Why Doctors Miss & Misdiagnose Many Diseases in Older Women
Women’s healthcare has indeed made significant strides since the 1800s when female patients were often subjected to dismissive attitudes and inaccurate diagnoses like “hysteria” or “the vapors.” Sadly, during that time, women’s symptoms – particularly those related to mental health or reproductive issues – were frequently disregarded or attributed to imagined ailments.
Thankfully, recent advancements in medical understanding and societal progress have brought about substantial improvements in women’s healthcare. Recognition and acknowledgement of women’s unique healthcare needs have played a vital role in this transformative journey. And over the years, medical professionals and researchers have worked diligently to dismantle the prevailing biases and misconceptions that hindered comprehensive women’s healthcare.
Unfortunately, in spite of significant advancements in women’s healthcare, many traditional doctors still continue to dismiss, misdiagnose, and mistreat various diseases in female patients – particularly in older women. In this article the hormone replacement experts at SottoPelle® Method address the underlying reason for this bias in healthcare – and offer solutions for accurate and effective treatment of women’s medical conditions.
Bias in Diagnosing & Treating Diseases in Older Women
One contributing factor to the misdiagnosis and mistreatment of diseases in older women is the age and gender biases that still prevail within the medical community. Symptoms and presentations of diseases in older women often differ substantially from those typically seen in younger patients or male counterparts, making diagnosis more complex. However, some doctors may dismiss or trivialize these symptoms, attributing virtually everything to age or menopause without conducting thorough evaluations.
This leads to missed or delayed diagnoses, depriving women of the timely intervention, and new advancements in female medical care that they truly need.
Furthermore, societal stereotypes and ingrained biases can also influence healthcare providers’ perceptions of older women. Ageism and sexism can contribute to a lack of attentiveness and empathy, resulting in inadequate medical assessments and treatment plans. Stereotypes of women being “hormonal” or “overly emotional” can lead unenlightened doctors to dismiss their patients’ concerns as “overreacting” – or to consider their symptoms “psychosomatic”, e.g. “all in their head.”
As a result, women may face prolonged suffering, worsening health conditions, and decreased quality of life due to the failure to recognize and address their specific healthcare needs.
While “getting older” can be a contributing factor to many women’s health issues – from sex drive, to incontinence, weight gain, memory loss, and more – that does not mean these conditions are just something women must “learn to live with”.
This is because it is not “age” itself that causes these issues – but it is the hormonal decline that comes with getting older that can be at the root of these and many other female health problems. And when doctors take the time to investigate, diagnose, and treat a woman’s underlying health conditions – rather than dismissing symptoms as “natural aging” – women can experience health and vitality at any age.
Conditions Commonly Missed or Misdiagnosed in Women
Several diseases and conditions in older women are commonly ignored, misdiagnosed, or mistreated, leading to significant health consequences.
Hormone imbalances, such as menopause-related changes, disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and thyroid dysfunction, are frequently disregarded or misunderstood. The symptoms associated with these conditions, such as hot flashes, mood swings, fatigue, weight gain, and irregular menstrual cycles, are sometimes attributed to “normal aging” and considered “minor inconveniences” by some traditional doctors. As a result, women may not receive the appropriate hormone therapy or interventions to alleviate their symptoms, affecting their quality of life and potentially exacerbating other health issues.
Another commonly ignored and misdiagnosed condition in older women is osteoporosis. As women age, their bone density naturally decreases, making them more susceptible to fractures. However, osteoporosis is often undetected until a fracture occurs, as routine screenings for bone health are not always emphasized. This delay in diagnosis and treatment puts older women at an increased risk of suffering from debilitating fractures and related complications.
Additionally, cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and heart attacks, can be underdiagnosed, and undertreated in older women. The presentation of symptoms in women may differ from the classic symptoms seen in men, leading to misinterpretation or dismissal. Women may experience atypical signs such as fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, or abdominal discomfort, which are often attributed to other conditions, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Further, mental health conditions, particularly depression and anxiety, are frequently overlooked in older women. Symptoms of depression may also be mistaken as a normal part of aging or attributed to other medical conditions. The complex interplay between hormonal changes, life transitions, and social factors can contribute to the development or exacerbation of mental health issues, making it crucial to identify and address these conditions to ensure proper support and treatment.
Diagnosing Women’s Health Issues
Addressing women’s health concerns requires an integrative and multi-faceted approach. First and foremost, medical education and training programs must emphasize the importance of gender-specific healthcare and the unique health challenges faced by older women. Healthcare providers need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to recognize and address the complexities of women’s health, including the impact of age-related hormonal shifts, and other coexisting medical conditions.
Empowering women to advocate for themselves, seek second opinions, and actively participate in their medical decision-making process can help combat misdiagnoses and mistreatment. Women should feel emboldened to voice their concerns, share their experiences, and insist on thorough evaluations and appropriate interventions.
Hormone Therapy for Women’s Health
Hormones affect every aspect of a woman’s body, including physical, mental, emotional, and sexual functioning. So, understanding and addressing hormone decline in older women can be an excellent first step in diagnosing and treating women’s health issue and their associated symptoms.
SottoPelle® Method 100% natural bioidentical hormone therapy can help restore a woman’s body and mind to optimal balance as she ages – in addition to protecting a woman’s body from a wide variety of diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis. In fact, recent research has clearly shown that combined HRT use is linked to an overall lower risk of death in women from all causes after menopause!
And SottoPelle® Method hormone replacement therapy pellets offer several advantages, including NO daily pills, NO painful weekly shots, and NO messy creams. Additionally, SottoPelle® Method pellet therapy utilizes bioidentical hormones that are safer, more effective, and more natural than lab-created synthetics. Because bioidentical hormones are identical to the body’s own hormones, they offer more effective results, with fewer side-effects and risks.
Diagnosing & Treating Women’s Health Issues
While challenges and disparities still exist in women’s health care, the advancements made over the past century are undeniable. The transition from dismissive attitudes and outdated beliefs to a more inclusive, patient-centered, and evidence-based approach is evolving thanks to dedicated healthcare professionals, researchers, and advocates – like the hundreds of SottoPelle® Method certified doctors across the US.
As we move forward, it is crucial to continue building on this progress, striving for gender equity, and ensuring that women receive the high-quality healthcare they deserve at every stage of their lives.
If you have been suffering from fatigue, anxiety, weight gain, brain fog, sadness, low libido, unexplained pain, or other frustrating symptoms that your current doctors aren’t explaining, a SottoPelle® Method certified doctor can help! Physicians who have undergone SottoPelle® Method training and certification are trained in recognizing, diagnosing, and treating hormonal imbalances that are impacting your health and quality of life. Once a diagnosis has been made, your SottoPelle® Method certified doctor can determine if bioidentical hormone therapy is right for you.
And because the symptoms associated with hormone decline can also be caused by other medical conditions, a SottoPelle® Method certified doctor can also help to rule out other potential causes of your symptoms and develop a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses your individual needs.
Women’s Health Doctors: (323) 986-5100
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as general information only and is not intended to be used as medical advice. While the benefits of hormone replacement are well documented through clinical research, we are not representing that hormone therapy is a “cure” for any disease. Only your treating physician can determine if hormone replacement may be a beneficial part of your healthcare regimen, based on your age, overall health, risk factors, and lifestyle.
