Suggestion: Your life isn't determined by your physician's sex.
Although there aren't huge differences, researchers believe that closing the gap between the care women get from male and female physicians could potentially save the lives of 5,000 women annually.
A 2016 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine discovered that patients who were treated by female physicians had a lower risk of death or re-admission within a month compared to those treated by male physicians in the same age bracket.
This follows a 2021 study in the same journal, which found that patients aged 65 or older with different genders were more likely to face complications and die.
The researchers could not verify if these findings apply to younger patients, but stress the need to closely examine how women patients are treated, especially in regards to pain management.
The study published in Annals of Internal Medicine suggests women patients might benefit more from female doctors due to the potential for female doctors to better assess the seriousness of women's illnesses and communicate more effectively. It also notes that women may feel more comfortable discussing sensitive issues with female doctors and having female doctors perform physical exams on private areas.
There's been a long-standing issue of doctors disregarding women's pain. For instance, a study from 2004 to 2005 revealed that women and men with similar pain levels were less likely to be given pain medication and had to wait longer for it.
I personally experienced this when I sought hospital care while struggling with significant pain while pregnant. My medical staff neglected my complaints and tried to send me home, insisting I wasn't in labor. I had to demand admission for pain relief; by the time a physician (also a woman) arrived, she wasn't certain she had time to change into scrubs. I could have delivered my baby before she could start treatment.
Sadly, not all patients are as fortunate as I was, and their experiences might be even worse. My position as an English speaker and a communication expert allowed me to demand care and have my husband, a physician, intervene with hospital management if necessary. Additionally, I'm White, which exponentially increases my chances of receiving fair treatment than other races.
A 2017 study indicates that Black women are significantly less likely to experience adequate pain management, leading to higher maternal mortality rates.
A common issue among women is being disregarded by their doctors, as illustrated by the numerous stories of women being dismissed on social media. This could suggest why some women are choosing to forgo medical care completely.
The answer isn't for women to avoid the medical system - it's for physicians of all genders to react adequately to women's concerns. Unfortunately, there's a lack of systematic medical training in women's health in general medical curricula, which should be addressed. Proper medical care and pain management should no longer be contingent upon a patient's gender or their doctor's gender.
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Source: edition.cnn.com
