Diagnosing women based on men's symptoms: 'The science that is generated is totally androcentric'

A growing body of evidence suggests that medical diagnoses for women often rely on symptoms observed in men, leading to misdiagnoses and delayed treatment. This issue has sparked concern among healthcare professionals and researchers who argue that the science generated through such practices is fundamentally androcentric, meaning it prioritizes male experiences while neglecting the unique ways women experience illness. The problem begins early in medical research, where hypotheses are often framed with male patients in mind. According to María Teresa Ruiz Cantero, a professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Alicante, this approach leads to the invisibility of female patients. For instance, when studying heart attacks, researchers typically focus on symptoms such as chest pain radiating to the left arm, a pattern largely associated with male patients. As a result, women’s more varied symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and back or jaw pain, are frequently overlooked or misinterpreted. This oversight can have serious consequences. Women experiencing these symptoms may be incorrectly diagnosed with anxiety or stress rather than a potentially life-threatening condition. Anna Pujol, a doctor and member of the Group of Work on Women's Comprehensive Health within the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC), highlights how this misalignment affects clinical practice. She explains that many women suffering from cardiovascular disease exhibit different symptoms than their male counterparts, yet these differences are rarely considered in diagnostic protocols. Historically, medicine has assumed that all bodies function similarly, leading to a lack of understanding about how diseases manifest differently in women. Ruiz Cantero clarifies that it is not that women report symptoms differently, but rather that the disease expresses itself in distinct ways. This misunderstanding contributes to the underrepresentation of women in medical studies and the subsequent failure to develop effective treatments tailored to their needs. The situation is further compounded by the lack of inclusion of women in clinical trials. Carme Valls, a physician and researcher specializing in gender bias in medicine, notes that the scientific community has long ignored the health challenges faced by women. She points out that historically, the leading cause of death among women globally has been cardiovascular disease, yet research into this area has been minimal. Without adequate investigation, prevention strategies remain inadequate, leaving women vulnerable to preventable illnesses. Efforts are being made to address these disparities. The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has launched initiatives aimed at correcting historical imbalances in medical research and care. These programs seek to integrate a gender perspective into both research and clinical practice, ensuring that women’s health concerns receive the attention they deserve. Ruiz Cantero and her team are currently conducting a study across six autonomous communities to examine how gender-based approaches affect diagnosis accuracy. Their findings aim to provide actionable insights that could lead to better recognition of women’s symptoms and improved patient outcomes. In the meantime, the call for change continues. Medical professionals emphasize the need for training that incorporates a gender lens, enabling practitioners to recognize and respond appropriately to the diverse ways in which women experience illness. Until such measures are widely implemented, the gap between male-centric medical models and the realities of women’s health will persist.