The UK’s Women and Equalities Committee have released a report revealing the widespread neglect of women’s reproductive health in England, identifying a culture of “Medical Misogyny”.

The report highlights that millions of women face delays in diagnosis, dismissal of symptoms, and a lack of educational support. These systemic issues leave women dealing with chronic pain and mental health challenges that impact their wellbeing, careers, education, and relationships. As previously CEO of a Women’s Equality Charity in Wales and the only Welsh MP on the Women and Equalities Committee, MP Catherine Fookes has said she is committed to ensuring women across the UK, and in Wales, receive the vital care and treatment they need.

She is calling for urgent action to ensure that the Women’s Health Report is implemented as soon as possible across the UK.

“We must end Medical Misogyny across the UK. It is leaving women in unnecessary pain and undiagnosed for years. Outdated attitudes, medical stigma and delays in diagnosis are costing women their education, careers and mental health. The recommendations from this report must be taken seriously,” she said.

“I am committed to pushing for action in Westminster, ensuring these recommendations are prioritised and delivered as soon as possible.” Ms Fookes added: ‘I have a post-bag full of requests for assistance from women of all ages regarding their health treatment – from when women start their periods to when they reach menopause, their health needs are not being prioritised. We need to reverse this trend and put more research into women’s health issues.’

The report was released at the same time as the Welsh Government released their Women’s Health Plan For Wales, setting out how NHS organisations in Wales aim to ‘close the gender health gap by providing better health services for women, ensuring they are listened to and their health needs are understood.’ As part of this plan, ‘£750,000 will be spent on research for women’s health conditions and women’s health hubs will be set up in every part of Wales by 2026’. “I’m pleased to see that the recently published Women’s Health Plan for Wales is already working to address some of these issues and I look forward to seeing these changes being implemented.”

Key Findings of the Women and Equalities Report says that medical misogyny exists, with many women reporting that their pain and concerns are routinely ignored by healthcare professionals. Conditions like endometriosis take an average of 8 years to diagnose, with many women waiting over a decade.

One in 10 women in the UK will suffer from endometriosis with over 40 per cent women with adenomyosis report delays exceeding five years.

The report adds that one in 8 women have taken time off work due to reproductive health issues, often hiding the real reasons due to stigma, waiting lists for gynaecological care are growing faster than in any other specialty, and girls are leaving school without the knowledge to recognize symptoms of reproductive health conditions, contributing to delays in seeking support.