense guidance they deserve.
“I chose to partner with Midi Health because they are the only platform with the scale and medical rigour to deliver the kind of care women deserve, regardless of their zip codes.
“Together, we are setting a new standard for proactive, preventative care that meaningfully extends both lifespan and healthspan for women.”
Women’s Health Week USA 2026 has unveiled its first populated agenda, anchored by an opening keynote from Kate Ryder, Founder and CEO of Maven Clinic, and featuring a cross-sector lineup shaping the next phase of scale in women’s health.
You can view the full agenda here.
Taking place May 13–14, 2026, at the New York Academy of Medicine, Women’s Health Week USA brings together the full women’s health ecosystem to focus on one central question: what does it take to move women’s health from innovation to institutional scale?
Kate Ryder will open Day 1 with a keynote drawing on her experience building Maven Clinic into the world’s largest virtual clinic for women’s and family health.
Under her leadership, Maven has partnered with employers and health plans to deliver care across fertility, maternity, postpartum, paediatrics, and menopause at scale.
Her perspective sets the tone for a program centered on commercialisation, partnership, and sustainable growth.
Beyond the opening keynote, the newly released agenda reflects the sector’s growing maturity.
Across two days, the program features 70+ speakers, with representation from leading organizations including the FDA, Planned Parenthood, CVS Health Ventures, Samsung Next, NIH, WHO, and Maven Clinic.
Sessions span investment and deal flow, clinical innovation, regulation, data and technology, and market expansion, alongside dedicated pitch sessions and curated 1:1 matchmaking designed to turn insight into action.
The agenda has been built to facilitate meaningful connections across the ecosystem, with partnerships positioned as the primary driver of scale.
As women’s health continues to attract institutional capital and global attention, Women’s Health Week USA 2026 offers a clear snapshot of where the market is heading, and who is shaping it.
The full agenda is now live, with additional speakers and partners to be announced in the coming months.
View the full programme here.
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